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.
People Ain't No Good
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think that's well understood
You can see it everywhere you look
People just ain't no good
We were married under cherry trees
Under blossom we made our vows
All the blossoms come sailing down
The sun would stream on the sheets
Woken by the morning bird
We'd buy the Sunday newspapers
And never read a single word
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
Seasons came, seasons went
The winter stripped the blossoms bare
A different tree now lines the streets
Shaking its fists in the air
The winter slammed us like a fist
The windows rattling in the gales
To which she drew the curtains
Made out of her wedding veils
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good at all
To our love send a dozen white lilies
To our love send a coffin of wood
To our love let all the pink-eyed pigeons coo
That people they just ain't no good
To our love send back all the letters
To our love a valentine of blood
To our love let all the jilted lovers cry
That people they just ain't no good
It ain't that in their hearts they're bad
They can comfort you, some even try
They nurse you when you're ill of health
They bury you when you go and die
It ain't that in their hearts they're bad
They'd stick by you if they could
But that's just bullshit, baby
People just ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good at all
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good
People they ain't no good at all
The song "People Ain't No Good" by Lloyd Cole explores the idea that although people may have good intentions, they are ultimately flawed in their actions and thus can ultimately bring pain and disappointment. The song starts with the statement that "people just ain't no good" and highlights that this is something that is widely understood. The lyrics provide examples of how people can try to create happy and fulfilling lives, but the transitory nature of life and the flaws in human behaviour ultimately lead to disappointment.
The second verse tells a story of a marriage that began beautifully, under cherry trees, with the promise of new beginnings. However, as time passes, the seasons change, and the relationship begins to falter. The once-beloved cherry trees lose their blossoms, replaced by a tree that appears to be angry and defiant. The winters bring storms that shake the windows, leading the woman in the relationship to draw the curtains made of her wedding veil. This imagery highlights how time changes everything and how the initial beauty of a relationship or a place can deteriorate, just like people.
The final verse talks about how although people can try to comfort and support one another, ultimately, they are flawed and unable to provide everlasting love. The idea that people in their hearts are not bad reinforces the point that it is human nature to try and do good, yet it is flawed. The song concludes with the repetition of the statement that "people they ain't no good," driving the point home that this is something that is widely understood and generally accepted.
Line by Line Meaning
People just ain't no good
Human beings are generally not trustworthy, kind, or reliable.
I think that's well understood
This is a widely accepted truth.
You can see it everywhere you look
Evidence of this is apparent in all aspects of life.
We were married under cherry trees
The artist and his partner were married in a beautiful setting.
Under blossom we made our vows
Their marriage began with hope and promise.
All the blossoms come sailing down
The transience of happiness and beauty is inevitable.
Through the streets and through the playgrounds
The world continues to move on despite individual struggles.
The sun would stream on the sheets
Their life together was once filled with warmth and light.
Woken by the morning bird
The artist and his partner had joyful moments together.
We'd buy the Sunday newspapers
Their relationship had routines and daily rituals that were once enjoyable.
And never read a single word
Over time, their interests and priorities changed.
Seasons came, seasons went
Time inevitably passes, bringing change with it.
The winter stripped the blossoms bare
Their lives were affected by hardships and adversity.
A different tree now lines the streets
The world around them has changed and moved on without them.
Shaking its fists in the air
The world seems to mock or challenge them.
The winter slammed us like a fist
The artist and his partner faced difficulties that were overwhelming and painful.
The windows rattling in the gales
The natural world can be unwelcoming and harsh.
To which she drew the curtains
His partner tried to shield them from the outside world.
Made out of her wedding veils
She used symbols of their lost love to protect them from the present.
To our love send a dozen white lilies
This signifies mourning and remembrance of their past happiness.
To our love send a coffin of wood
This symbolizes the death of their love and relationship.
To our love let all the pink-eyed pigeons coo
Even the birds and nature seem to know and agree that people are no good.
To our love send back all the letters
Returning the letters signifies the finality of their relationship.
To our love a valentine of blood
This disturbing image suggests the intense and destructive nature of their love.
To our love let all the jilted lovers cry
Their pain and heartbreak is reflected in others who have experienced similar loss.
It ain't that in their hearts they're bad
Humans have the capacity for goodness.
They can comfort you, some even try
People can offer support and kindness to others.
They nurse you when you're ill of health
People can care for others when they are vulnerable.
They bury you when you go and die
People provide comfort and support during periods of grief and loss.
But that's just bullshit, baby
Despite this goodness, the truth remains that people are ultimately unreliable and disappointing.
People they ain't no good
Humans are not trustworthy, kind, or reliable.
People they ain't no good at all
This is not just an individual problem, but a universal truth.
Contributed by Nora S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.