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.
am i right
Kirsty MacColl Lyrics
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I've tried too hard till I can't tell
Am I right?
I ask you now, am I right?
If you've got one will you give one
Am I right?
You say that I should change because
You want the girl I never was
Am I right?
A waste of time, am I right?
Come on out and say
I'm not the girl you want today
Am I right?
Am I right?
Am I right?
Am I right?
Am I right?
Tonight my insecurity has really got a hold of me
I'm begging you baby, tell me it's alright
Am I right?
Am I right?
The lyrics to Kirsty MacColl's "Am I Right?" express the insecurities and uncertainties that come with trying to meet others' expectations and navigate relationships. The singer wants to do well and please the person they are talking to, but they have become overwhelmed and unsure of themselves. They seek an opinion and validation, but are met with criticism and the request to be someone they are not. The refrain of the song, "Am I right?", emphasizes the constant questioning and self-doubt that plagues the singer.
The use of repetition in the refrain and throughout the song highlights the cyclical nature of the singer's thoughts and emotions. The line "I'm not the girl you want today" suggests that the singer has previously been told they are not good enough or that they need to change. This negative feedback has led the singer to doubt themselves even more, culminating in the plea for reassurance at the end of the song. Overall, "Am I Right?" conveys the frustration and anxiety that can arise when trying to meet others' expectations and the need for validation and support from those around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I want so much to do so well
I have a strong desire to succeed and perform at my best
I've tried too hard till I can't tell
I have put in so much effort that I no longer know if I am doing enough or overdoing it
Am I right?
I am seeking validation and confirmation of my actions or thoughts
I ask you now, am I right?
I am explicitly asking you for your opinion as to whether or not my beliefs are accurate and acceptable
If you've got one will you give one
If you have an opinion, I would appreciate it if you would share it with me
You say that I should change because
You believe that I ought to alter my behavior or personality because
You want the girl I never was
You desire someone who I am not and cannot be
A waste of time, am I right?
It seems like a futile effort to try and become someone I am not
Come on out and say
Please be honest with me and vocalize your true thoughts
I'm not the girl you want today
I understand that I am not the person you desire presently
Tonight my insecurity has really got a hold of me
My feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt are particularly strong tonight
I'm begging you baby, tell me it's alright
I am imploring you to comfort me and reassure me that everything is okay
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Kirsty Mac Coll
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind