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.
Innocence
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
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And it wouldn't take a genius to work out what the scene is
It might just take a pilot to give you a natural high
But you're sending off those bottle tops for your free piece of mind
And are you just waving or drowning?
It's so hard to tell when you're so far away
I was the fly upon your wall and I saw what you know
Your pornographic priestess left you for another guy
You frighten little children and you always wonder why
Always wonder why
The mercury is rising and it's not all that surprising
In the land of milk and honey where you make big money
And it always keeps the rain off and it always keeps you dry
But back home the people hate you and you never did know why
But I think I'm going to tell you
Just give me fifty thousand lire for my thoughts
Oh, innocence has passed you by a long, long time ago
I was the fly upon your wall and I saw what you know
The supermarket checkout girl once smacked you in the eye
When you eat no one else does but you always wonder why
Always wonder why
It would take a gunshot just to clear your head awhile
And after all this time how can you stand there
Look at me and smile?
Now are you just waving or drowning?
It's so hard to tell when you're so far away
Oh, innocence has passed you by a long, long time ago
I was the fly upon your wall and I saw what you know
Degeneration suits you, now I'm going home to cry
You won't be seeing me again but you'll always wonder why
Always wonder why
In Kirsty MacColl's song "Innocence," she talks about a person who has lost their innocence a long time ago. The opening lines suggest that there is something between the singer and the person that could be explained easily. However, the distance has made communication difficult, and the singer wonders whether the person is waving or drowning. This is meant to depict the emotional struggles faced by the person being talked about in the song.
As the song progresses, the singer notes that the person has lost their innocence a long time ago. The singer was a fly on the wall and has seen everything that the person knows. The person's behavior toward others is inappropriate and scares little children. At this point, the singer is very empathetic and wishes to help the person. She suggests it would take 'fifty thousand lire' for her thoughts, emphasizing that she needs to be paid for her help.
The supermarket checkout girl had once beaten the person up, and they eat alone, always wondering why. The song's chorus repeats that innocence has long since passed the person by, and they are slowly degenerating. The song's end is gloomy, with the singer expressing her desire to cry and that the person would never see her again, although they would always wonder why.
Line by Line Meaning
It wouldn't take a long time to explain what lies between us
Our issues are clear and don't require much explanation
And it wouldn't take a genius to work out what the scene is
Anyone could understand the problem at hand
It might just take a pilot to give you a natural high
A thrill-seeker like you might require something extreme to feel alive
But you're sending off those bottle tops for your free piece of mind
You're seeking solutions from low-effort sources, hoping for peace of mind
And are you just waving or drowning?
I don't know if you're doing okay or metaphorically 'drowning'
It's so hard to tell when you're so far away
We're very distant and I can't read you clearly
Oh, innocence has passed you by a long, long time ago
You've lost your purity a long time ago
I was the fly upon your wall and I saw what you know
I witnessed your secrets through being present in your life
Your pornographic priestess left you for another guy
Your sexual interests did not lead to a successful relationship
You frighten little children and you always wonder why
You scare kids and don't understand why
The mercury is rising and it's not all that surprising
Unexpected events are happening
In the land of milk and honey where you make big money
Money is plentiful where you live
And it always keeps the rain off and it always keeps you dry
You live in a comfortable environment, but still have problems
But back home the people hate you and you never did know why
Your hometown resents you and you're clueless as to why
But I think I'm going to tell you
I'm about to reveal something to you
Just give me fifty thousand lire for my thoughts
You'll have to pay for the insight I'm about to give you
The supermarket checkout girl once smacked you in the eye
Even the most mundane tasks don't go well for you
When you eat no one else does but you always wonder why
You have isolation and insecurity issues
It would take a gunshot just to clear your head awhile
Your mind is in a bad state, and nothing short of trauma could clear it up
And after all this time how can you stand there
Look at me and smile?
Despite all your problems, you continue to feign happiness and hide your troubles
Degeneration suits you, now I'm going home to cry
Your decline in mental state suits your poor choices, and I'm leaving to cry for you
You won't be seeing me again but you'll always wonder why
You'll be left wondering about my absence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: KIRSTY ANNA MAC COLL, PETER WILFRED GLENISTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind