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.
Most of the Time
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm too focused all around
Most of the time
I can keep both feet on the ground
I can follow the path
I can read the sign
I can stay right with it
As the road unwinds
I stumble upon
I don't even notice that she's gone
Most of the time
Most of the time
It's well understood
Most of the time
I wouldn't change it if I could
I could make it all match up
I can hold my own?
I could deal with the situation
Right down to the bone
I could survive
I can endure
And I don't even think
'bout her
Most of the time
Most of the time
My head is on straight
Most of the time
I'm strong enough not to hate
I don't build up illusion until it makes me sick
I ain't afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I can smile in the face of mankind
I don't even remember how her lips felt on mine
Most of the time
Most of the time
She ain't even in my mind
Would I know her if I saw her
She's that far behind
Most of the time I can't even be sure
If she was ever with me or if I was ever with her
Most of the time I'm halfways content
Most of the time I know exactly where it all went
I would cheat on myself
I don't run and hide
I won't hide from the feelings
That I buried inside
I don't compromise
And I don't pretend
And I don't even care
If I ever see her again
Most of the time
Written by bob dylan
Lloyd Cole's song "Most of the Time" is about moving on from a past relationship. In the song, the singer reflects on how, most of the time, he is able to focus on the present, keep his feet on the ground, and handle whatever comes his way without getting hung up on the past. He thinks about his former lover occasionally, but most of the time he doesn't even remember how her lips felt on his. He asserts that he is strong enough to not hate her and doesn't compromise or pretend to hide his feelings. He ends the song saying that he doesn't even care if he ever sees her again.
This song resonates with anyone who has been through a break-up and is trying to move on. The lyrics are honest and show that even though the singer seems to have moved on, there are still moments when he thinks about the past. He doesn't let those moments define him, however. The song's message is ultimately one of resilience and self-confidence.
Line by Line Meaning
Most of the time
The majority of the time
I'm too focused all around
I am preoccupied with various aspects of life
I can keep both feet on the ground
I am steady and balanced
I can follow the path
I understand what I must do
I can read the sign
I see what is coming and can anticipate it
I can stay right with it
I can stick with it without faltering
As the road unwinds
As things progress
I can handle whatever
I can deal with whatever comes my way
I stumble upon
Things that I didn't expect
I don't even notice that she's gone
I am so focused on other things that I don't miss her
It's well understood
I know what I'm dealing with
I wouldn't change it if I could
I am content with the way things are
I could make it all match up
I could have everything come together
I can hold my own?
I am self-sufficient
I could deal with the situation
I can handle whatever comes up
Right down to the bone
Completely and with determination
I could survive
I am capable of living through difficult times
I can endure
I can handle difficult situations
And I don't even think
I don't even consider
'bout her
About the girl in question
My head is on straight
I am level-headed
I'm strong enough not to hate
I am able to avoid hating things
I don't build up illusion until it makes me sick
I do not create false scenarios that will worry me
I ain't afraid of confusion no matter how thick
I am not easily confused
I can smile in the face of mankind
I am content in my existence
I don't even remember how her lips felt on mine
I don't miss the girl in question
She ain't even in my mind
I don't think about her
Would I know her if I saw her
I barely remember her face
She's that far behind
She is a distant memory
I can't even be sure
I am unsure
If she was ever with me or if I was ever with her
Whether we were together or not is unclear
I'm halfways content
I am somewhat content
I know exactly where it all went
I understand fully what happened
I would cheat on myself
I would be doing myself a disservice
I don't run and hide
I don't avoid things
I won't hide from the feelings
I will face my emotions
That I buried inside
My innermost feelings
I don't compromise
I don't make concessions
And I don't pretend
I don't fake anything
If I ever see her again
Seeing the girl in question doesn't matter to me
Most of the time
The majority of the time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind