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.
Please Help Me
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close the door to temptation
Don't let me walk through
Turn away from me darling
I'm begging you to
Please help me, I'm falling in love with you
I belong to another whose arms have grown cold
I could never be free dear
But when I'm with you
I know that I'm losing the will to be true
Please help me, I'm falling and that would be sin
Close the door to temptation
Don't let me walk in
For I mustn't want you, oh but darling I do
Please help me, I'm falling in love with you
Please help me, I'm falling in love with you
The song "Please Help Me I'm Falling" by Kirsty MacColl is a rendition of the country classic originally sung by Hank Locklin. The song describes a person who is stuck between two lovers- the first being their current partner who they had promised to be with forever, and the second being someone they are falling for. The singer is torn and feels guilty for feeling attracted to the new person. The lyrics "please help me, I'm falling in love with you" are a plea for the new person to back away and not tempt the singer to stray.
The song highlights the internal struggle that one might face when they start falling for someone new, while still being in a committed relationship. The fear of cheating, betraying, or hurting one's current partner is portrayed vividly in the lyrics. The singer acknowledges the "sin" they might commit if they go ahead with the temptation, but they cannot help their feelings. The song highlights the importance of communication and honesty in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Please help me, I'm falling in love with you
The singer confesses her love for someone and asks for their help to resist this feeling.
Close the door to temptation
The singer urges the person to avoid situations that may lead them to act on their feelings.
Don't let me walk through
The singer doesn't want to be tempted and asks the person to prevent their interaction entirely.
Turn away from me darling, I'm begging you to
The artist requests the person not to reciprocate the feelings as that would put her in a difficult situation.
I belong to another whose arms have grown cold
The artist is committed to another partner, but the relationship has lost its warmth and intimacy.
But I promised forever to have and to hold
The singer made a commitment to her current partner to stay with them forever, despite the issues in the relationship.
I could never be free dear, but when I'm with you
The singer recognizes that leaving her current partner is not an option, but she is conflicted by the strong attraction she feels for the person she is singing to.
I know that I'm losing the will to be true
The artist admits that she is struggling to remain faithful to her partner due to the emotions she is experiencing.
Please help me, I'm falling and that would be a sin
The artist believes that acting on her feelings for the person she is singing to would be wrong and goes against her values.
For I mustn't want you, oh but darling I do
The artist acknowledges that she shouldn't have feelings for someone else, but her desire for this person is too strong to ignore.
Please help me, I'm falling in love with you
The song concludes with the singer repeating her request for help in resisting her attraction to the other person.
Contributed by Jayden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.