Caroline (Kirsty MacColl song)


"Caroline" is a song by British singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released in 1995 as a single from her compilation album Galore. It was written by MacColl, and produced by Victor Van Vugt and MacColl. "Caroline" reached No. 58 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks.
"Caroline" was inspired by Dolly Parton's "Jolene". MacColl told Larry Printz of The Morning Call: "A lot of the songs I heard growing up were written by men for women. There was a lot of, 'Oh, I can't live without my man.' I don't write songs about women as victims. I think it's been done to death."

Critical reception

Upon release, Larry Flick of Billboard commented: "Loosely intended as an Irish-cultured takeoff on Dolly Parton's "Jolene," MacColl swings back into action with tongue placed firmly in cheek. Track has a toe-tapping acoustic tone that frames her vocal to maximum effect." Roch Parisien of the Times Colonist considered the song "perhaps most potent, direct pop-rock construction yet".
Joe Szczechowski of The News Journal felt the song was a "bright, acoustic-based rocker" and Mike Boehm of the Los Angeles Times described it as "catchy". Patrick Davitt of The Leader-Post considered the song "excellent pop" with a "strong hint of the "California Sound"." In a retrospective review of the song, Stewart Mason of AllMusic commented: "A remarkable song both lyrically and musically, it's one of MacColl's biggest triumphs. A country-tinged pop song filled with ultra-jangly guitars and breathy harmonies, a chorus that Marshall Crenshaw would kill to have written."

Track listing

;7" single
  1. "Caroline" - 2:56
  2. "Irish Cousin" - 4:49
;CD single
  1. "Caroline" - 2:56
  2. "El Paso" - 3:49
  3. "My Affair" - 6:08
;CD single
  1. "Caroline" - 2:56
  2. "Irish Cousin" - 4:49
  3. "New England" - 3:31
  4. "The Butcher Boy" - 3:57
;CD single
  1. "Caroline" - 2:56
  2. "The Butcher Boy" - 3:57
;CD single
  1. "Caroline" - 2:56

    Personnel