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.
I Can See Clearly Now
Holly Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the rain is gone.
I can see all obsticles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
Its gonna be a bright
Its gonna be bright sunshiny day.
I think I can make it now,
All if my bad feelings have disappeared.
There is the rainbow I've been praying for.
Its gonna be a bright
Its gonna be bright sunshiny day.
Look all around
Nothing but blue sky.
Look straight ahead
Nothing but blue sky.
Look all around
Nothing but blue sky.
Just look straight ahead
Nothing but blue sky.
I can see clearly now
The rain is gone.
I can see all obsticles in my way.
Gone is the dark cloud that had me blind.
Its gonna be a bright
Gonna be bright sunshiny day.
Gonna be a bright, gonna be bright,
Gonna be bright sunshiny day.
The song I Can See Clearly Now by Holly Cole is a song of redemption and hope. The song is about a person who has emerged from a difficult time and can now see their life with clarity. The opening line, "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone," is a metaphor for this newfound clarity. The person can now see all the obstacles that were once in their way and has a new sense of direction. The dark clouds that had once been present in their life have dissipated, and they can now see a bright, sunny day ahead of them.
The chorus of the song, "It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day," is a message of hope and positivity. The phrase is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the optimism that the person now feels. The second verse of the song further emphasizes this optimism. The pain that the person once felt has now disappeared, and their bad feelings have dissipated. They see a rainbow, a symbol of hope and promise, that they had been praying for.
The final chorus of the song, "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone/Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind/It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day," sums up the message of the song. The person has emerged from a difficult time with a sense of clarity and a new sense of hope. Overall, the song I Can See Clearly Now by Holly Cole is an uplifting message of hope and optimism for those going through a difficult time.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see clearly now,
My vision is no longer obscured
the rain is gone.
The negative and burdensome situations in my life have passed
I can see all obsticles in my way.
I am clearly aware of the challenges that lie ahead
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
The difficult times that prevented me from seeing things clearly are over
Its gonna be a bright
The future is full of hope and positivity
Its gonna be bright sunshiny day.
I can look forward to a happy and bright future
I think I can make it now,
I have the confidence and ability to overcome any obstacles
The pain is gone.
The emotional pain I was experiencing has faded away
All of my bad feelings have disappeared.
Negative emotions that were holding me back have dissipated
There is the rainbow I've been praying for.
I have finally received the hope and happiness that I have been longing for
Look all around
I am struck by the beauty of my surroundings
Nothing but blue sky.
My view is filled with positivity and brightness
Look straight ahead
I am focused on the path ahead
Nothing but blue sky.
I am filled with optimism and positivity for what lies ahead
Gonna be a bright, gonna be bright,
The future is overwhelmingly bright and positive
Gonna be bright sunshiny day.
I can look forward to happiness and positivity in the future
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@grahamsmith5756
Rarely do i comment on YouTube videos but - this was my wedding song 27 year ago - this song helped me through some tough times - my mother passed in April - the pandemic etc, This song - that I listened to almost everyday helped me through the tough times. Thank-you Holly - you helped me in ways you can never imagine. bless you and THANKS.
@AntonHu
What a fabulous performance by all.
@fetishface
The talent that's on the stage is incredible. Erin Davis, one of the best there is anywhere. Holy is just an absolute dream. What a special gift she has.
@naaberhallo1
aaron davis ;)
@RumbleFish69
Man, I love her so much! To live in a world where this is an alternative to modern-day rap and pop, is simply bliss!
@khanchy
Word. Music.
@chaimbradley1
Emailed Ms. Cole many years back, way before whatsapp. She replied. I asked her to come play our country. We emailed back and forth a few times. She is the nicest kindest loveliest person.
@ttestates1
I 1st heard her at a stereo shop using this CD for CD player demo's.
Holly is my favorite singer.
Her vibrato control is bar none
@derekmcewen3631
Saw her in Montreal around 2001, and when she played this song, she belted it out with every fibre of her being. I wish that recording was available - it was absolutely inspirational. This version here is quite subdued in comparison, but still pretty good. Definitely my favorite jazz vocalist.
@tichu7
The first time I heard this song was about 30 years ago on a flight across the pacific with the in-flight headphones. I probably listened to this song a few dozen times that flight.