Alright People
Lloyd Cole Lyrics


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Clarke-Cole

I've got the lock on the low
I'm going back to New Mexico
Cold comfort and kerosene
Plain solitude
Guess I lost my touch
Those little things that used to mean so much
seem so insignificant
In the cold, cold light
Well, how wrong can you be?
And how long must it take to see
That your world
Can spin fine, without me
Now, there's nothing more to say
It's alright
People change
Well, you can paint me blue
And I could lay the whole thing on you
Or hold on ala Hollywood
O'Neil and McGraw
But the trouble with me
is that it took me so long to see
That the rain is pouring without you
And I've got nothing left to say
It's alright
People change
You can take my love
And bury it deep
And I'll take your love
And I'll bury it deep
I'll bury it deep
Well, how wrong can you be?
And how long must it take to see
That your world
Is turning, without me
Now, there's nothing more to say




It's alright
People change

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lloyd Cole's song Alright People are an introspective meditation on change and the end of a relationship. The song's narrator finds himself isolated and alone, retreating to New Mexico for solace in cold comfort and kerosene. He acknowledges that he has lost his touch and the little things that used to mean so much to him are now insignificant. He reflects on his mistakes in the cold, cold light of day and realizes how wrong he was about the relationship. He wonders how long it will take for him to see that the world can go on without him.


The singer contemplates the different ways he could react to the end of the relationship, but ultimately he understands that it's alright, that people change and move on. He acknowledges that he can't force the other person to stay with him, and he can't change who he is. He accepts that they must bury their love for each other deep, and move on with their lives. The song's final lines emphasize this acceptance and resignation, stating that there's nothing more to say - people change.


Overall, the lyrics to Alright People convey a sense of sadness and regret, but also of acceptance and resilience in the face of change.


Line by Line Meaning

I've got the lock on the low
I am feeling low and depressed.


I'm going back to New Mexico
I am leaving my current situation to go somewhere else, possibly to get a fresh start.


Cold comfort and kerosene
The comfort I am seeking is hard to come by, and things are tough and likely uncomfortable.


Plain solitude
I am lonely and isolated.


Guess I lost my touch
I no longer have the skills or abilities I used to have.


Those little things that used to mean so much
Things that were once important to me are now insignificant and unimportant.


seem so insignificant
Things that were once meaningful have lost their importance and are now insignificant.


In the cold, cold light
In the harsh and unforgiving light of reality.


Well, how wrong can you be?
I realized I was mistaken or deceived about something.


And how long must it take to see
It took me a long time to realize something that should have been obvious.


That your world Can spin fine, without me
I come to the realization that the world doesn't revolve around me, and life goes on without my involvement.


Now, there's nothing more to say It's alright People change
I have come to accept that people change, and sometimes things don't work out.


You can take my love And bury it deep And I'll take your love And I'll bury it deep I'll bury it deep
We are parting ways and giving up on each other's love.


But the trouble with me is that it took me so long to see That the rain is pouring without you And I've got nothing left to say
It took me a long time to realize that I was better off without you, and there's no point in saying anymore.


It's alright People change
Sometimes things change, and it's okay to move on.




Contributed by Caleb O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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