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.
They Don't Know
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been around for such a long time now
Or maybe I could leave you but I don't know how
And why should I be lonely every night
When I can be with you, oh yes you make it right
And I don't listen to the guys who say
That you're bad for me and I should turn you away
And they've never heard of love
I get a feeling when I look at you
Wherever you go now I want to be there too
They say we're crazy but I just don't care
And if they keep on talkin' still they get nowhere
So I don't mind if they don't understand
When I look at you and you hold my hand
Cause they don't know about us
And they've never heard of love
Why should it matter to us if they don't approve
We should just take our chances while we've got nothing to lose
Baby
There's no need for living in the past
Now I found good loving gonna make it last
I tell the others don't bother me
Cause when they look at you they don't see what I see
No I don't listen to their wasted lines
Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs
But they don't know about us
And they've never heard of love
No I don't listen to their wasted lines
Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs
But they don't know about us
And they've never heard of love
Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know" is a song about the power of love and the inability of others to understand it. The song opens with the singer acknowledging that her significant other has been around for a long time, and that she can't quite bring herself to leave despite any misgivings she may have. The chorus serves as a defiant response to those who try to caution her against the relationship, stating that they simply don't understand the depth of her feelings. The second verse is similarly confident, with the singer expressing her desire to be with her partner and dismissing all criticisms as "wasted lines."
The song's central theme, then, is that love is a force that transcends the opinions of others. The singer is unafraid to stand up to those who would doubt her romance, insisting that they simply don't know what they're talking about. Instead, she focuses on the way that her partner makes her feel, and the joy that their relationship brings her. By the end of the song, she is even able to encourage others to follow her example and pursue love without fear of judgment.
The lyrics of "They Don't Know" are powerful because they speak to a universal experience: the feeling that no one else understands our feelings. The song is a reminder that true love is worth fighting for, even in the face of opposition. It is a message of hope and perseverance that has resonated with audiences for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been around for such a long time now
You have been a part of my life for a significant amount of time
Or maybe I could leave you but I don't know how
Although I may have doubts about our relationship, I do not know how to let go
And why should I be lonely every night
I do not want to be alone every night
When I can be with you, oh yes you make it right
Being with you makes me feel complete
And I don't listen to the guys who say
I choose to ignore those who tell me negative things about us
That you're bad for me and I should turn you away
They believe you are not good for me and I should end things with you
Cause they don't know about us
They do not have enough knowledge about our relationship
And they've never heard of love
They do not have a true understanding of what love is
I get a feeling when I look at you
When I see you, I feel a certain emotion
Wherever you go now I want to be there too
I want to be with you wherever you go
They say we're crazy but I just don't care
Others may think we are crazy, but I do not let their opinions bother me
And if they keep on talkin' still they get nowhere
Even if they continue to talk about us, it does not change anything
So I don't mind if they don't understand
I am okay with them not comprehending our relationship
When I look at you and you hold my hand
When I see you and feel your touch, I know that we belong together
Why should it matter to us if they don't approve
We should not care about their approval of our relationship
We should just take our chances while we've got nothing to lose
We should take risks while we still can because we have nothing to lose
Baby
Term of endearment for their partner
There's no need for living in the past
We should not dwell on the past
Now I found good loving gonna make it last
Now that I have found a good relationship, I want to make it last forever
I tell the others don't bother me
I tell others not to bother me with their opinions about us
Cause when they look at you they don't see what I see
When they observe you, they do not see your true qualities that I see
No I don't listen to their wasted lines
I do not pay attention to their meaningless comments
Got my eyes wide open and I see the signs
I am aware of what is going on around us
But they don't know about us
They lack the knowledge about our relationship
And they've never heard of love
They do not have an authentic understanding of love
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Kirsty Mac Coll
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind