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.
What Do Pretty Girls Do
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now she's embarrassing and everybody laughs
At the girl with the face that could drive her baby wild
Now wasn't she the child with everything?
You should have seen her with her head held high
Now what do pretty girls do?
She used to be the apple of his eye
She went through such a lot and never even learned
That even pretty girls can get their fingers burned
She's got a cabin in a town upon the border
She gets in trouble with the local law and order
Everybody's happy when she isn't at the door
She sends out invitations to everyone, they don't come
And the phone ain't ringing for her now
You should have seen her with her head held high
Now what do pretty girls do?
She used to be the same as me or you
Now what do pretty girls do?
Well they get older just like everybody else
She never thought she'd have to take care of herself
You should have seen her with her head held high
Now what do pretty girls do?
She used to be the apple of his eye
Now what do pretty girls do?
Collecting all the records and the posters
Of the people that she knew and they knew
That she'd get older just like everybody else
She never thought she'd have to take care of herself
The song "What Do Pretty Girls Do?" by Kirsty MacColl tells the story of a former party girl who used to stay up until the early hours of the morning. She was once the girl with everything and was the apple of someone's eye. However, she now feels embarrassed, and people laugh at her because of her past behavior. She used to be carefree, but now she's struggling to take care of herself like everyone else.
The song highlights the unrealistic expectations placed on women to maintain their beauty and youthfulness. The girl with the pretty face and the perfect body once had it all, but she was never taught that time would catch up with her, just like it does with everyone else. Now she lives in a cabin on the border, away from everyone, and struggles to keep herself together. She collects records and posters of people she once knew, unable to move on from her past.
In conclusion, "What Do Pretty Girls Do?" serves as a reminder that the pressure on women to conform to beauty standards is a burden that can be too much to bear. Despite the glamour and allure often associated with being "pretty," it can be isolating and ultimately lead to a life of loneliness and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a party girl, stayed up 'til the small hours
She enjoyed partying and staying up late
Now she's embarrassing and everybody laughs
She's now become a subject of ridicule and everybody makes fun of her
At the girl with the face that could drive her baby wild
People used to find her attractive and desirable
Now wasn't she the child with everything?
Wasn't she the one who seemed to have it all?
You should have seen her with her head held high
She used to carry herself with confidence and pride
Now what do pretty girls do?
Now that she's no longer admired or envied, what does she do?
She used to be the apple of his eye
She used to be the person he adored and cared for deeply
She went through such a lot and never even learned
Despite going through a lot, she failed to learn from her experiences
That even pretty girls can get their fingers burned
Even attractive and desirable people can make mistakes and suffer consequences
She's got a cabin in a town upon the border
She owns a cabin located in the outskirts
She gets in trouble with the local law and order
She's had run-ins with the law enforcement agencies
Everybody's happy when she isn't at the door
People are relieved when she's not around
She sends out invitations to everyone, they don't come
She invites people but they don't show up
And the phone ain't ringing for her now
Nobody's calling her anymore
Well they get older just like everybody else
Attractive people age just like everyone else
She never thought she'd have to take care of herself
She never expected to be on her own and take care of herself
Collecting all the records and the posters
She's into music and collects records and posters
Of the people that she knew and they knew
She collects memorabilia of people she knows, and who know her
She'd get older just like everybody else
She'd age and face the same challenges as everyone else
She never thought she'd have to take care of herself
She didn't envision the need to become independent and self-sufficient
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: KIRSTY ANNA MAC COLL, PETER WILFRED GLENISTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arcturas the Moo Cow
I came back. Sharing this everywhere. Your good work deserves to be seen. Kirsty deserves to be immortal. Thank You again for putting this up.
Michael Armstrong
My favourite song of Kirsty's.... Breaks me heart this!
al speed
you got that right, mike. stone cold beautiful tune.
Graham
One of my all time favourite Kirsty songs. So sad that I never got to see her live. RIP Kirsty, you will be missed forever.
Arcturas the Moo Cow
I am surprised that someone in rock or country music has not covered this song, or even some of her other great songs, as Kirsty is not as well known here in the States as elsewhere in the world. I think someone smart could make a fortune.
Barry Cross
Why bother with copies when you can have the real thing? There is after all no substitute for Kirsty MacColl.
kenneth dubard
Bobby Arcturas I sort of hope not, but it would be a total hit.
I kinda like our secret, though.
revpgesqredux
Kirsty is one of those people who is so smart that most others marvel at her ideas and are for a moment uplifted and mesmerized, glimpsing a higher truth than that to which they are accustomed. But Kirsty herself was always on that higher plane, and it is hard not to despair from there... not only because the world is a much worse and more exploitative place than it usually seems or is portrayed, but also because there are not sufficient numbers of higher thinkers with noble spirits to make the difference and turn things around. Instead one is faced with the question of whether Justice will eventually be served, or not, whether by Jesus or someone or something else.
altcountryguitar
As an avid scuba diver, Kirsty's tragic death hit me pretty hard. This is the song that initially sucked me into her muscial orbit. A true talent too soon gone.
John Galvin
A magnetic and charismatic woman who's voice came from the soul out, not the teeth out...