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.
For The Good Times
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
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I know it's over
But life goes on
And this old world will keep on turning
Let's just be glad
We had some time to spend together
There's no need to watch the bridges
That were burning
Lay your head upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Close to mine
Hear the whisper of the rain drops
Blowing soft against the window
And make believe you love me
One more time
For the good times
I'll get along
You'll find another
And I'll be here
If you should find you ever need me
Don't say a word about tomorrow
Or forever
There'll be time enough for sadness
When you leave me
Lay your head upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Close to mine
Hear the whisper of the rain drops
Blowing soft against the window
And make believe you love me
One more time
The song, "For The Good Times" by Lloyd Cole & Jill Sobule, is a beautiful and poignant ballad about the end of a relationship, and the importance of cherishing the good times that were shared, even as they come to an end. The opening lines, "Don't look so sad, I know it's over, but life goes on, and this old world will keep on turning," serve as a reminder that even though the relationship has ended, life goes on, and there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the world.
The song's chorus, "Lay your head upon my pillow, hold your warm and tender body close to mine, hear the whisper of the rain drops blowing soft against the window, and make believe you love me one more time for the good times," is a poignant call to cherish the memories of the relationship, and to take comfort in the warmth and tenderness that was shared. The refrain, "I'll get along, you'll find another, and I'll be here if you should find you ever need me," serves as a reminder that even though the relationship has ended, there is still a connection between the two people, and that they will always be there for each other if needed.
Overall, "For The Good Times" is a beautiful and touching song about the end of a relationship, and the importance of finding closure and meaning in the good times that were shared.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't look so sad
Don't show your sadness openly
I know it's over
I understand that our relationship has ended
But life goes on
However, life continues
And this old world will keep on turning
The world will continue to revolve regardless of our relationship ending
Let's just be glad
We should focus on being happy
We had some time to spend together
We had a period of time where we were together
There's no need to watch the bridges
We don't need to worry about past conflicts
That were burning
That have already been resolved
Lay your head upon my pillow
Rest your head on my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body
Embrace your soft and gentle body
Close to mine
Next to me
Hear the whisper of the rain drops
Listen to the soft sound of the rain drops
Blowing soft against the window
As they blow gently against the window
And make believe you love me
Pretend as if you still have feelings for me
One more time
For the sake of old times
I'll get along
I will survive
You'll find another
You'll find someone else
And I'll be here
But I'll still be around
If you should find you ever need me
In case you need me in the future
Don't say a word about tomorrow
Let's not talk about the future
Or forever
Or the possibility of getting back together permanently
There'll be time enough for sadness
There will be enough time for sorrowful feelings later
When you leave me
When you part away from me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kristoffer Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind