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.
The Hardest Word
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With me in the valley you out on the hill
I can just see you if I close my eyes
Climbing those mountains I picture you still
I see your smile just as I saw the sunrise
This land is ancient it's built out of bones
At war with each other, the mother, the father
Be kind to each other, your father, your mother
On the horizon the eagles are flying
And I mean no more than a cloud in the sky
I never know if I'm laughing or crying
The hardest word is the word goodbye
Teach me the old ways I'm ready to learn
Be kind to the sister, be kind to the brother
The writer, the singer, the poet, the clown
Be good to the man and be kind to them all
And we are ancient built from bones
Make time for the young and make time for the old
Be kind to each other oh that's what I know
Be kind to the mothers, daughters and sons
The true and the great and the scared and the small
Be kind to each other, be kind to them all
Forgive our indignity and we forgive yours
As I am the mother, you are the father
Entwined in each other, now and forever
The fathers of daughters, the mothers of sons
Forever and ever and ever as one
As we are the fathers, we are the sons
And we are the daughters, the mothers and brothers
Forever and ever and ever as one
The lyrics of Kirsty MacColl's song 'The Hardest Word' speak of unity and acceptance, urging listeners to be kind to one another and to see each other as family. She speaks of the ancient land, built from the bones of those who came before, highlighting the importance of honoring and respecting our predecessors. This theme continues as she mentions the various family members – fathers, mothers, daughters, sons – and encourages kindness towards all.
MacColl references the natural world as well – eagles flying on the horizon and the clouds in the sky. It's as if she is highlighting the interconnectedness of everything in the world, including the people in it. She acknowledges the difficulty of saying goodbye, the hardest word, but encourages listeners to forgive and be forgiven. In the end, MacColl brings everything back full circle, reminding us that we are all one, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers and sisters, built from the same bones and entwined forever.
Overall, 'The Hardest Word' is a song about kindness, respect, and unity. It encourages the listener to see past differences and treat others as they would want to be treated, with love and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
With me in the valley you out on the hill
Even though we are not together, we still have a connection
I can just see you if I close my eyes
You are always with me in my thoughts and memories
Climbing those mountains I picture you still
I imagine you conquering challenges in life
I see your smile just as I saw the sunrise
Your smile is as beautiful as the sunrise to me
This land is ancient it's built out of bones
The history and people of this land are rooted in its past
At war with each other, the mother, the father
People fight with their own family members
The sisters, the brothers, the daughters and sons
Family relationships can be complicated
Be kind to each other, your father, your mother
It's important to show compassion and love to family members
On the horizon the eagles are flying
Nature is always present and majestic
And I mean no more than a cloud in the sky
I'm just a small part of this world
I never know if I'm laughing or crying
Life can be full of ups and downs that we must navigate
The hardest word is the word goodbye
Saying goodbye is never easy
Teach me the old ways I'm ready to learn
I want to respect traditions and learn from elders
Be kind to the sister, be kind to the brother
We should show kindness to our siblings
The writer, the singer, the poet, the clown
All forms of art and expression should be appreciated
Be good to the man and be kind to them all
We should treat all people with respect and kindness
And we are ancient built from bones
Our ancestors are part of our DNA and history
Make time for the young and make time for the old
We should value and learn from people of all ages
Be kind to each other oh that's what I know
Compassion and kindness make the world a better place
Be kind to the mothers, daughters and sons
Women and all family members should be treated with respect
The true and the great and the scared and the small
All people are important and should be treated equally
Be kind to each other, be kind to them all
Showing kindness to everyone is essential
Forgive our indignity and we forgive yours
We are all capable of making mistakes, but forgiveness is important
As I am the mother, you are the father
Each person in a family plays an important role
Entwined in each other, now and forever
Family members are connected in a unique and special way
The fathers of daughters, the mothers of sons
Parents have a special bond with their children
Forever and ever and ever as one
Our relationship with family members is forever
As we are the fathers, we are the sons
Our experiences with our own parents shape who we become
And we are the daughters, the mothers and brothers
We all have different roles and relationships within a family
Forever and ever and ever as one
Our connections to family are unbreakable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HAMISHG MACCOLL, KRISTY MACCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annbritanilsson
Thanks for posting this. It's one of my fave songs and I think the best version ended up on the album but it's so great to listen to the evolution of a song and all different versions, each one is really wonderful.