MacColl began her career in the late 1970s UK punk rock scene, singing backing vocals for Drug Addix. Her UK hits included the 1981 single "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis", a cover of Billy Bragg's "A New England" in 1985, a duet with Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on "Fairytale of New York" in 1987, and a cover of The Kinks' song "Days" in 1989. She was probably most recognizable in the United States as the writer of "They Don't Know" a hit in 1979.
After a break from the music industry for much of the 1990s, several trips to Cuba and Brazil restored MacColl's creative muse, and the world music-inspired (particularly Cuban and other Latin American forms) Tropical Brainstorm, often described as her finest work, was released in 2000.
On 18 December 2000, while swimming in a restricted diving area with her family on a holiday in Cozumel, she was killed in a collision with a powerboat while managing to drag her son out of its path. The boat was owned by Mexican supermarket millionaire Guillermo González Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family. A boathand, José Cen Yam, claimed to have been driving the boat and was found guilty of culpable homicide and, under Mexican law, allowed to pay a fine of 1034 pesos (about USD 90) in lieu of a prison sentence of that many days. However, eyewitnesses contradict Cen Yam's claim to have been driving and also González Nova's claim that the boat was travelling at a speed of only one knot. MacColl's family are campaigning for a judicial review into the events surrounding her death, including an application to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The BBC has featured on several of its channels a documentary by Olivia Lichtenstein, entitled Who Killed Kirsty MacColl?
In 2001, a bench was placed by the southern entrance to London's Soho Square as a memorial to her, after a lyric from one of her most poignant songs: "One day I'll be waiting there/ No empty bench inSoho Square.
I'm Going Out With An Eighty Year Old Millionaire
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He sends me to work in a black shiny car
The girls in the chorus are jealous as hell
But I find it pays when you kiss and you tell
So I jetset around from one place to another
With lots of young geezers he thinks are my brothers
Britt's got her toy boys but I don't care
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
The friends I once knew are a thing of the past
I can't stop to talk 'cos I'm moving too fast
I go to the shops with a chauffeur sometimes
He waits in the car 'cos it saves on the fines
Well you might think that when he's so rich that seems funny
But he got that way 'cos he's careful with money
Zsa Zsa's quite gaga but I don't care
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
He won't last much longer if he keeps drinking gin
I filled up the bottle that's marked medicine
He says that he'll leave all his empire to me
And sitting on top is the best place to be
So don't get impatient now boys you must wait
We'll all have such fun when I own the estate
Britt's got her toy boys but I don't care
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
Reporters all ask me if I'd ever switch
But I'd never leave him 'cos he's far too rich
You might want to punch me but you won't dare
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
There's just one thing better than an old millionaire
That's a young millionairess and I'm almost there!
The song "I'm Going Out With An Eighty Year Old Millionaire" by Kirsty MacColl tells the story of a young woman who is in a relationship with an eighty-year-old millionaire. The lyrics tell us that she is living a lavish lifestyle, filled with luxurious shopping trips and jet-setting around the world. She describes her relationship with the millionaire as being one of mutual benefit, where she is afforded opportunities and gifts in exchange for her companionship. The chorus emphasizes her nonchalance about the situation, stating that she is not fazed by the millionaire's age or status, and is content with the dynamic of the relationship.
Throughout the song, she also references other women in her industry who are also in relationships with a significant age gap. However, she asserts that her situation is unique because she is dating a wealthy man, and not just a young toy boy. She also mentions that she is aware of the potential that the millionaire may not live much longer, but she plans to inherit his wealth and power.
Overall, the song portrays the woman as someone who is content in a relationship with an older, wealthy man, regardless of how others may perceive it. The lyrics suggest that she values the material comforts that come with the relationship, and isn't overly concerned with traditional notions of love or romance.
Line by Line Meaning
He buys me movies and I am the star
He buys me attention and I am the center of it
He sends me to work in a black shiny car
He sends me to work in style
The girls in the chorus are jealous as hell
The girls in the chorus are envious of me
But I find it pays when you kiss and you tell
But I find that gossiping pays off
So I jetset around from one place to another
So I travel luxuriously from one place to another
With lots of young geezers he thinks are my brothers
With lots of young men he thinks are my brothers
Britt's got her toy boys but I don't care
Britt has younger men, but I am uninterested
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
Because I am dating an 80-year-old wealthy man
The friends I once knew are a thing of the past
The friends I used to have are now forgotten
I can't stop to talk 'cos I'm moving too fast
I am too busy to stop and chat
I go to the shops with a chauffeur sometimes
I am driven to the shops by a chauffeur at times
He waits in the car 'cos it saves on the fines
He waits in the car to avoid parking fines
Well you might think that when he's so rich that seems funny
Well, you may find it humorous that he's so wealthy
But he got that way 'cos he's careful with money
But he became wealthy because of his wise spending habits
Zsa Zsa's quite gaga but I don't care
Zsa Zsa is eccentric, but I am unbothered
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
Because I am dating an 80-year-old wealthy man
He won't last much longer if he keeps drinking gin
He won't live long if he continues to drink gin
I filled up the bottle that's marked medicine
I filled up the gin bottle with medicine to make it seem like his prescribed medication
He says that he'll leave all his empire to me
He promises that he will leave me his fortune
And sitting on top is the best place to be
Being in a position of power is the best place to be
So don't get impatient now boys you must wait
So don't get impatient now, men, you must wait
We'll all have such fun when I own the estate
We will all have a great time when I inherit the estate
Reporters all ask me if I'd ever switch
Reporters all ask me if I'd ever leave him
But I'd never leave him 'cos he's far too rich
But I would never leave him because he's too wealthy
You might want to punch me but you won't dare
You might want to harm me, but you won't because of his wealth and influence
'Cos I'm going out with an 80 year old millionaire
Because I am dating an 80-year-old wealthy man
There's just one thing better than an old millionaire
There is just one thing better than an old wealthy man
That's a young millionairess and I'm almost there!
That's a young female millionaire, and I am almost one!
Contributed by David J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jessylish
<3 love it,what a woman,what a singer,what a lyricist,and sadly what a loss,R.I.P. Kirsty and thanks for the beautiful music you left us xx
lonewolf153
Just taken me back 30 years to when you published this on New England 12" B side Kirsty. Still love you my old school buddy. RIP
monateegs
Great clip for a wonderful Kirsty song. Thanks.
Sweet Gypsy Wife
So funny...what an inspiration!!
ChrisOtheBigC
Great work on the clip!!!
BadDreamFancyDress
What a great video! What program was that ? xxx
Ken Hill
A Tragic loss
Lisa Whiting
YES!!!