Born in Buxton, Derbyshire, Cole grew up in nearby Chapel en le Frith and went to New Mills Grammar School. After failing in law at University College London, he later attended (but did not graduate from) the University of Glasgow where he studied philosophy and English and met the other members of band that would become The Commotions. Their 1984 debut, Rattlesnakes, contained numerous literary and pop culture references to figures like Norman Mailer, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, Truman Capote and Joan Didion. The group produced two more albums, Easy Pieces and Mainstream, before disbanding in 1989, when Cole re-located to New York to record with legendary musicians like Fred Maher and Robert Quine (as well as a then largely unknown Matthew Sweet).
This solo setting produced two acclaimed albums, Lloyd Cole in 1990 and 1991's Don't Get Weird on Me Babe. The latter was recorded in two parts: one side continued the New York rock mastered on his first solo album, while the other side featured a session orchestra, much in the style of Burt Bacharach or Scott Walker. Although some reviewers have claimed Don't Get Weird on Me Babe (the title being a quote from the American neo-realism poet Raymond Carver) to be a creative peak, it produced significantly lesser record sales, and the contract with Capitol Records ended.
Subsequently signed by Rykodisc, Cole continued redefining his sound with Bad Vibes (1993), a collaboration with producer/remixer Adam Peters using a harder, grunge and psychedelica inspired sound. Love Story (1995) established stripped-down, largely acoustic sound landscapes with the help of Stephen Street (famous for his work with Blur and The Smiths) and former Commotions Neil Clark and Blair Cowan; the album produced a minor hit with the song "Like Lovers Do".
In 2000, after years without a contract, Cole recorded a disc with the New York band The Negatives, featuring Jill Sobule and Dave Derby of the Dambuilders. He has since released solo albums on smaller independent labels. Sanctuary Records, the company responsible for the revival of Morrissey, released Music in a Foreign Language (2003) in the U.K. Recorded largely by Cole himself (including tracks recorded directly into a Mac), the songs had a stark, folk-inspired singer-songwriter style. One Little Indian, home of Björk, released Music in a Foreign Language in the U.S.; they also collected a number of outtakes (recorded from 1996 to 2000) on 2004's Etc. and released an instrumental ambient electronica album, Plastic Wood, the same year.
Cole continued to tour, playing intimate club venues in a one-man acoustic setting. In 2004, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Rattlesnakes, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions reformed to perform a one-off, sell-out tour in the U.K. and Ireland. An avid golfer, he is also known for playing concerts in towns suspiciously close to famous golf courses. He also shares a passion for this sport with Alice Cooper who is said to introduce the song "Only Women Bleed" claiming "not even Lloyd Cole has written a song about menstruation" when playing live.
Cole's album "Antidepressant" was released in 2006 featuring the former Commotions guitarist Neil Clark on some tracks.
The follow-up Broken Record, released in September 2010, marked a departure from his solo recordings, as it was performed by a band of longstanding friends and working partners, including Fred Maher, Joan Wasser, Rainy Orteca, Dave Derby and Blair Cowan – as well as two musicians, Matt Cullen (guitar; banjo) and Mark Schwaber (guitar; mandolin).
An album co-funded by fans, Standards, was released in June 2013.
A studio album – Guesswork – was released on July 26, 2019 by earMUSIC.
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Lloyd Cole Lyrics
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I'm falling in love with her again
She's looking for a change of pace,she says
I can see that old look on her face
She says it takes an open mind
I think she means an open relationship
She says I can be so unkind
Don't think twice
If you gotta go, Mary it's alright
How much love can one man need?
Don't change your mind
Because true love is hard to find
But I'll find another...lover...
She says it isn't wrong or right
And me, I'm emotionally colourblind
She's waking me at half past four
I'm sleeping on the bathroom floor again
She's fallen for his new age verse
I'm holding back a level of consciousness
I know it isn't wrong or right
But all I said was...
Don't think twice
If you gotta go, Mary it's alright
How much love can one man need?
Don't change your mind
Because true love is hard to find
But I'll find another...lover...
I ran into an old girlfriend
On the corner of Varrick and VanDam
She said she had to change her address
What a strange coincidence...
The song "Another Lover" by Lloyd Cole is a portrayal of a love triangle that has become messy and complicated. The singer is in a relationship with a woman named Mary, who is exploring the idea of an open relationship. She tells him that she wants to change her pace, and the singer can see an old look on her face, which he interprets as her wanting to explore her past relationships. This idea bothers him, and he declares that he will find another lover if she wants to explore her options.
As the song progresses, Mary finds a new partner who has introduced her to the idea of new age verse, which she seems to be fond of. Meanwhile, the singer is struggling with his insecurities and emotional limitations. He is unsure of what he wants, and his perspective on love is skewed. He encounters an old girlfriend on the street, who has also moved on, which highlights the transience of relationships and the inevitability of change.
The song's lyrics touch on the themes of jealousy, fidelity, and the human inability to control love. It is a poignant commentary on how relationships are not always easy and require constant work and understanding from both parties involved. The lyrics' depth is conveyed well by Lloyd Cole's signature mellow voice, which adds to the somber mood of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
She's calling up her old boyfriends
The woman is reaching out to her ex-boyfriends, possibly searching for a new spark.
I'm falling in love with her again
The singer is experiencing a renewed attraction towards the woman despite her looking for other potential partners.
She's looking for a change of pace,she says
The woman desires a change in her life, including her romantic partner, as expressed by her to the singer.
I can see that old look on her face
The singer notices a familiar expression on the woman's face, suggesting she has been through this before.
She says it takes an open mind
The woman wants the singer to be open-minded about having multiple partners.
I think she means an open relationship
The singer interprets the woman's statement as an invitation to engage in an open relationship.
She says I can be so unkind
The woman criticizes the singer for his behavior and attitude.
All I said was...
The singer disagrees with the woman's opinion and feels that he did nothing wrong.
Don't think twice
The singer advises the woman not to hesitate and follow her heart.
If you gotta go, Mary it's alright
The singer reassures the woman that it's okay to leave him and explore new possibilities.
How much love can one man need?
The singer wonders how much love a man can receive or reciprocate, implying that less is more.
Don't change your mind
The singer pleads with the woman to stay true to her feelings and not second-guess herself.
Because true love is hard to find
Finding genuine love is a challenge, and the singer acknowledges this fact.
But I'll find another...lover...
The singer plans to move on and seek another romantic partner if the woman decides to leave him.
She says it isn't wrong or right
The woman is expressing that there are no clear moral or ethical standards in their situation.
And me, I'm emotionally colourblind
The singer admits that he struggles with understanding or expressing his emotions well.
She's waking me at half past four
The woman is making late-night or early-morning contact with the singer, possibly to continue their discussion or because she's with another man.
I'm sleeping on the bathroom floor again
The singer is experiencing emotional distress or physical exhaustion, symbolized by his sleeping in an unconventional place.
She's fallen for his new age verse
The woman is attracted to another man, who may have a spiritual or intellectual approach to life.
I'm holding back a level of consciousness
The singer is guarding his thoughts or beliefs, perhaps to avoid conflict or rejection by the woman.
But all I said was...
The singer feels misunderstood or unappreciated despite his efforts to understand the woman's perspective.
I ran into an old girlfriend
The singer has met with a former girlfriend by chance, adding to his nostalgia and longing.
On the corner of Varrick and VanDam
The location provides a specific setting for their unexpected reunion.
She said she had to change her address
The ex-girlfriend reveals that she is moving away, creating an allusion to a possibility of starting a new life elsewhere.
What a strange coincidence...
The singer can't shake off the odd timing of their meeting and the fact that his current relationship is on the rocks.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARDNER COLE, COLIN CAMPSIE, MARGO GURYAN, GEORGE MCFARLANE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind