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.
Terry
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could be invisible to you
Anyway it doesn't matter now
'cause I have met somebody new
Sorry if your heart is broken
Why's your mouth just hanging open?
Don't look so surprised
Terry wants my photograph
Terry says our love will last forever
And he should know
That boy terry's not the kind
To mess around and change his mind
Terry is as tough as marlon brando
Now he's waiting for me
I just had to break the news to you
You'd better hide your face a while
If he gets mad there's no telling what he'll do
You can see the door is open
So if you don't want your nose broken
You had better go away
'cause terry's coming round today
Terry wants my photograph
Terry says our love will last forever
And he should know
(terry said he'll never let me go)
That boy terry's not the kind
To mess around and change his mind
Terry is as tough as marlon brando
He's been making eyes at me
It started long ago
So when he said he loved me
I just had to say "I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know"
You thought you were such a smartie
But terry knows about karate
There's other things he's good at too
Terry's not a bit like you
And terry wants my photograph
Terry says our love will last forever
And he should know
(terry said he'll never let me go)
That boy terry's not the kind
To mess around and change his mind
Terry is as tough as marlon brando
The song "Terry" by Kirsty MacColl tells the story of a girl who has moved on from a previous relationship and found a new love interest, named Terry. The lyrics are directed towards her ex-partner, who did not listen to her when they were together. The singer tells him that it does not matter anymore because she has met someone new. She goes on to apologize if she has broken his heart and urges him to leave before Terry arrives since he is tough and does not want to mess around.
The chorus "Terry wants my photograph" emphasizes the persistence of her new love interest and how he believes their love will last forever, unlike the previous relationship. The girl also assures her ex that Terry is not like him and he should not underestimate him, as he is tough and knows karate. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the assertion that Terry is just as tough as Marlon Brando.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of empowerment and moving forward from a failed relationship. It highlights the importance of listening and valuing your partner and the danger of underestimating someone's toughness and persistence.
Line by Line Meaning
Why'd you never listen to me?
You were never attentive towards me.
I could be invisible to you
You hardly paid any heed to me.
Anyway it doesn't matter now
It's irrelevant now.
'cause I have met somebody new
I have found someone else to love.
Sorry if your heart is broken
I apologize if I hurt your feelings.
Why's your mouth just hanging open?
You look surprised and shocked.
Don't look so surprised
You shouldn't appear flabbergasted.
I found another guy
I started a new relationship.
Terry wants my photograph
Terry desires a picture of me.
Terry says our love will last forever
Terry believes that our relationship will endure forever.
And he should know
Terry is confident about it.
That boy terry's not the kind
Terry is unlike someone else.
To mess around and change his mind
He's not fickle and indecisive.
Terry is as tough as marlon brando
Terry is as sturdy as Marlon Brando.
Now he's waiting for me
Terry is excited to see me.
I just had to break the news to you
I had to inform you about my new relationship.
You'd better hide your face a while
You should avoid meeting Terry for some time.
If he gets mad there's no telling what he'll do
Terry may become violent when angry.
You can see the door is open
The door is open for you to leave.
So if you don't want your nose broken
If you want to stay out of trouble.
You had better go away
You should leave.
'cause terry's coming round today
Because Terry is visiting today.
He's been making eyes at me
He's been flirting with me.
It started long ago
It began some time back.
So when he said he loved me
I knew he had feelings for me.
I just had to say "I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know"
I had predicted his love for me.
You thought you were such a smartie
You believed you were clever.
But terry knows about karate
But Terry has knowledge of Karate.
There's other things he's good at too
He has expertise in other areas.
Terry's not a bit like you
Terry is nothing like you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GAVIN POVEY, KIRSTY ANNA MAC COLL, Kirsty Mac Coll
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sormu16
Terrific! I bought the record, where popular.
At a time I made a quizz to a party, the question was:
At some time in "Terry" Kirsty Mccoll sings "I know" many times after each other.
How many:
10, 11, 12 or 13?
To my surprise 8 out of ten had the answer right!
Take your guess, then play the song and check.
So sad she left early, but she was still lucky.
"Life in the years", not "years in the life".
@Chanson60svinyl
rest in heaven lovely lady! Grew up on her music. Wish i could have met her to tell her how much i love and appreciate her. Her mum is with her now in heaven. ♥
@toddcott9510
Always been a big fan of Kirsty. After her sad demise, I would sit on the Kirsty MacColl bench. In Soho square and eat my lunch and think about the marvelous music She created. Kirsty's music lives on forever. And it deserves to.
@nickmorrell3559
Me too tod ..sorely missed. I love that the kirsty bench moves around .so I have to look for it ...fitting tribute .a lonely bench in Soho square ...
@Dandroid5000
I was travelling in Mexico in December of 2000.....on a beach in Tulum, less than 20 miles from where Kirsty tragically died. I remember reading about it online when I returned home. To this day, it cuts me up inside to think of what happened to her......gonna have to sit on that bench some time.
@kalleandersson6844
I can't understand how anybody could leave sombody with a dancing style that fierce.
@sevenseasonsofbrown
same 💀
@Supergeologist
A truly sad loss, killed through arrogance, denied justice through corruption.
@johnoverton879
They killed a good one 😔
@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN
@@arranhorron5173 Apparently someone was paid off to take the rap for her death while the guilty party ( from a rich family ) remained untouched.
You can do some research now that you have an idea of apparent story arran, well that's if you want to of course. She was hit by a speedboat that was prohibited to be in the swimming area.
She was swimming with her two sons and her death came just seconds after she heroically saved the life of her son Jamie, who was 15 at the time.
@pa_maj.MARTINI-van-MAN
@@arranhorron5173 I agree arran, it was my friend that told me the full story and showed me some articles about it years ago, shocking really, no justice in this case.