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.
Ghosts
Holly Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've nowhere to go, I've nowhere to go
Makes me so happy when you smile at me
Work all your life, you end up with nothing
Live in one room like a bum
Once I flew in a plane and I fought in the war
I lived in a castle but I slept on the floor
I'm sorry
Out in the street, the colored kids playing
Where my own little boy used to play
So I sit in this chair and I ache with the gout
Or I talk to myself cause I'm scared to go out
I just want to know what was it all about?
I'm sorry
The song Ghosts by Holly Cole is a melancholic and poignant piece that describes the feelings of a lonely and elderly man, who looks back on his life with regret and longing. The first few lines of the song, "Stay with me for a little while. You've nowhere to go, I've nowhere to go. Makes me so happy when you smile at me" evoke a sense of idleness and loneliness, as the man pleads with someone to keep him company. The following lines, "Work all your life, you end up with nothing. Live in one room like a bum" show the bleak reality of his life as he has nothing to show for all his years of work.
The man's past is a story of ups and downs, as he reminisces about his time in the army, flying planes and living in a castle, while also having to sleep on floors. Unfortunately, despite all of his past experiences, he is now left to sit in a chair, dealing with the aches of old age and afraid to go out. The line "Or I talk to myself because I'm scared to go out. I just want to know what was it all about?" expresses his frustration and confusion about the purpose of his life.
Overall, the lyrics of the song capture the feelings of isolation and regret that many people experience in their old age. The melancholic tone, coupled with Holly Cole's emotive voice, make for a poignant and powerful listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay with me for a little while
I want you to spend time with me and stay by my side for a short period of time.
You've nowhere to go, I've nowhere to go
Neither of us have any specific place to go or any task to accomplish, so we might as well spend time together.
Makes me so happy when you smile at me
Your smile fills me with joy and happiness.
Work all your life, you end up with nothing
No matter how hard you work throughout your life, you might end up with nothing in the end.
Live in one room like a bum
Living in just one small, cramped room can make you feel like a destitute and helpless person.
Once I flew in a plane and I fought in the war
I have had some exciting experiences in life like flying a plane and battling in a war.
I lived in a castle but I slept on the floor
Even though I once lived in a grand castle, I had to sleep on the hard floor.
And I don't want to be all alone anymore
I no longer wish to live in isolation or loneliness and want someone to be with me.
I'm sorry
I apologize for my past actions or for any pain I may have caused.
Out in the street, the colored kids playing
I see children of different races playing outside on the street.
Where my own little boy used to play
I used to have a son who would play with other kids in this area.
So I sit in this chair and I ache with the gout
I am now suffering from the painful condition of gout and can only sit and feel immense discomfort.
Or I talk to myself cause I'm scared to go out
I'm so afraid of going outside that I talk to myself instead of facing the world.
I just want to know what was it all about?
I am curious to understand what the purpose of life is or what significance my own life holds.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind