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.
Blue Like Mars
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Orbiting as it is around you
Soon to be clear
Beyond your domain
Doesn't it stink to be human?
Fallible, weak. So tiresome
How could a god create a beast so low?
How should I know?
Baby you know it's not about you
All of the bars around the black holes
Teeming with freedmen and glorioles
Waiting for new stars to break on through
Brokers and lawyers in the back rooms
Briefcases filled with profane sums
Cadillac waiting by the sub-space port
All aboard
Baby you know it's not about you
Baby you know it's not about you
Neutron Star
Beautiful remnant in the night sky
Blue like any other street light
Afraid of the dark
Afraid of nothing
Afraid of the future
When it's not about you
Baby you know it's not about you
Orbiting as it is around you
Soon to be clear
Beyond your domain
Three volcanoes and a rose bush
Soon to be nothing, soon enough
Seven of diamonds to the eight of spades
The song "Blue Like Mars" by Lloyd Cole is a reflection on human insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe. The opening lines, "Baby you know it's not about you, Orbiting as it is around you, Soon to be clear, Beyond your domain," suggest that the singer is addressing someone who thinks the world revolves around them. The use of the word "orbiting" implies that the person is not the center of the universe, and that there is a larger picture beyond their individual perspective. The repetition of the phrase "Baby you know it's not about you" reinforces this idea.
The second verse shifts the focus to the wider universe, with references to black holes, new stars, and the fantastical image of "brokers and lawyers in the back rooms, Briefcases filled with profane sums, Cadillac waiting by the sub-space port." This serves to further reinforce the idea that human endeavors and preoccupations are relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
The song's title refers to neutron stars, a type of astronomical object that is formed from the collapsed core of a massive star. Neutron stars are incredibly dense and emit radiation, making them visible to telescopes. The image of a "beautiful remnant in the night sky" suggests that even in the vast expanse of space, there is something that can be appreciated and admired.
Overall, "Blue Like Mars" is a reflection on human insignificance in the face of the universe's immensity, and the need to look beyond oneself to find meaning and perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you know it's not about you
This song isn't directed towards you and your actions
Orbiting as it is around you
Even though you're the center of attention, this song isn't about you
Soon to be clear
The truth about the situation will soon reveal itself
Beyond your domain
This is outside of your control or influence
All of the bars around the black holes
A description of the vastness of space and the mystery it holds
Teeming with freedmen and glorioles
The idea that people are waiting for something new and exciting to happen
Waiting for new stars to break on through
People are waiting for something to happen that will change everything
Brokers and lawyers in the back rooms
The more seedy side of business and the people who control it
Briefcases filled with profane sums
An allusion to illegal or unethical activities
Cadillac waiting by the sub-space port
A reference to the idea of luxury and wealth
All aboard
Let's get going and see what's out there
Neutron Star
A reference to the power and energy of the universe
Beautiful remnant in the night sky
Even the most stunning parts of the universe have their own vulnerabilities
Blue like any other street light
The idea that something that's amazing to one person is everyday to another
Afraid of the dark
Even the most powerful and impressive things can have their weaknesses and fears
Afraid of nothing
Despite its insecurities, the universe is still the most powerful force we know
Afraid of the future
Even the universe has a sense of uncertainty about what's to come
When it's not about you
Even with all these vast and impressive things happening, it's important to remember that the world does not revolve around you
Three volcanoes and a rose bush
A reference to the beauty and magnificence of nature
Soon to be nothing, soon enough
Even the most incredible parts of nature will eventually fade away
Seven of diamonds to the eight of spades
An abstract conclusion to the song that leaves the listener to their own interpretation
Writer(s): Lloyd Cole
Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael Timson
Best song ever?