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.
Jersey Girl
Holly Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the street making all that noise
Don't want to horse on eight avenue
'Cause tonight I want to be with you
Tonight I'm gonna take that ride
Across the river to the Jersey side
Take my baby to the carnival
Well I'll take you on all the rides
You're with baby on a Saturday night
Don't you know all my dreams come true
When I'm walking down the street with you
[Chorus]
Sing sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la
When you're in love with a Jersey girl
You know you thrill me with all her charms
When you're wrapped up in your baby's arms
You know you give me everything
I know that some day that you'll wear my ring
Down the shore everything's all right
You're with baby on a Saturday night
You know all my dreams come true
When I'm walking down the street with you
[Chorus]
I call you name your name
I can't sleep at night
[Chorus]
In Holly Cole's song "Jersey Girl," the singer describes how she does not have any interest in hanging out with the "corner boys" who make noise in the street. She would rather be with her beloved who is waiting for her and take a ride across the river to the Jersey side to go to the carnival. The singer declares that when she is with her lover, all her dreams come true, and even her name sounds melodious when her lover calls it. The chorus is a simple, catchy, and repetitive tune of "sha la la la" that emphasizes the singer's love for her Jersey girl.
The song paints an image of a happy couple, living carefree and enjoying moments of joy together. The carnival and the Jersey shore are symbols of the couple's happiness and romance. The song's lyrics indicate that the couple's love overcomes all the trivialities of life, including noise and other people. The tune of the song is upbeat, making it the perfect song to sing to someone you love. Overall, the song celebrates the power of love and the joy of being with the one you love.
Line by Line Meaning
I got no time for the corner boys
I am not interested in the group of young men on the street corner who make a lot of noise as I have better things to do.
Down the street making all that noise
The corner boys in the street are very loud and disruptive.
Don't want to horse on eight avenue
I do not wish to linger around the area of Eighth Avenue.
'Cause tonight I want to be with you
This evening, my desire is to spend time with you rather than any other activity.
Tonight I'm gonna take that ride
I have made plans to take a ride this evening.
Across the river to the Jersey side
My destination for the ride is the Jersey side of the river.
Take my baby to the carnival
I plan to bring my beloved partner to the carnival.
Well I'll take you on all the rides
I aim to take you on any and all amusement park rides that you wish to experience.
Down the shore everything's all right
The beach area is peaceful and everything is well there.
You're with baby on a Saturday night
On this particular Saturday night, my partner and I will be together.
Don't you know all my dreams come true
My heart's desires are all fulfilled whenever I am with you.
When I'm walking down the street with you
Simply being by your side as we walk seems to bring me an immense amount of joy.
Sing sha la la la la la la
These syllables are used to indicate a catchy and upbeat classic pop song melody.
Sha la la la la la la la la
This repetition continues to serve as a melodic placeholder.
Sha la la la la la la la
Once again, these words signify a temporary placeholder for the main chorus lyrics.
Sha la la la
The song concludes with a musical fade-out using these syllables.
When you're in love with a Jersey girl
This line signifies that the song is a tribute to a woman from New Jersey with whom the artist has fallen in love.
You know you thrill me with all her charms
The Jersey girl has various qualities that delight the singer immensely.
When you're wrapped up in your baby's arms
Being in the loving embrace of this woman brings unparalleled comfort and contentment.
You know you give me everything
The artist feels that the Jersey girl provides him with everything that he could want or need.
I know that some day that you'll wear my ring
The artist is certain that one day the Jersey girl will commit to being in a long-term romantic relationship with him.
I call you name your name
The artist has an intense desire to say his partner's name.
I can't sleep at night
The singer has trouble falling asleep when his beloved partner is not with him.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TOM WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind