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 Ruins Everything
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at me now
I`m unrecognizable
My trademark frown has grown
Into the strangest easy smile
Oh, my, my,
Where did I go wrong?
Ask all my drunken friends
"who`s going to carry us home?
Who`s going to drink `till the morning?
Who`s going to carry us home?
Love ruined everything"
As the ladies line their eyes
And the gents make their excuses
And the talk is going cheap
I`ll be smiling in my sleep
Hey, hey, hey,
Look at her now
She`s the life of the party
Oh, my, my,
Where did she go wrong?
Ask all my drunken friends
"Who`s going to carry us home?
Who`s going to drink `till the morning?
Who`s going to carry us home?
Love ruined everything"
The song "Love Ruins Everything" by Lloyd Cole narrates how love can change people's lives and attitudes towards everything. In the first verse, the singer observes how he has changed over time, becoming unrecognizable with trademark frown turned into an easy smile. He ponders on where he went wrong and seeks answers from his drunken friends, who seem to enjoy the night under the influence of alcohol. The chorus, "Love ruined everything," depicts how love has made the person unrecognizable, changing his life completely.
In the second verse, the singer observes how his love interest has also changed, becoming the life of the party. He wonders where she went wrong and, like in the first verse, seeks answers from his drunken friends. However, the response is the same, "Love ruined everything." The last line of the verse, "I'll be smiling in my sleep," shows that he is content with the changes love has brought to his life. It seems that he is willing to go wherever love takes him, despite any negative effects it may bring.
In a nutshell, "Love Ruins Everything" portrays the idea that love can transform people's lives completely, for better or worse, leading them to give up everything in pursuit of it. The lyrics are thought-provoking and relatable, as they capture the ups and downs of love in a way that many people can understand.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, hey
Introduces the song with an upbeat tone
Look at me now, I'm unrecognizable
The singer has changed significantly, perhaps due to the negative impact of love on their life.
My trademark frown has grown, into the strangest easy smile
The singer has gone from being unhappy to being content/happy, but it feels strange to them because they are so used to being down.
Oh, my, my, where did I go wrong? Ask all my drunken friends
The artist is reflecting on their life choices that led them to this point, and is seeking answers from their companions who likely have some insights due to their drunkenness.
"Who's going to carry us home? Who's going to drink 'till the morning? Who's going to carry us home? Love ruined everything"
Love has destroyed their ability to party and enjoy life, as they used to. They are lamenting this loss of fun and freedom.
As the ladies line their eyes, and the gents make their excuses, and the talk is going cheap, I'll be smiling in my sleep
The singer is at a party or some other social gathering, but is detached from the scene and not interested in the small talk or superficial interactions. They have found peace within themselves.
Hey, hey, hey, Look at her now, she's the life of the party
The singer observes a woman who is having a good time and standing out among the crowd.
Oh my my, where did she go wrong? Ask all my drunken friends
The woman is also a victim of love's negative influence, according to the artist.
"Who's going to carry us home? Who's going to drink 'till the morning? Who's going to carry us home? Love ruined everything"
Repeats the chorus, emphasizing the devastation that love has wrought.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: LLOYD COLE, MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind