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.
Negative Attitude
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get mine from a poison pen
I've got a negative attitude
And I don't mind
You want to paint the renaissance fair
I want to try to relate to your colourful hair
Is that a negative attitude?
Why be content with the sky
when there's higher to go?
Get off the floor
Help your self to some more
Because it's free to be you
And it's free to be me
and I know
Look at the girl on the bad hair day
Look very close, I think I like what she's trying to say
She's got a negative attitude
Why be content with the sky
when there's higher to go?
Get off the floor
You can dance if you're bored
Because it's free to be you
And it's free to be me
and I know
I heard it on my radio
You want to sleep in an Ono sack
We want to live in a prefab shack in New Hampshire
We've got a negative attitude
Why be content with the sky
when there's higher to go?
Get off the floor
Help your self to some more
Because it's free to be you
And it's free to be groovy, I know
I heard it on my radio
The song Negative Attitude by Lloyd Cole is about how having a negative attitude can sometimes be liberating. The first verse suggests that the singer sees the world in a different light as he gets his rose-colored glasses from a poison pen. These contrasting images may indicate that the positive things in life can sometimes be toxic or poisonous, and that cynicism is a way of guarding oneself against them. The chorus asks why one should settle for mediocrity when there are higher goals to be achieved in life. The singer encourages the listener to embrace their pessimism and to always aspire for more. The second verse praises the beauty of imperfection, and the singer seems to be attracted to people who have a negative attitude because they are more authentic and less pretentious. The singer aspires for more than the conventional expectations of life, such as sleeping in an Ono sack or living in a prefab shack in New Hampshire.
The song is marked by its catchy chorus, which emphasizes the freedom of non-conformity. It suggests that having a negative attitude is a way of breaking free from the restrictions that society places on people. Interestingly, the song has a self-reflexive quality as it acknowledges that it is being performed through a medium. The lyric "I heard it on my radio" highlights the role that mass media plays in shaping our perception of reality. The song also subverts conventional notions of beauty by valorizing imperfection. In an interview done by The Guardian in 2010, Lloyd Cole revealed that his intention was to write a song that embraced negativity instead of trying to preach positivity, which has been a common theme in pop music.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at the world through a rose tint lens
I prefer to view the world through a pessimistic lens and express it using harsh words.
I get mine from a poison pen
I draw my negative thoughts and feelings from my pen, and share it with others through my words.
I've got a negative attitude
I have a generally pessimistic and cynical outlook on life.
And I don't mind
I am comfortable with my negative attitude and it does not bother me.
You want to paint the renaissance fair
You want to see the best in things, while I see the worst in things and express that through my words.
I want to try to relate to your colourful hair
I find it difficult to connect with people who have a positive outlook, but I still try to empathize with them.
Is that a negative attitude?
I am questioning whether my negative outlook is appropriate or not.
Why be content with the sky
when there's higher to go?
Why settle for mediocrity when there is potential for greatness?
Get off the floor
Help your self to some more
Stop being complacent and take control of your life by striving for more.
Because it's free to be you
And it's free to be me
and I know
We are all entitled to our own thoughts and opinions, and we should not be afraid to express them.
Look at the girl on the bad hair day
Look very close, I think I like what she's trying to say
Even though she may seem unhappy, there is something valuable in what she is expressing.
She's got a negative attitude
She has a negative outlook on life like me.
You can dance if you're bored
There is always something productive or entertaining that you can do to improve your situation, even in times of boredom.
We want to live in a prefab shack in New Hampshire
We have an unconventional and unambitious idea of what constitutes a desirable living situation.
We've got a negative attitude
We share a generally pessimistic and cynical outlook on life, like I do.
Because it's free to be groovy, I know
I heard it on my radio
Even though we have a negative attitude, it is still possible to appreciate and enjoy the good things in life.
Contributed by Hannah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.