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.
Get out of town
Holly Cole Trio Lyrics
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Before it's too late, my love
Get out of town
Be good to me please
Why wish me harm?
Why not retire to a farm?
And be contented to charm
Just disappear
I care for you much, too much
And when you're near
Close to me, dear
We touch too much
The thrill when we meet
Is so bittersweet
That darling, it's getting me down
So on your mark, get set
Get out of town
Get out of town
Before it's too late, my love
Get out of town
Be good to me please
Why wish me harm?
Why not retire to a farm?
And be contented to charm
The birds off the trees
Just disappear
I care for you much, too much
And when you're near
Close to me, dear
We touch too much
The thrill when we meet
Is so bittersweet
That darling, it's getting me down
So on your mark, get set
Get out of town
The lyrics of Holly Cole's "Get Out of Town" are fraught with the emotions of a woman who is struggling to end a love affair that has become too intense for her. By telling her lover to leave her before it is too late, she is expressing her fear that their relationship is heading for disaster. The opening lines of the song, "Get out of town before it's too late, my love," strongly suggest that the woman is aware of the dangers that lie ahead if they continue to stay together. She then implores her lover to be good to her by leaving her, indicating her desperation.
The woman goes on to question her lover's motives, asking why he wishes her harm when he could retire to a farm and be contented with charming the birds off the trees. She deeply cares for him, but she feels that their passion is difficult to control. When they are close to each other, they touch "too much," leaving the woman feeling trapped by her feelings. She acknowledges that the thrill they get when they meet is "so bittersweet" that it is causing her to feel down. Thus, she tells her lover to disappear and leave her, indicating that it is the best for both of them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Get Out of Town" reveal a woman who is struggling with intense emotions and grappling with the desire to end a love affair that has become too overwhelming for her.
Line by Line Meaning
Get out of town
The singer is urging the recipient to leave town.
Before it's too late, my love
The singer believes that delaying the recipient's departure could cause harm.
Be good to me please
The singer is pleading with the recipient to show kindness.
Why wish me harm?
The artist questions why the recipient would want to hurt them.
Why not retire to a farm?
The artist suggests that the recipient should live a peaceful life on a farm.
And be contented to charm
The singer imagines the recipient living a happy life surrounded by nature.
The birds off the trees
The recipient would thrive in a setting where they could charm birds from the trees.
Just disappear
The artist wants the recipient to vanish from town.
I care for you much, too much
The artist is concerned for the recipient's well-being.
And when you're near
The artist feels overwhelmed when they're in the recipient's presence.
Close to me, dear
The singer feels affection for the recipient.
We touch too much
The physical contact between the artist and the recipient has become too intense.
The thrill when we meet
The singer is describing the excitement they feel when they see the recipient.
Is so bittersweet
The singer enjoys seeing the recipient, but the intensity of their emotions is also causing them pain.
That darling, it's getting me down
The singer is becoming depressed as a result of their intense feelings.
So on your mark, get set
The recipient needs to start preparing to leave town rapidly.
Get out of town
The artist is commanding the recipient to leave town immediately.
Before it's too late, my love
The urgency of their departure is emphasized as a matter of love rather than safety.
Get out of town
The singer repeats their instruction for the recipient to leave town.
Be good to me please
The artist ends the song by once again imploring the recipient to show kindness to them.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind