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.
Don't Look Back
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're less than you can
And you're looking for someone
Who won't cling to anything
So you're stuck in some motel
With the sound of her sleeping
Don't you feel kinda old now
Well ain't that a funny thing
I used to try to believe
But life seems neverending
When you're young
So you're back on the highway
And there's wind in her hair
And you know that it's no time for thinking
About somebody up there
'Cause you'll turn her to drinking
And you'll lead her to hell
With her bottle beside her
She surely looks like an angel
I used to wake up early
I used to try to believe
But faith is never easy
When you're young
No no no
I used to wake up early
Now it's hard, hard enough to sleep
But life seems neverending
When you're young
Oh no no no no
Lloyd Cole's "Don't Look Back" is a poignant song that encapsulates the pain and confusion of a man who feels lost and stuck in life. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the entire composition. The lyrics "When you're nothing to no one And you're less than you can" paint a picture of a man who feels invisible and forgotten. He yearns for someone who won't cling to anything because he believes himself to not be worth it.
The man finds himself stuck in a motel room whilst his companion sleeps, "So you're stuck in some motel With the sound of her sleeping." He feels a sense of discomfort and anxiety. The next line, "Don't you feel kinda old now Well ain't that a funny thing," suggests that the man is grappling with the idea of aging and feeling like he has not accomplished much in his life.
As the song progresses, the man takes to the highway with his companion, but he knows better than to think about somebody up there. He has lost his faith and no longer believes in a higher power. The line, "Cause you'll turn her to drinking And you'll lead her to hell With her bottle beside her She surely looks like an angel" suggests a sense of despair and resignation. The man doesn't believe in himself or the future, and the bleakness of his situation becomes even more apparent, making life feel like it is never-ending.
Overall, "Don't Look Back" is a poignant and evocative song that captures the feeling of being lost and alone in life.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're nothing to no one
When you feel like you're insignificant and nobody cares about you
And you're less than you can
When you're not living up to your full potential
And you're looking for someone
When you're searching for a person to connect with
Who won't cling to anything
Someone who won't become too attached or dependent on you
So you're stuck in some motel
You're in a temporary place with no direction or purpose
With the sound of her sleeping
The only comfort you have is the sound of your companion sleeping
Don't you feel kinda old now
You're feeling old and tired from your experiences
Well ain't that a funny thing
Ironically, it is amusing how life has turned out this way
I used to wake up early
In the past, you were motivated and had a sense of purpose
I used to try to believe
You had faith and hope for your future
But life seems neverending
Now life seems repetitive and never-ending
When you're young
This feeling is especially strong when you're young
So you're back on the highway
You're back on the road, searching for something more
And there's wind in her hair
Your companion is carefree and enjoying the ride
And you know that it's no time for thinking
This is not the time for deep thought or contemplation
About somebody up there
You can't think about a higher power right now, you need to focus on the present
'Cause you'll turn her to drinking
You don't want to be a bad influence on your companion and cause her to turn to alcohol
And you'll lead her to hell
You don't want to drag her down with you
With her bottle beside her
She has turned to drinking to cope with her situation
She surely looks like an angel
Even though she's struggling, she still looks beautiful and innocent
I used to wake up early
You still remember the person you used to be
Now it's hard, hard enough to sleep
Now it's difficult to even get a good night's rest
But life seems neverending
The feeling of monotony and endlessness persists
When you're young
This feeling is especially strong when you're young
Oh no no no no
Expressing a sense of frustration and hopelessness
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrCoopersonic
LC surely must be one of the top 10 songwriters in Pop/Rock history. He's a true musical and lyrical genius and I really hope that he can continue to spread his work until the day he dies ... Excellent band here, too. However, I liked the Commotions even better.
Oppothumbs M
Yeah top 20 for sure. Lloyd's first two solo records were GENIalCIDIAL . This is good but there are 10 better songs on his first two SOLO records easy. 7 years now, not too late too apologize. Could still change your opinion. Not sure is Jesus will accept you in heaven now. Kidding lol, there is not god.
Bill Mavin
+MrCoopersonic You are right, he is a very talented musician and the band he has put together here is world class.
Music City Mike
Quine's intro belongs in the Opening Riffs Hall of Fame. Brilliant.
Matthews Archive Channel
This is one of the best concerts I ever saw on TV Rock Steady, what a show, and what a great set from Lloyd, Robert amazing guitar too.
11spike7
Quine's playing is the coolest.
Oppothumbs M
Right, Quine is great but thanks for ignoring Lloyd like lovers do.
j t
You are sooo right!! This song is one I always use to audition and test new speakers and other stereo sound systems. It souns sooo right when just right!! And thanks to phillscreen for this precious posting! What a treat!!
Claudio Luiz da Silva
great song, magic mood!
Ana Campos
Thanks for share! He's a genius! This song is wonderfull...