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 Will Not Leave You Alone
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And send me to from where I came
And you could ask me to leave and i`d be on my way
And I would not complain
And I will not leave you alone
Well I could steal your car if it might get you started
Thinking that you might be mine
If I could be your valentine
And I will not leave you alone
Well you could put me back down where you picked me up
And send me to from where I came
And you could ask me to leave and i`d be on my way
And I would not complain
And I will not leave you alone
Well I could steal your car if it might get you started
Thinking that you might be mine
Well I could grow my hair I really would not care
If I could be your valentine
And I will not leave you alone
I will not leave you alone
The song "I Will Not Leave You Alone" by Lloyd Cole is about a person who is deeply in love with someone and is willing to do anything to be with them. The lyrics suggest that no matter how hard the other person tries to push them away, they will not leave them alone.
The song opens with the singer acknowledging that they could easily be sent back to where they came from, but they would not complain. This suggests that the singer is willing to accept any challenge or obstacle thrown their way in order to be with the person they love. The singer then goes on to say that they could steal the other person's car or change their appearance, but they would not care as long as they could be with them.
The repetition of the line "And I will not leave you alone" emphasizes the singer's determination and commitment to their love. It suggests that no matter what happens, they will always be there for the other person.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt plea for love and acceptance. The singer is willing to go to great lengths to be with the person they love, and they will not give up without a fight.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you could put me back down where you picked me up
If you want to, you can reject me and leave me where I was before you found me.
And send me to from where I came
Send me back to the familiar and comfortable environment where I used to belong, even if it is not with you.
And you could ask me to leave and i`d be on my way
If you tell me to go away, I will respect your decision and leave without any complaints.
And I would not complain
I promise to accept your decision and not to grumble or show dissatisfaction.
And I will not leave you alone
However, I want you to know that I will always be there for you, even if you reject me, and will continue to support you when you need me.
Well I could steal your car if it might get you started
I am willing to do something drastic for you, like steal your car, if it could motivate you to start a relationship with me.
Thinking that you might be mine
I am hopeful that you will become mine someday and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Well I could grow my hair I really would not care
I am willing to change myself, such as growing my hair, if it means getting closer to you and making you happy.
If I could be your valentine
I am hoping that you will choose me to be your romantic partner on Valentine's Day, and I am willing to do anything to make that happen.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LLOYD COLE, NEIL CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind