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 Pleasure of Your Company
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a lonesome alcoholic for your kiss
Should I sit around
And wait
Well I had a chance
I hesitate
To ask you for the pleasure of your company
What would you say
Would you think about it
Right now
I've been put upon
I've been passed round
For ever and I'm waiting for
The thirteenth of never
Should I swear to be true
Should you give a damn
What I say or do
Well, I'm asking for the pleasure of your company
What would you say
Would you think about it
Would you think about it
Right now
Love a cheat
I've got everything you need
And I'm asking for the pleasure of your company
What do you say
Baby oh
Cause it's been a long time
Baby
Think about it
Lloyd Cole's song "For the Pleasure of Your Company" is a love song with a melancholic melody and introspective lyrics. The song expresses the singer's deep desire for companionship and love from the subject of his affections, but his fears and doubts keep him from taking the necessary steps to pursue that love. The repeated refrain of "What would you say, would you think about it, would you think about it right now?" underscores his uncertainty, even as he realizes that he may miss his chance if he doesn't take a risk.
One of the key metaphors in the song is the comparison of heaven to the subject of his love's shadow. While heaven is often viewed as the ultimate reward or goal for many, the singer sees it as a mere reflection or projection of the person he desires. His obsession and longing for this person have driven him to alcoholism and a sense of alienation from others, as indicated by the line "I'm a lonesome alcoholic for your kiss." The use of the word "cheat" in the final stanza, and the repetition of "think about it," suggest that the singer may be offering a dubious or risky proposition to the subject of his affection.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven is a shadow of your live
You are the most important and beautiful entity in the world to me.
I'm a lonesome alcoholic for your kiss
I crave and need your love and attention, to the point of becoming self-destructive without it.
Should I sit around And wait
I'm not sure if I should wait for you to come to me or actively pursue your company.
Well I had a chance I hesitate
I've had previous opportunities to express my feelings towards you, but I've been too afraid to follow through.
To ask you for the pleasure of your company
I want to be with you and share my life with you.
What would you say Would you think about it Would you think about it Right now
I am eagerly anticipating your response and wondering if you are thinking about me too.
I've been put upon I've been passed round For ever and I'm waiting for The thirteenth of never
I feel like I've been overlooked and mistreated by others for a long time and I fear that I will never find true love.
Should I swear to be true Should you give a damn What I say or do
I am willing to commit myself completely to you and I hope that you care about and respect my feelings and actions.
Love a cheat I've got everything you need And I'm asking for the pleasure of your company
I am confident that I can offer you everything you desire and I still sincerely hope that you will be with me.
What do you say Baby oh Cause it's been a long time Baby Think about it
I am urging you to consider my proposal and I hope that you will give me the chance to prove myself to you.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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