Kirsty Anna MacColl (Croydon, England, UK on 10 October 1959 - 18 December … Read Full Bio ↴Kirsty Anna MacColl (Croydon, England, UK on 10 October 1959 - 18 December 2000) was a British pop singer-songwriter. She was the daughter of dancer Jean Newlove and noted folk singer Ewan MacColl.

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.

Miss Otis Regrets
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
She is sorry to be delayed
But last evening down on lover's lane she strayed
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today

When she woke up and found that her dream of love was gone
Madam
She ran to the man who had lead her so far astray
And from under her velvet gown
She drew a gun and shot her lover down
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today

When the mob came and got her and dragged her from the jail
Madam
They strung her upon the old willow across the way
And the moment before she died
She lifted up her lovely head and cried
Madam
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today

Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today

Overall Meaning

The song "Miss Otis Regrets" by Kirsty MacColl Featuring the Pogues tells the story of a young woman, Miss Otis, who is unable to keep her lunch appointment due to unforeseen circumstances. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that these circumstances were much darker than expected. Miss Otis confesses that she strayed with her lover the night before but soon found out that her dream of love was gone. Heartbroken, Miss Otis takes revenge on her lover by shooting him down.

After being caught and jailed, Miss Otis is eventually taken out by a mob and hung upon an old willow tree. The tragic story concludes with Miss Otis expressing regret, not for the murder she committed, but for being unable to attend her lunch appointment. The lyrics capture the irony of the situation and the tragic end of a young life.

Line by Line Meaning

Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today
Miss Otis is unable to join for lunch today and is sorry for the inconvenience caused