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.
Purple Avenue
Holly Cole Lyrics
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To march around in April's shoes
Weathervanes remind
Of the summertimes that I've left behind
Money's gone, for Auld Lang Syne
I spent on eastern standard time
Whatever happened to my roll
All I've got is empty pockets now
Why does August try so hard
To hoist me on my own petard
I've learned one thing from how we were
That an ounce of prevention's worth a pound of cure
The shadows fall but I cannot thread
The tenor of the things you said
All that's left is flesh and bone
Lights are on but no one's home
All I've got is empty pockets now
I spill myself another drink
I count the silver in the sink
The orchestra is blind
But I've never been the worrying kind
Subsequently and furthermore
I'll sleep right here on the draining board
I'll never be paroled
I like to drink them while they're cold
All I've got is empty pockets now
In "Purple Avenue," Holly Cole tells the story of a person who is reflecting on their past mistakes and struggles to make ends meet in the present. The song starts with the singer driving down Purple Avenue, which could be a metaphor for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. They seem to be envious of the carefree days of summer that have now been replaced by financial worries. They spent their money on "eastern standard time," a line that could represent a metaphorical journey to the east or simply wasting time on something they regret.
As the song continues, the singer discusses the difficulties of life in August, a time of year that seems to bring about their own pitfalls. They have learned from their past mistakes, "That an ounce of prevention's worth a pound of cure," but the shadows of their mistakes and the scars of their failures prevent them from moving forward. They are now left with "empty pockets" and nothing else.
The last verse reveals the singer's struggle with alcoholism, suggesting that they may have taken to drinking to escape their problems. They are comfortable sleeping on the draining board, as their life seems to be heading nowhere. The line "I like to drink them while they're cold" might be interpreted as a metaphorical expression of a preference for numbness and detachment from reality, rather than facing the harsh reality of their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I slow down, Purple Avenue
I adjust my pace as I enter Purple Avenue
To march around in April's shoes
To explore and experience new things like April does
Weathervanes remind
Weathervanes bring back memories and nostalgia
Of the summertimes that I've left behind
Of the fun, warm summer days that are now in the past
Money's gone, for Auld Lang Syne
I spent my money in the past for Old Times' Sake
I spent on eastern standard time
I wasted my money on things that weren't worth it
Whatever happened to my roll
What happened to my money and success
September fell right through the hole
I lost everything in September
All I've got is empty pockets now
I am broke and have nothing left
Why does August try so hard
Why is August so difficult and challenging
To hoist me on my own petard
To cause my own downfall
I've learned one thing from how we were
I gained a valuable lesson from our past experiences
That an ounce of prevention's worth a pound of cure
It's better to prevent problems before they happen than to fix them afterward
The shadows fall but I cannot thread
I am unable to comprehend the meaning behind your words
The tenor of the things you said
The underlying meaning of the things you said
All that's left is flesh and bone
All that remains is our physical bodies
Lights are on but no one's home
You may appear present, but your mind is absent
I spill myself another drink
I pour myself another drink
I count the silver in the sink
I check my financial situation
The orchestra is blind
The world can't see or understand my struggles
But I've never been the worrying kind
I am a carefree person and don't let things bother me
Subsequently and furthermore
In continuation and addition
I'll sleep right here on the draining board
I'll rest anywhere
I'll never be paroled
I am free-spirited and can never be held down
I like to drink them while they're cold
I prefer my drinks when they are fresh and new
All I've got is empty pockets now
I am left with nothing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: THOMAS ALAN WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind