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.
Pretty Gone
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not you you just walk away to the foot of her stairs
She at the top with her head in the clouds
And was she easily lead
Well can you tell me that you were not
You unwashed and undressed
She with her head full of your cigarettes
She is oh such a pretty one wrapped up in needle cord and coincidence
Until it's gone gone gone pretty gone
Somebody somewhere must pay
Somebody else will confess all your sins
You'll be saved
Then you'll step on that face
She will laugh she will kiss yes and tell
She is gone she is pretty gone she's under your thumb
Oh you little man but you don`t know what you want
Until she's gone gone gone
Pretty dress full of nothingness to confess
She is nothing less
She was half way to holiness when you said
Won't you put on your dress and come down to magazine avenue
Won't you put on your dress and come down?
The song "Pretty Gone" by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions tells a story of a man who realizes the value of a woman only after she has left him. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is beautiful, ethereal and whimsical. She is depicted as being "at the top with her head in the clouds" and "wrapped up in needle cord and coincidence". The man seems to be infatuated with her, but he is also aware of her fragility and her vulnerability. He acknowledges that she was "easily led", but cannot deny his attraction to her. He is also quite self-aware and acknowledges his own shortcomings when he sings: "you unwashed and undressed".
The song is a lament about the loss of love and an exploration of themes such as desire, loss, and regret. The lyrics suggest that sometimes it takes losing something to appreciate its true value. The chorus speaks to this idea when it says: "And you don't know what you want until it's gone, gone, gone, pretty gone". The song ends on a bittersweet note, where the woman is depicted as being "gone, pretty gone", but the man is still left grappling with his feelings and his loss.
Overall, "Pretty Gone" is a beautifully crafted song that showcases Lloyd Cole's knack for storytelling and lyricism. It is a poignant meditation on love, desire, and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody somewhere must pay
There are always consequences for actions, and someone will inevitably have to suffer for what has occurred.
Not you you just walk away to the foot of her stairs
You are able to distance yourself from the situation and avoid any repercussions, leaving the other person to deal with the aftermath.
She at the top with her head in the clouds
The other person involved is living in their own world, blissfully unaware of the consequences of their actions.
And was she easily lead
She was easily influenced and swayed by your actions and words.
Well can you tell me that you were not
You must acknowledge your involvement in leading her to this situation.
You unwashed and undressed
Your behavior was careless and lacked consideration for the other person's well-being.
She with her head full of your cigarettes
She was captivated by your habits and indulgences, and perhaps even tried to emulate you.
She is oh such a pretty one wrapped up in needle cord and coincidence
The other person is attractive and captivating, but also tangled up in a dangerous and unfortunate situation by chance or coincidence.
And you don`t know what to want
Even though you have contributed to her situation, you are still unsure of what you truly want out of the relationship.
Until it's gone gone gone pretty gone
You only realize how much you wanted her when she is no longer in your life.
Somebody somewhere must pay
Repercussions for actions cannot be avoided, someone must take responsibility.
Somebody else will confess all your sins
Someone else will reveal the details of your indiscretions and actions.
You'll be saved
You will be protected from the worst of the consequences.
Then you'll step on that face
You will be triumphant over the other person, perhaps even vindictive or cruel.
She will laugh she will kiss yes and tell
The other person will find a way to move on from the situation, despite your mistreatment of her.
She is gone she is pretty gone she's under your thumb
You controlled her and had power over her, but now that she's gone you realize how much you had and lost.
Oh you little man but you don`t know what you want
You are immature and selfish, unable to understand what you truly want or need from a relationship.
Until she's gone gone gone
Once she's gone, you will realize just how much you wanted her.
Pretty dress full of nothingness to confess
The other person may have been trying to fill a void, or fix something about themselves with the relationship.
She is nothing less
Despite any flaws or mistakes, the other person is still worthy of love and respect.
She was half way to holiness when you said
The other person was on a path of self-improvement before you entered the picture and likely derailed their progress.
Won't you put on your dress and come down to magazine avenue
You attempted to lure the other person back into your control, offering something superficial or shallow as an enticement.
Won't you put on your dress and come down?
You seek to have the other person adhere to your wishes again, without any thought for her well-being.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE, NEIL CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luist6853
Here are the lyrics
Somebody somewhere must pay
Not you you just walk away to the foot of her stairs
She at the top with her head in the clouds
And was she easily lead
Well can you tell me that you were not
You unwashed and undressed
She with her head full of your cigarettes
She is oh such a pretty one wrapped up in needle cord and coincidence
And you don`t know what to want
Until it's gone gone gone pretty gone
Somebody somewhere must pay
Somebody else will confess all your sins
You'll be saved
Then you'll step on that face
She will laugh she will kiss yes and tell
She is gone she is pretty gone she's under your thumb
Oh you little man but you don`t know what you want
Until she's gone gone gone
Pretty dress full of nothingness to confess
She is nothing less
She was half way to holiness when you said
Won't you put on your dress and come down to magazine avenue
Won't you put on your dress and come down?
@mick1399
one the most underrated bands ever. A great album but I think Mainstream was their masterpiece.
@danielkuczynski6647
For me, " Rattlesnakes "
@evilgeniusy
How can you not love a waltz? I've been listening to this obsessively for days.
@MissAllaCinderella
eve Same!
@luist6853
Here are the lyrics
Somebody somewhere must pay
Not you you just walk away to the foot of her stairs
She at the top with her head in the clouds
And was she easily lead
Well can you tell me that you were not
You unwashed and undressed
She with her head full of your cigarettes
She is oh such a pretty one wrapped up in needle cord and coincidence
And you don`t know what to want
Until it's gone gone gone pretty gone
Somebody somewhere must pay
Somebody else will confess all your sins
You'll be saved
Then you'll step on that face
She will laugh she will kiss yes and tell
She is gone she is pretty gone she's under your thumb
Oh you little man but you don`t know what you want
Until she's gone gone gone
Pretty dress full of nothingness to confess
She is nothing less
She was half way to holiness when you said
Won't you put on your dress and come down to magazine avenue
Won't you put on your dress and come down?
@longbeachdave1
so good.
@totoro933
Thank you!
@normanmaciver5630
Reminds me of being dumped
@okrajoe
Absolutely perfect!
@captainbloor
It beggars belief that Cole dislikes this LP. Incredible.