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 Am Not Willing
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always faithful
She returns
She says she loves me
And I could always
Come to her
She can't imagine how
Another lover
And I'm so grateful
That I'm still willing
To have her home
She says she loves me
She won't forget me
And then she's gone
She thinks that later
We can pick up the pieces
And carry on
And I'd forgive her
Still not suspecting
She could be wrong
Now I'm so grateful
I'm no longer willing
To have her home
Now I'm so grateful
I'm no longer willing
To have her home
In Lloyd Cole's song "I Am Not Willing," the singer describes his relationship with a woman who is always faithful to him, but is also prone to leaving him behind. The singer expresses his gratitude for her devotion, while also suggesting that he has been hurt by her in the past. He describes her as unable to imagine any other lover besides himself, but ultimately she leaves, believing that they can pick up the pieces later.
The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and disappointment with the relationship, as the singer admits that he cannot trust his partner to remain faithful to him. Despite this, he expresses his willingness to forgive her and to pick up the pieces of their strained relationship. Overall, the song suggests a complex dynamic between the two lovers, in which the singer is both grateful for and frustrated by his partner's devotion.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded in 1985, during the height of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions' popularity in the UK. The song was a b-side to the band's hit single "Brand New Friend," and was later included on their 1987 compilation album "Mainstream." Another interesting fact is that the song features a prominent slide guitar solo by Neil Clark, an original member of the Commotions who would later go on to play with Lloyd Cole on solo albums.
Line by Line Meaning
Never doubting
She trusts me completely, without any hesitation or suspicion
Always faithful
She remains loyal and dedicated to our relationship, never straying away
She returns
After being away for some time, she comes back to me
She says she loves me
She expresses her deep fondness and affection towards me
And I could always
I have the option and privilege to
Come to her
Seek comfort, solace, and support from her
She can't imagine how
It's beyond her comprehension and understanding that
Another lover
Someone else whom I may have romantic interest or relationship with
Could turn her head
Would divert her attention and feelings away from me
And I'm so grateful
I'm thankful and appreciative
That I'm still willing
I'm still able to have the desire and eagerness to
To have her home
Welcome her back into my life, my arms, my heart
She says she loves me
Reiterating her feelings and emotions towards me
She won't forget me
She promises to remember me and hold onto our love
And then she's gone
After a brief reunion, she leaves once again
She thinks that later
She believes that in the future
We can pick up the pieces
We can repair and restore our relationship
And carry on
And move forward, together
And I'd forgive her
I'm willing to overlook and excuse her actions
Still not suspecting
Without having any suspicion or doubt
She could be wrong
She could be mistaken or misguided
Now I'm so grateful
I'm filled with gratitude and appreciation
I'm no longer willing
I no longer have the desire or willingness to
To have her home
Welcome her back into my life, my arms, my heart
Now I'm so grateful
Once again, I'm filled with gratitude and appreciation
I'm no longer willing
Once again, I have come to the decision to not have the desire or willingness to
To have her home
Welcome her back into my life, my arms, my heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER CHARLES LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind