They Don't Know

This song was written and first recorded by Kirsty MacColl in 1979. However, a strike at her distributors prevented it from being released as a single, although it was popular on UK radio. Tracey's version, however, was a hit, and Kirsty MacColl provided backing vocals on this version: the 'bay-ay-be-ee' heard just before the last verse, is sung by her.

The song is about a girl who hears from lots of people that the guy she's seeing isn't right for her. She feels that they just don't understand, as they've never heard of love.

Kirsty MacColl wrote this when she was just 17. She was the daughter of folk singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl, who wrote Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." In December 2000, she tragically died after being hit by a speedboat in the Caribbean. After her death, Tracey Ullman took part in a tribute concert for her.