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.
I'm Gone
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In evidence before the light of day
A robe is strewn across the floor
The wind blows in through the open door
and I'm gone
The sky is clear
The road is wide
A suitcase filled with memorabilia
And one last shot in a magazine
and I'm gone
And how could it be so wrong
When it was so right?
The lyrics to Lloyd Cole's song "I'm Gone" are poignant and thought-provoking. The first verse paints a picture of a room in disarray, with sheets and a robe strewn across the floor. It seems the singer has been up all night, and as the day breaks, they realize they need to go. The wind blows in through the open door, and the singer knows it's time to leave. The second verse indicates that the singer is walking away from everything they've known. The sky is clear, the road is wide, and there's not a single sign of life. The singer's suitcase is filled with memorabilia, and they have one last shot in a magazine. It's clear that the singer is leaving behind their past and starting fresh. The final line of the song, "And how could it be so wrong when it was so right?" suggests that the singer is torn between the need to move on and their feelings for what they are leaving behind. It's a bittersweet moment, one that many people can identify with at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The sheets and I in disarray
My bed and I are in disarray, suggesting that I have been restless and unable to sleep.
In evidence before the light of day
Before the morning light, it's evident that I've been unable to settle myself or my bed.
A robe is strewn across the floor
There is disarray in my surroundings with robe thrown around on the floor.
The wind blows in through the open door
As the wind enters through the open door, it conveys a feeling of departure and a fresh start.
and I'm gone
I am leaving this place to move on, and I won't be coming back.
The sky is clear
The sky is clear, giving me an unobstructed view of the journey ahead.
The road is wide
The road ahead is spacious and open, filled with possibilities and opportunities.
There's not a single sign of life
There are no signs of life around, suggesting that I am starting fresh, leaving everything behind.
A suitcase filled with memorabilia
I have packed my memories and keepsakes in the suitcase, as I take them with me on my journey.
And one last shot in a magazine
There is one final image captured in the magazine, representing the last chapter of my old life.
and I'm gone
I'm ready to move on and embark on a new journey, leaving behind everything and moving forward.
And how could it be so wrong
I am facing some regret about leaving, as there was nothing particularly wrong with my old life.
When it was so right?
Despite not having any issues, I still feel that it was time for me to move on and start a new life.
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.