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 You So What
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you know I could not tie my own shoe
This does not please me, no not exactly
Guess you do not give a damn for my love
Everybody knows that she's worse than religion
No you do not cross a woman in love
Everybody knows that the turn of the season
No, no no, no
You beat me up, you put me down
You're slamming my name all over town
Guess I'm big enough to roll with the punches
But you bruise me, you abuse me damn good
Everybody knows that she's worse than religion
No you do not cross a woman in love
Everybody knows that the turn of the season
Paris in the spring doesn't do a damn thing
I love you so, so much
You love me so, so what
I love you so, so
You love me so, so what
La la la la la, la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
In Lloyd Cole's Love You So What, the singer is expressing their feelings towards a lover who has left them abruptly. The singer feels hurt and disrespected because their partner left without warning, despite knowing that the singer was in a vulnerable state. The singer also feels as though their love is not reciprocated, as the partner seems to care very little about their feelings. The imagery of not being able to tie one's own shoe speaks to a sense of helplessness and dependency on the partner, further highlighting the partner's callousness in leaving without warning.
The lyrics also make mention of how dangerous it is to cross a woman in love. This line suggests that the partner was aware of the singer's feelings, but chose to leave anyway. The turn of the season in Paris is no match for the love the singer feels for their partner, but the partner seems to be unaffected. The repetition of "no, no, no" in the chorus echoes the singer's frustration and disappointment with the situation.
In the second verse, the singer describes how their partner has dealt them emotional blows by spreading rumors about them. Despite this, the singer feels as though they are strong enough to handle the situation. However, they point out that their partner is still hurting them, and doing so very effectively. The repetition of "damn good" at the end of the verse captures the contradictory feelings of the singer - on the one hand, they feel strong and resilient, but on the other, they know that their partner's actions are taking a toll on them.
Overall, Love You So What captures the complex emotions of a love that is unrequited and ultimately damaging. The powerful imagery and honest lyrics make for a poignant and relatable song.
Line by Line Meaning
You up and leave me cold turkey
You left me suddenly and abruptly without any warning or explanation
When you know I could not tie my own shoe
You left me when I was vulnerable and unable to take care of myself
This does not please me, no not exactly
Your departure has caused me great displeasure and unhappiness
Guess you do not give a damn for my love
Your actions show that you don't care about the love I have for you
Everybody knows that she's worse than religion
Her love and her actions are more powerful and consuming than any religion
No you do not cross a woman in love
It is unwise and dangerous to upset or hurt a woman who is deeply in love
Everybody knows that the turn of the season
The change in seasons has no effect on her feelings or behavior
Paris in the spring doesn't mean a damn thing to my baby
Even a romantic and beautiful city like Paris in the spring doesn't matter to her
You beat me up, you put me down
You emotionally and physically abuse me and constantly criticize me
You're slamming my name all over town
You are spreading negative rumors and gossip about me to others
Guess I'm big enough to roll with the punches
I am strong enough to endure your abuse and continue on
But you bruise me, you abuse me damn good
Your mistreatment hurts me deeply and has a lasting impact on me
I love you so, so much
I have strong feelings of love and affection for you
You love me so, so what
You do not seem to care about my love for you or reciprocate it
La la la la la, la la la la
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La la la la la, la la la la
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La la la la la, la la la la
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La la la la la, la la la la la
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Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind