In 1983, she travelled to Toronto to seek a musical career. In 1986, she founded a trio with bassist David Piltch and pianist Aaron Davis. Offered a record deal in 1989, the Holly Cole Trio released an EP, Christmas Blues, that year, which featured a version of The Pretenders' "2,000 Miles". This was followed by their first full album, Girl Talk, in 1990.
A succession of releases followed through the early 1990s. For example, 1991's Blame It On My Youth, covered songs by Tom Waits ("Purple Avenue", aka "Empty Pockets"), Lyle Lovett ("God Will"), includes show tunes such as "If I Were a Bell" (from Guys and Dolls) and "On the Street Where You Live" (from My Fair Lady), and even remakes "Trust In Me", from Disney's The Jungle Book, into a strikingly sultry and sinister song of seduction and death. Also recorded in this period was "Alison", a reinterpretation of Elvis Costello's original.
Following 1993's Don't Smoke in Bed, the trio released a CD entirely of songs by Tom Waits, called Temptation. With this 1995 release, the "Trio" was dropped from the group's name.
Cole next went into a two-album flirtation with pop music, perhaps keeping with the "diva" fad of the late 90s. These albums, Dark Dear Heart (1997) and Romantically Helpless (2000) veered further from jazz by introducing pop elements to Cole's sound.
In 2001, she returned to the Christmas jazz roots of her first CD with Baby It's Cold Outside, which included such should-be classics as "Christmas Time is Here" (from A Charlie Brown Christmas), "Santa Baby", and the title track. Swapping cold for hot, she moved to a Summer theme in 2003's Shade, this time reinterpreting Cole Porter ("Too Darn Hot"), Irving Berlin ("Heatwave"), and The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson ("God Only Knows").
Cole's latest album, Holly Cole (originally entitled This House Is Haunted) was released in Canada in March 2007. It was released in the US in January 2008 and was followed by a US tour.
Cole tours frequently, particularly around the holiday season, in Canada. She was also a part of the 1999 Lilith Fair tour.
Don't Let The Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart
Holly Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rain alike your tears.
Its heavy on the roof,
On the roof above your head.
Tomorrow is a lovers town,
Thats been beaten down.
Hand of winter holds,
life we've lived.
For I find small comfort in a bottle
When we're apart.
They say don't let the teardrops rust you shining heart.
I used to drive all night for you,
While the children were asleep.
As the dawn broke on your roof,
Back into the house I'd creep.
Where my husband slept alone,
Of course he must have known.
For we always hide the truth
for fear of losing what we own.
So don't forget the words that we choose,
And constantly misuse.
For they were written down
Everytime we were apart.
They say don't let the teardrops rust your shining heart.
So don't forget the words that we choose,
And constantly misuse.
For they were written down
Everytime we were apart.
They say don't let the teardrops rust your shining heart.
Don't let the teardrops rust your shining heart.
In Holly Cole's song "Don't Let the Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart," the lyrics express a deep sense of sorrow and loneliness. The first verse sets the tone with the imagery of rain, tears, and the heaviness of sorrow. The second verse is more intimate and reveals a secret love affair. The persona is torn between the love for the person she drives all night for, and the fear of losing what she owns - her life with her husband. The chorus is a message of hope and strength, a reminder not to let the pain and sadness of the tears rust the shining heart within.
The use of rain and tears in the song is a common symbol of sadness and despair. The weight of the sorrow is emphasized with the repetition of the phrase "On the roof above your head." The contrast between the heavy sorrow and the shining heart within suggests that despite the pain and sadness, there is a resilient and positive spirit that must not be lost.
The persona's internal conflict between her love for the other person and her fear of losing what she owns is a common theme in many love songs. The fear of losing what one has, versus the desire to pursue what one truly desires, is a dilemma that many people face in life. The lyrics capture this feeling of confusion in a poignant way.
Overall, "Don't Let the Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart" is a beautifully written song that captures the struggles of the human heart. The lyrics are a powerful reminder to embrace our emotions and not let them corrode our spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Sorrow is a lonely road,
The experience of sadness is isolating and can feel like a journey that one must undertake alone.
Rain alike your tears.
Just as rain falls outside, tears fall inside and can be equally as heavy and relentless.
Its heavy on the roof,
The weight of grief can feel as though it's pressing down, just like the rain on a rooftop.
On the roof above your head.
The burden of sadness is all-consuming and pervasive, like the sound of rain on a roof that can't be escaped.
Tomorrow is a lovers town,
The future can hold the promise of happiness and love, which is often what makes life worth living despite present hardships.
Thats been beaten down.
However, it can be difficult to hold onto hope when it feels like life has been consistently challenging and oppressive.
Hand of winter holds,
The hand of winter symbolizes the cold, barren, and depressive feelings that often come with sadness and grief.
life we've lived.
In this case, the hand of winter refers to the impact that sadness and grief can have on one's life and outlook on the world.
Instead of drowning in dispair,
Rather than succumbing entirely to overwhelming sadness and hopelessness,
For I find small comfort in a bottle
The artist finds solace in drugs or alcohol, which they use to cope with their feelings rather than addressing them head-on.
When we're apart.
The singer relies on these vices even more when separated from their loved ones or when feeling alone.
They say don't let the teardrops rust you shining heart.
Despite the urge to numb oneself to sadness, it's important to remember that the heart can still hold love and hope even in the face of grief. Don't let the tears and despair corrode your inner light and resilience.
I used to drive all night for you,
The singer has gone to great lengths and sacrifices for someone they love deeply.
While the children were asleep.
They focus on these moments when their actions didn't have an immediate impact on the children, as if to justify their behavior and spare them pain.
As the dawn broke on your roof,
The dawn symbolizes the beginning of a new day and a renewed sense of hope.
Back into the house I'd creep.
However, the artist feels as though they must sneak back into their own home as if they are doing something wrong.
Where my husband slept alone,
The guilt of their actions is acutely felt, as they acknowledge the pain and betrayal their partner must feel.
Of course he must have known.
The singer can't be sure, but they assume that their partner is aware of the infidelity.
For we always hide the truth
The singer recognizes, perhaps too late, that they have been living a lie and that they have been dishonest with themselves and others.
for fear of losing what we own.
The truth is often frightening or painful, and the artist is afraid of losing their life, their partner, or their identity if they confront it.
Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.