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.
Lying Down
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
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I was born and I was bred
I was reared and I was fed
Moved into the neighbourhood
Where I was bad and I was good
I fixed things for people there
I took them out I don't know where
I walked before I'll walk again
I'll walk along a line of men
And walk into the lion's den
I think you know but you won't say
Just what it is makes life this way
But I'm not going to take this lying down
Reach for the stars retch for the earth
We took the earth and made it worse
And there was never any doubt
We ate it up we spat it out
And still we love to say we did it our way
On this voyage of discovery
I'm blinded by the things I see
I've seen before I'll see again
I'll look along a line of men
And fall into the lion's den
Now you can pray your head is bared
And I'm not saying I'm not scared
But I'm not going to take this lying down
I think you know but you won't say
Just what it is makes life this way
But I'm not going to take this lying down
The lyrics to Kirsty MacColl's song "Lying Down" are about standing up for oneself and refusing to give up without a fight. The first verse describes growing up and being a part of a community where the singer both helped people and sometimes got into trouble. The line "I coloured in their lives to give them outlines" suggests that the singer played a supportive role in these people's lives, providing structure and meaning where it might otherwise be lacking. This verse ends with a declaration of bravery - the singer will go into the lion's den, despite the danger.
The second verse is more general but touches on the theme of environmental degradation and the idea that humans have caused a lot of destruction to the planet. The line "We took the earth and made it worse" captures this sentiment, while the reference to "this voyage of discovery" suggests that there is still much to be learned and understood about the world we live in. The final two lines of this verse mirror the first verse with the reference to looking along a line of men and going into the lion's den.
The chorus of the song reaffirms the singer's refusal to give up without a fight. The lines "I'm not going to take this lying down" are repeated twice, driving home the message that the singer is not willing to be passive in the face of adversity. The final verse is a plea to a higher power for protection and also an acknowledgment of fear, but the lines "I'm not saying I'm not scared" underscores the perseverance and determination that the singer wants to embody.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born and I was bred
I came into this world and grew up.
I was reared and I was fed
I was raised and taken care of by my parents.
Moved into the neighbourhood
I relocated to a new place.
Where I was bad and I was good
I had some flaws and some good qualities.
I fixed things for people there
I helped people in that area.
I took them out I don't know where
I spent time with them outside, not sure where we went.
I coloured in their lives to give them outlines
I added some brightness and highlight to their lives.
I walked before I'll walk again
I've experienced some things before and will do it again.
I'll walk along a line of men
I'll go through some difficult moments with others.
And walk into the lion's den
I'll confront some risky situations.
I think you know but you won't say
I believe you have an idea but you're not willing to express it.
Just what it is makes life this way
The factor that impacts our lives in this way.
But I'm not going to take this lying down
I won't passively accept the situation without any action.
Reach for the stars retch for the earth
We have high aspirations and great ambitions, but we also do terrible things.
We took the earth and made it worse
We've done a lot of damage to our planet.
And there was never any doubt
It was always clear to us.
We ate it up we spat it out
We consumed resources and discarded them, leaving nothing behind.
And still we love to say we did it our way
We're proud of the way we've acted, even though it's caused so much harm.
On this voyage of discovery
During our exploration of the world and ourselves.
I'm blinded by the things I see
I'm overwhelmed and unable to fully comprehend what's in front of me.
I've seen before I'll see again
I've witnessed some things in the past and will do it again.
I'll look along a line of men
I'll face some challenges alongside others.
And fall into the lion's den
I'll take a risk and possibly be in a dangerous situation.
Now you can pray your head is bared
You can hope for the best and expose yourself.
And I'm not saying I'm not scared
I'm admitting that I'm scared.
But I'm not going to take this lying down
But I won't let it defeat me without a fight.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KRISTY MACCOLL, PETE GLENISTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind