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 GonzΓ‘lez Nova (owner of Comercial Mexicana), who was on board with several members of his family. A boathand, JosΓ© 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 GonzΓ‘lez 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.
In These Shoes ?
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was dressed to thrill wherever he went
He said: Let's make love on a mountain top
Under the stars on a big hard rock
I said: In these shoes?
I don't think so
I said: Honey, let's do it here
In walks a guy with a faraway look in his eyes
He said: I've got a powerful horse outside
Climb on the back, I'll take you for a ride
I know a little place, we can get there for the break of day
I said: In these shoes?
No way, Jose
I said: Honey, let's stay right here
No le gusta caminar No puede montar a caballo
(I don't like to dance, I can't ride a horse)
Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo
(How can I dance? It's a scandal)
Then I met an Englishman
Oh, he said
Won't you walk up and down my spine
It makes me feel strangely alive
I said: In these shoes?
I doubt you'd survive
I said: Honey, let's do it
Let's stay right here
No le gusta caminar No puede montar a caballo
(I don't like to dance, I can't ride a horse)
Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo
(How can I dance? It's a scandal)
Kirsty MacColl's song "In These Shoes?" is an upbeat and playful tune about rejecting traditional gender roles and societal expectations. The lyrics describe a woman being approached by different men who try to woo her with their adventures and desires, but she responds with humorous skepticism and a sense of empowerment.
The first man boasts his sense of adventure and suggests making love on a mountain top, to which the woman responds with the memorable line: "I said: In these shoes? I don't think so." This suggests that she is not willing to compromise her comfort and practicality for anyone else's idea of excitement or romance.
Later, another man approaches her with the offer of a horseback ride and a secret spot to visit. But again, the woman refuses: "I said: In these shoes? No way, Jose. I said: Honey, let's stay right here." This line reinforces the woman's desire to stay grounded and true to herself, rather than be swept away by someone else's idea of what she should enjoy.
The chorus of the song features Spanish phrases that translate to "I don't like to dance, I can't ride a horse. How can I dance? It's a scandal." This further emphasizes the idea that the woman doesn't fit into traditional gender roles and expectations, but she's not ashamed of it - in fact, she delights in turning down men who assume she'll conform to their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
I once met a man with a sense of adventure
I met a man who was adventurous
He was dressed to thrill wherever he went
He always dressed to impress
He said: Let's make love on a mountain top
He suggested making love on a mountaintop
Under the stars on a big hard rock
He suggested doing it under the stars on a rock
I said: In these shoes?
I asked if we could do that in my current footwear
I don't think so
I declined due to my shoes
I said: Honey, let's do it here
I suggested doing it where we were
So I'm siting at a bar in Guadalajara
I was at a bar in Guadalajara
In walks a guy with a faraway look in his eyes
A man walked in looking absent-minded
He said: I've got a powerful horse outside
He had a strong horse outside
Climb on the back, I'll take you for a ride
He offered to take me for a ride
I know a little place, we can get there for the break of day
He knew a place we could reach by dawn
I said: In these shoes?
I questioned if I could ride in my shoes
No way, Jose
I refused his offer
I said: Honey, let's stay right here
I suggested staying where we were
No le gusta caminar No puede montar a caballo
I don't like to walk, I can't ride a horse
Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo
How can I dance? It's a scandal
Then I met an Englishman
I met an Englishman
Oh, he said
He spoke
Won't you walk up and down my spine
He asked me to walk on his back
It makes me feel strangely alive
He said it made him feel alive
I said: In these shoes?
I asked if he was serious
I doubt you'd survive
I doubted he would survive the experience
I said: Honey, let's do it
I agreed to do it
Let's stay right here
But let's do it where we are
No le gusta caminar No puede montar a caballo
I don't like to walk, I can't ride a horse
Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo
How can I dance? It's a scandal
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER WILFRED GLENISTER, KIRSTY MCCOLL, WILLIAM CORREA, MELVIN CLARK LASTIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Danny Riley
I once met a man with a sense of adventure
He was dressed to thrill wherever he went
He said: Let's make love on a mountain top
Under the stars on a big hard rock
I said: In these shoes?
I don't think so
I said: Honey, let's do it here
So I'm siting at a bar in Guadalajara
In walks a guy with a faraway look in his eyes
He said: I've got a powerful horse outside
Climb on the back, I'll take you for a ride
I know a little place, we can get there for the break of day
I said: In these shoes?
No way, Jose
I said: Honey, let's stay right here
No le gusta caminar No puede montar a caballo
(I don't like to dance, I can't ride a horse)
Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo
(How can I dance? It's a scandal)
Then I met an Englishman
Oh, he said
Won't you walk up and down my spine
It makes me feel strangely alive
I said: In these shoes?
I doubt you'd survive
I said: Honey, let's do it
Let's stay right here
No le gusta caminar No puede montar a caballo
(I don't like to dance, I can't ride a horse)
Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo
(How can I dance? It's a scandal)
m k
This song absolutely defines βcatchinessβ- you just canβt help singing and tapping along your it. The beat is addictive
Chris Gifford
One of my all-time favorite songs! The tune is so damn catchy; gets me dancing every time. I dare you to listen to this and not move...Impossible I say!!!
Huugo SΓΆrsselssΓΆn
Amen to that. Catchier than Covid.
Jan Smith
Kirsty, you are not forgotten and your music will always be brilliant!
Jedi Ninja
here here
Gwen Patton
It's two years later and it's still one of my favorites. A true Song of Power, and when Kirsty was killed, we lost a true Bard.
Caroline Godden
YES!!! SHE sounds so current, Present time.
How was she killed?
The holy man before dawn
accidental death, hit by a speedboat π€.
John North
God bless her, she was brilliant.
dogbaby1
A brilliant song with a great sense of humour. Total class!