Great Big Kiss

Song Meaning

This track captures the giddy, almost dizzying rush of new infatuation. The narrator, Kate Nash, describes seeing her crush walk by with a "dancing beat," her own heart responding with a "leap and skips a beat." It's a pure, unadulterated expression of attraction, a moment where the world seems to pause and all focus narrows to that one person. The simple, direct declaration, "I'm gonna walk right up to him / And give him a great big kiss," cuts through any potential hesitation, embodying the impulsive joy of falling hard. The dynamic between the two vocalists, Billy Bragg and Kate Nash, reveals a fascinating tension. Bragg acts as an inquisitive observer, probing for details about the object of Nash's affection. Yet, Nash's answers are consistently hazy and impressionistic, focusing on vague qualities like "thick wavy hair" and "tight tapered pants." This contrast highlights how love can sometimes be built on an idealized image rather than concrete facts, with the narrator's feelings far outweighing the need for precise information. The lyrics play with a delightful ambiguity, particularly in the exchange about his eyes and dancing. Nash admits she "don't know" his eye color because he wears shades, and when asked if he's a good dancer, she responds with the evocative, "Close / Very / Very / Close." This suggests that the narrator's attraction isn't based on a detailed checklist of traits, but rather on a feeling, a vibe, and the intimate proximity he offers. The repeated phrase "good-bad but he's not evil" further emphasizes this charmingly imperfect, yet captivating, persona. Ultimately, the song's power lies in its straightforward portrayal of overwhelming affection. The repeated chorus, building in intensity, mirrors the escalating feelings of the narrator. It's this unvarnished, almost childlike enthusiasm—the desire to simply "walk right up to him / And give him a great big kiss"—that makes the track so infectious and relatable. The song celebrates the thrilling, slightly irrational, and utterly wonderful feeling of being completely smitten.