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.
My Foolish Heart
Holly Cole Lyrics
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Beware my foolish heart
How white the ever constant moon
Take care my foolish heart
There's a line between love and fascination
That's hard to see, on an evening such as this
For they both give the very same sensation
His lips are much too close to mine
Beware my foolish heart
But should our eager lips combine
Then let the fire start
For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love, this time it's love
My foolish heart
In the song "My Foolish Heart" by Holly Cole, the lyrics explore the tension between caution and desire when it comes to matters of the heart. The imagery of the night and moon underscores the idea of danger lurking in the shadows, tempting the singer and warning them to be careful. The lyrics suggest that love and fascination can be hard to differentiate, and that the feeling of being caught up in a kiss can be almost overwhelming.
The second verse of the song describes lips that are "much too close" and the possibility of a fire starting, hinting at the danger that comes with allowing one's heart to be exposed. However, the final verse seems to suggest that despite the risks, the singer has decided to give in to love this time, acknowledging that it's not just a fleeting fancy or illusory dream.
Overall, the lyrics of "My Foolish Heart" speak to the universal experience of wrestling with one's emotions and desires, and the challenge of finding the right balance between caution and vulnerability when it comes to love.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is like a lovely tune
The beautiful night has an appealing melody that draws attention and distractions.
Beware my foolish heart
My impulsive heart should be cautious before taking any rash decisions that could lead to regrets.
How white the ever constant moon
The moon's consistent brightness shines with purity and tranquility.
Take care my foolish heart
My senseless heart needs to take proper care and not get swayed by momentary emotions or delusions.
There's a line between love and fascination
Love and fascination have a thin line of differentiation that can be complicated to recognize, leading to confusion and uncertainty.
That's hard to see, how many names such as this
It's difficult to identify the labels and definitions of such feelings, which have various names and descriptions in different languages and cultures.
For they both have the very same sensation
The emotions of love and fascination have a similar sentimental impact that engulfs the senses and the heart.
When you're locked in the magic of a kiss
A single kiss can open the door to the magic of love or fascination, making it challenging to differentiate between the two.
Her lips are much too close to mine
The proximity of the other person's lips to mine creates an alluring temptation that can cloud my reasoning and awareness.
But should our eager lips combine
If our fervent desires unite, they can ignite the spark of love that sets the heart on fire.
Then let the fire start
Once the spark of love is triggered, let the flames of passion engulf and express the emotions without any inhibitions.
For this time it isn't fascination
Unlike the other times, now the emotion is not superficial fascination, but rather true feelings of love and affection.
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
This is not a fleeting dream that will soon vanish or wither away, but rather an everlasting reality.
It's love, this time it's love
The heart is now under the spell of true love, with all its virtues and imperfections, and it finally recognizes and embraces it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Ned Washington, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind