Titanic Days
maccoll kirsty Lyrics

The lyrics of “Titanic Days” by Kirsty MacColl describe a turbulent and violent sexual encounter that the singer is struggling to come to terms with. The first verse evokes a sense of powerlessness and submission as she describes feeling his hands all over her and his hot breath on her body. She can’t resist him, and he binds her wrists with rope. The chorus repeats the phrase “dream on,” suggesting that she is in a state of denial or avoidance about the reality of the situation. She wonders if she will ever be saved from these “Titanic days,” which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the sinking feeling of being trapped in a dangerous situation with no way out.

The second verse continues the theme of confusion and distortion, as the singer remembers the encounter with hazy recollections and twisted words. She is aware that the encounter was violent and took place in a cheap hotel. Yet, there is some degree of ambivalence as she describes his arms and face, suggesting that there is a sense of love or attraction amid the chaos. The bridge of the song is particularly enigmatic, with the singer describing herself as “so hot, so hungry / so faretheewell goodbye,” suggesting a mixture of desire and anger that is hard to reconcile.

The final chorus returns to the phrase “dream on,” but with a twist, as the singer asks if the listener ever gets that sinking feeling. The song ends on a note of uncertainty and unease, leaving the listener to ponder the complex emotions and tangled narrative that Kirsty MacColl has created.