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.
temptation
Holly Cole Lyrics
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Everything is made from dreams
Time is made from honey, slow and sweet
Only the fools know what it means
Temptation, temptation
Temptation, I can't resist
She is there waiting for you
My will has disappeared
Now my confusion is oh so clear
Temptation, temptation
Temptation, I can't resist
Temptation, temptation
Temptation, I can't resist
Dutch pink and Italian blue
He is there just waiting for you
My will has disappeared
And my confusion is oh so clear
Temptation, temptation
Temptation, temptation
Temptation, temptation
...
In Holly Cole's song Temptation, the lyrics explore the theme of giving in to temptation. The opening two lines "Rusted brandy in a diamond glass, Everything is made from dreams" set the tone for the rest of the song, indicating a dream-like state where the singer is grappling with their desires. The line "Time is made from honey, slow and sweet" suggests that the singer is taking their time in deciding whether to give in to temptation or not. However, the final line "Only the fools know what it means" implies that ultimately the singer may regret their decision.
The chorus of the song repeats the word "temptation" four times, emphasizing the internal battle that the singer is experiencing. The use of repetition throughout the song, particularly in the second and third verses, adds to the feeling of confusion and struggle. The lines "My will has disappeared, Now my confusion is oh so clear" show that the singer is fully aware of the consequences of giving in to temptation, yet they still can't resist.
Overall, the lyrics of Temptation blend the dreamy with the stark reality of human behavior. The singer grapples with the allure of temptation and ultimately succumbs to it, demonstrating the difficulty of resisting one's desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
The luxurious and aged brandy is served in an expensive glass.
Everything is made from dreams
Everything in life is a projection of our dreams and imagination.
Time is made from honey, slow and sweet
Time moves slowly and sweetly, as if it were made from honey.
Only the fools know what it means
Those who are willing to risk it all and give in to temptation know the true meaning of life.
Temptation, temptation
The allure of something forbidden or risky.
Dutch pink and Italian blue
The colors that represent the two sides of temptation: the romanticism and passion vs the coolness and danger.
She is there waiting for you
The temptation is present and waiting for you to give in.
My will has disappeared
The thoughts of temptation have taken over and are making decisions for me.
Now my confusion is oh so clear
The pull of temptation has made everything clear, even though it's a confusing and uncertain path.
He is there just waiting for you
The temptation, in another form, is still present and waiting.
Temptation, temptation
The allure of something forbidden or risky.
Temptation, temptation
The allure of something forbidden or risky.
Temptation, temptation
The allure of something forbidden or risky.
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.