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.
How Wrong Can You Be?
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Which is to say, I weighed the risk reward
But who can budget for a fallout of these proportions?
Take your shot, that's what you pay me for
Nobody said you're getting away with murder
Here, smile into the hidden camera with your friend
She didn't ask if we were on or off the record
When you went away, I thought that I was free
How wrong can you be? How wrong can you be?
Fortune hits the wall and the whole 500 fall
How wrong can you be? How wrong can you be?
I didn't see it at the time as a conflict of interests
A pretty girl at the wheel of a German car
It isn't hard to surrender to market forces
Take your seat, become the passenger
Nobody said we're getting away with murder
No looking in the rear view mirror, foot to the floor
She didn't say I'm working for the competition
A pretty girl at the wheel of a German car
When you went away, I thought that I was free
How wrong can you be? How wrong can you be?
Fortune hits the wall and the whole 500 fall
How wrong can you be? How wrong can you be?
In Lloyd Cole's "How Wrong Can You Be?", the singer reflects on their past actions and the consequences that followed. They acknowledge that they were aware of the potential risks involved, but they didn't anticipate the magnitude of the fallout. The singer mentions the idea of budgeting for such repercussions, pointing out that it's impossible to predict the extent of the damage caused by one's actions. Despite this, the singer deflects responsibility, as they were simply doing their job and getting paid to take risks.
The second verse seems to focus on a specific incident involving the singer and a woman who may have been working for a competitor. The singer seemed to have been caught off-guard as they didn't realize there was a conflict of interests. The woman's pretty appearance seems to have thrown the singer off-course, emphasizing how easy it is to "surrender to market forces" and become a passenger in one's own life. The chorus again expresses the singer's surprise about how wrong they were in analyzing the situation.
Overall, this song seems to be a reflection on past mistakes and a warning about how easy it is to misjudge a situation. Despite being aware of the potential repercussions, sometimes the fallout can be far greater than anticipated. The song's lyrics are reflective, acknowledging the singer's mistakes but also pointing out how difficult it can be to navigate complex situations.
Line by Line Meaning
I paid the full lip service to the repercussions
I considered and evaluated the potential consequences of my actions.
But who can budget for a fallout of these proportions?
However, it is difficult to prepare for such a severe outcome.
Take your shot, that's what you pay me for
Despite the risks, I am willing to take your commission and try to succeed.
Nobody said you're getting away with murder
Don't expect to get a free pass for your questionable behavior.
Here, smile into the hidden camera with your friend
Don't worry, we'll make sure to capture the evidence of your actions.
She didn't ask if we were on or off the record
We didn't establish whether this conversation will remain private or not.
Or what that may or what that may not mean
We didn't discuss the implications of going on or off the record.
When you went away, I thought that I was free
I believed I was liberated and in control after your departure.
How wrong can you be? How wrong can you be?
However, I was gravely mistaken and ended up making poor decisions.
Fortune hits the wall and the whole 500 fall
As a result, my luck ran out and I lost everything I had built.
I didn't see it at the time as a conflict of interests
I failed to recognize that there was a potential conflict of interest in the situation.
A pretty girl at the wheel of a German car
The lure of temptation was too strong, particularly when it came in the form of a beautiful woman in a luxury vehicle.
It isn't hard to surrender to market forces
In the face of external pressures and incentives, it is easy to compromise one's own values and morals.
Take your seat, become the passenger
Ultimately, I chose to give up my agency and cede control to outside influences.
No looking in the rear view mirror, foot to the floor
I was so focused on moving forward and succeeding that I failed to consider any potential consequences or learn from past mistakes.
She didn't say I'm working for the competition
The woman I was involved with didn't disclose that she was actually my competition and working against me.
Writer(s): Lloyd Cole
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.