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.
Love Like This Can't Last
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a beautiful thing going on
With a beautiful woman
She's going to love me 'til tomorrow, then
Well, she's only human
Love like this can't last
I got me half way to Phoenix
I'm on my 59th rewrite
of Leaving on your Mind
I've got a pocket full of Kleenex
I've got no need of crying
I've got absolute faith
It's just a matter of time
Love like this can't last
Jesus said to Mary
I can't stand it anymore
We both know you must betray me
Why can't we just get it over with?
She threw herself before him, she said
We will never part
And it's going to take a miracle
To break my heart
Love like this can't last
I've got a beautiful thing going on
With a beautiful woman
She's going to love me 'til tomorrow, then
Well, she's only human
Love like this can't last
In Lloyd Cole's Love Like This Can't Last, the singer reflects on a beautiful relationship with a wonderful woman. He knows that the love will eventually come to an end because nothing lasts forever. The lyrics touch on the fleeting nature of human relationships, and the acceptance that we must all experience heartbreak at some point. The singer is seemingly in denial, with his faith in love eclipsing the obvious reality that love is temporal. As he sings about his repeated journeys and rewrites, he seems to be seeking a way to preserve the love he has, a futile desire that is reinforced by the religious reference to Jesus and Mary's betrayal. The woman in the song throws herself before Jesus, believing that she and Jesus will be together forever, but the singer knows that this cannot be true.
The song reflects the human struggle of wanting something despite knowing it cannot last. It is common for people to search for love and try to hold on to it as long as possible, even if it is clear that there is an end in sight. Love Like This Can't Last speaks to the human search for love and the need to hold onto it, regardless of its temporal nature.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a beautiful thing going on
I am in a wonderful relationship
With a beautiful woman
My partner is physically attractive
She's going to love me 'til tomorrow, then
Our love is temporary
Well, she's only human
She is not perfect
Love like this can't last
Our relationship is fleeting
I got me half way to Phoenix
I have traveled a long distance
For the 17th time
I have done this many times
I'm on my 59th rewrite of Leaving on your Mind
I have written this song many times
I've got a pocket full of Kleenex
I am prepared to deal with heartbreak
I've got no need of crying
I am ready for emotional pain
I've got absolute faith
I am certain
It's just a matter of time
It will happen soon
Jesus said to Mary
A religious reference
I can't stand it anymore
I am at my breaking point
We both know you must betray me
A painful truth that must be accepted
Why can't we just get it over with?
A plea to end the suffering
She threw herself before him, she said
A dramatic action
We will never part
A declaration of eternal love
And it's going to take a miracle to break my heart
I am resilient and will not allow heartbreak
Love like this can't last
The relationship is fleeting
I've got a beautiful thing going on
The relationship is enjoyable
With a beautiful woman
My partner is physically attractive
She's going to love me 'til tomorrow, then
Our love is temporary
Well, she's only human
She is not perfect
Love like this can't last
The relationship is fleeting
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.