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 Want Out
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been doing my best to love you well
I've done my best to play the part
And kill this drifter in my heart
But it's killing me not to go down to the city
When I've got to satisfy you
Well I'm living a lie and I know it's a pity
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
Now I feel young and fancy free
And the city lights are calling me
I'm tired of living in this shell
When I break out I'm gonna do it well
But it's killing me not to go down to the city
When I've got to satisfy you
Well I'm living a lie and I know it's a pity
But I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
Well I'm no cold hearted Jezebel
I've been doing my best to love you well
I've done my best to play the part
And kill this drifter in my heart
But it's killing me not to go down to the city
When I've got to satisfy you
Well I'm living a lie and I know it's a pity
But I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
The lyrics to Kirsty MacColl's "I Want Out" express a desire for freedom and a breaking away from a stifling relationship. The singer acknowledges that she has tried her best to be a good partner and love deeply but that there is a part of her that longs for something different. She feels trapped in her current situation and is tempted by the excitement and possibility of the city.
The singer recognizes that staying with her partner would require her to continue living a lie and satisfying their expectations, which is not something she wants to do. She wants to break out of her shell and live authentically. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the urgency of her desire to leave the relationship and start over.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is torn between her duty to her partner and her own desires for freedom and adventure. It is implied that staying in the relationship would require her to sacrifice her own needs and desires, which the singer is no longer willing to do. Ultimately, the song is about taking control of one's own life and making the difficult decision to leave behind something that no longer serves you.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm no cold hearted Jezebel
I am not an unfeeling or promiscuous woman.
I've been doing my best to love you well
I have been trying my hardest to love you deeply.
I've done my best to play the part
I have been attempting to act the way you want me to.
And kill this drifter in my heart
I have been attempting to suppress my inner desires.
But it's killing me not to go down to the city
The feeling of not being in the city is unbearable.
When I've got to satisfy you
I need to make you happy.
Well I'm living a lie and I know it's a pity
I am leading a life that's not true to myself, and it's unfortunate.
But I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want to leave this relationship as I want my freedom.
Now I feel young and fancy free
I am feeling young and uninhibited.
And the city lights are calling me
The lights of the city are enticing me.
I'm tired of living in this shell
I am exhausted from leading a life that's not true to myself.
When I break out I'm gonna do it well
When I leave, I plan to do it successfully.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want to end this relationship, and start a new life.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I need to be free of this relationship to find my true self.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I am serious about leaving and breaking free.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I am determined to end this relationship soon.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I am firm in my decision to leave you.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want to start living the life that's true to me.
I want out, I've gotta get away from you
I want to explore what the world has to offer, without being tied down.
Contributed by Sydney O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jarski J.
Very rare, never seen this before. Thanks!
Sylvia Kuijpers
Great! Love the combination Matchbox-Kirsty
Andy Hutchcraft
Gray Fenton rocking the bearded look!
swh1967
This was Matchbox but not as we knew it. Bloomfield and Poke had jumped ship by this point. The band went for a complete change of image and it didn't quite work. Although I have to say this is much better than I remembered. A bearded Fenton and who is that on pedal steel ? And of course the late lamented Kirsty MacColl. God be good to her.
Andy Hutchcraft
Guy called Hodgson; can't remember his first name. He came in before 'One More Saturday Night'.
Tony smith
I think the lyrics to this song are quiet funny!
DEAN WATERS
Very sad news about the band. Fred's wife has just died from a bleed to the brain, and Steve has just suffered a bad stroke and is very bad at this moment. My thoughts go out to them right now 😥
Gerry Smith
Great Song from Matchbox and Kirsy brilliant
Terry Johnson
RI.I.P kirsty mac call
Peter Kane
Pity it is mimed