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.
Memphis
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but I don’t know the way
and I’d like to tell you how I feel
but I don’t know what to say
And I love to go to heaven
but I’ve forgotten how to pray
So just help me keeping
Well I tried to get back to her
but I got lost on the way
I’d start again tomorrow
but I don’t know what day it is
And I’d sure like to love you
if you show me the way
Just help me keeping
from sliding down some more
I don’t know what it’s like out there
but in here it’s getting darker
I’ve got a lot of things to share
but it’s sure rough getting there
Well I’d like to give you all I’ve got
but I don’t know what that is
And I’d like to take you with me
but I don’t know where that is
And I know there must be something
Some place some way to live
So just help me keeping
from sliding down some more
Just help me keeping
from sliding down some more
Some more
Just help me keeping
from sliding down some more
Just help me keeping
from sliding down some more
Original lyrics by Karen Black
The lyrics of Lloyd Cole's "Memphis" express a deep sense of confusion and uncertainty. Cole expresses his desire to go to Memphis and to tell someone how he feels, yet he doesn't know the way and doesn't know what to say. The phrase "I’d love to go to heaven but I’ve forgotten how to pray" suggests a loss of faith and a sense of being lost.
Cole then talks about trying to get back to someone but losing his way, indicating that his life has become directionless. The line "I’d sure like to love you if you show me the way" speaks to a desire for guidance and support from others. The repeated plea for help in "just help me keeping from sliding down some more" further underscores the need for a helping hand amid feelings of hopelessness.
Overall, "Memphis" paints a picture of someone struggling to find their way and hold onto hope. The song taps into universal human emotions of confusion, uncertainty, and the need for support in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I’d like to go to Memphis
I have a desire to go to Memphis, but I am lost and don't know the route.
but I don’t know the way
I am not aware of the route that leads to Memphis.
and I’d like to tell you how I feel
There are things I want to express, but I am struggling to find the right words.
but I don’t know what to say
I am facing difficulty to articulate my thoughts and emotions.
And I love to go to heaven
My heart's desire is to be in heaven someday.
but I’ve forgotten how to pray
I am struggling to return to my religious practices and forget how to communicate with the divine.
So just help me keeping
I am requesting for assistance to keep me steady and not deviate from the right course.
from sliding down some more
I am slipping, and I need your help to not fall further.
Well I tried to get back to her
I attempted to return to someone, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
but I got lost on the way
I lost my path and way to get back to that person.
I’d start again tomorrow
I plan on making another attempt to remedy the situation the next day.
but I don’t know what day it is
I am not aware of the current day and might forget my plan to try again tomorrow.
And I’d sure like to love you
I have deep feelings towards you and would like to pursue a romantic relationship.
if you show me the way
I require guidance and help from you to succeed in this endeavor.
I don’t know what it’s like out there
I have no idea what the circumstances are like outside of my current situation.
but in here it’s getting darker
Things are becoming increasingly difficult and bleak for me in my present situation.
I’ve got a lot of things to share
There is a lot on my mind that I desire to express and communicate.
but it’s sure rough getting there
The process of trying to communicate my thoughts and feelings is challenging and overwhelming.
Well I’d like to give you all I’ve got
It is my wish to give you everything that I possess.
but I don’t know what that is
I am unsure of what I have and am capable of giving.
And I’d like to take you with me
I would love for us to embark on a journey together.
but I don’t know where that is
I don't know the destination or direction of that journey.
And I know there must be something
I am confident that there is something that can help me and improve my situation.
Some place some way to live
I believe there is a specific way and location that can make my life more fulfilling and meaningful.
Just help me keeping
I am pleading for you to provide aid and support for me and my situation.
from sliding down some more
I am afraid of losing my stability and falling further into a negative situation.
Some more
I am concerned that my situation will only continue to worsen.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.