Though Ullman’s version was arranged similarly to MacColl’s, Ullman’s version had the fuller sound more reminiscent of the ’60s girls groups that had inspired MacColl in the first place. In that scenario, the lyrics of “They Don’t Know” no longer detail a creepy relationship so much as an escape fantasy. The premise of the video recasts the song as the story of a bored woman (Ullman) daydreaming about McCartney.
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What probably helped sell the song there was the video, which featured a cameo by Paul McCartney, in whose movie “Give My Regards to Broad Street” Ullman had a minor role. Ullman was well established in the UK when her “They Don’t Know” was released, but she was unknown in America.
Ullman’s version reached Number 2 in the UK, and when it was released in the United States the following year, it peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. This version, like the original “They Don’t Know,” was on Stiff Records. Young kids, amirite?įour years later, English actress and comedian Tracey Ullman recorded “They Don’t Know” as her second UK single (the first was her cover of “Breakaway,” originally recorded by Irma Thomas in the ’60s.) MacColl sang back-up in Ullman’s version, including the signature “baaaaaaby” in the middle. These folks MacColl references have maybe never heard of love, but I’m not convinced her narrator has, either. They say we’re crazy but I just don’t careĪnd if they keep on talking still they get nowhere Wherever you go now, I wanna be there too That you’re bad for me and I should turn you away When I can be with you, oh yes you make it right Oh, maybe I could leave you but I don’t know how You’ve been around for such a long time now MacColl’s narrator, like Springfield’s, seems to stick around out of convenience or maybe obsession, rather than any noble reason: Thematically, the song was not too different from Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want To Be With You” in that both songs were odes to relationships that don’t seem that healthy. But even though the single wasn’t sold, it became a huge radio hit, reaching Number 2 on the Music Week airplay chart.
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