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.
Speedboat
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wine and cigarettes and we never get no sleep
i first met them at a riverboat party
both of them were speeding i would say
i lived on the edge of all this indulgence
taking notes and trusting in prudence
julie said to jim why don't we jump in
while the water is cool and we are still friends
well i can see that river whenever i think about them
the river is cruel and the water is deep and blue
i was working then on my great unfinished novel
please let introduce myself my name is ronald
i was okay there until i lost my cool
now let me introduce you to the rest of the crew
it wasn't my style to find surf in my eye
it was much more my style to find sand in my eyes
though there is absolutely no truth to be discovered
albeit truth then is nothing to be found
we academics are not easily discouraged
lloyd you know wits they come three to the pound
julie said to jim look at the state we're in
it was never her intention to conclude anything
it wasn't my style to find surf in my eye
it was much more my style to find sand in my eyes
it was just not my style to find surf in my eye
it was much more my style to get sand kicked in my eyes
sand in my eyes
The lyrics to Lloyd Cole and The Commotions’s song Speedboat tell a story about the singer’s interactions with a couple named Julie and Jim. The first verse references their tendency to indulge in coffee, wine, and cigarettes. The singer first meets them at a riverboat party, where they are both “speeding,” indicating drug use. Despite taking notes and trying to be responsible, the singer goes along with Julie and Jim’s suggestion to jump into the river. However, the mood then shifts, as the lyrics suggest that Julie and Jim may have overdosed on Leonard Cohen, and the river becomes a cruel and deadly presence in the story.
The second verse introduces the singer, Ronald, who is working on an unfinished novel. He loses his cool at some point, leading him to introduce the rest of the crew. The following lines seem to be a philosophical reflection on the elusive nature of truth and the persistence of academics. The final verse returns to Julie and Jim, who seem to be in a pitiful state but do not intend to conclude anything. The repeated line “it wasn’t my style to find surf in my eye / it was much more my style to find sand in my eyes” embodies the theme of disappointment and disillusionment with life.
Line by Line Meaning
julie said we drink far too much coffee
Julie believes that they consume an excessive amount of coffee.
wine and cigarettes and we never get no sleep
They frequently consume wine and cigarettes, which leads to a lack of sleep.
i first met them at a riverboat party
The singer met Julie and Jim at a party on a riverboat.
both of them were speeding i would say
Julie and Jim were both under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
i lived on the edge of all this indulgence
The artist was present for, but not fully participating in, the excessive behavior of Julie and Jim.
taking notes and trusting in prudence
The singer was observing and making mental notes about the behavior of Julie and Jim, while maintaining caution in their own actions.
julie said to jim why don't we jump in
Julie suggested that they go for a swim in the river while they were still feeling good.
while the water is cool and we are still friends
They wanted to take advantage of the pleasant water temperature and their current camaraderie.
some say that they o.d.'d on leonard cohen
There are rumors that Julie and Jim overdosed on drugs while listening to Leonard Cohen's music.
well i can see that river whenever i think about them
The artist is reminded of Julie and Jim every time they think about that river and the events that transpired there.
the river is cruel and the water is deep and blue
The river is portrayed as a dark and powerful force.
i was working then on my great unfinished novel
The artist was in the process of writing a novel at that time.
please let introduce myself my name is ronald
The singer introduces themselves as Ronald.
i was okay there until i lost my cool
The singer was doing well until they became overwhelmed or upset.
now let me introduce you to the rest of the crew
The singer is introducing the other people involved in this story.
it wasn't my style to find surf in my eye
The artist did not appreciate the sensation of getting hit with waves while on the river.
it was much more my style to find sand in my eyes
The artist preferred getting sand kicked in their eyes, which suggests that they were more comfortable on land than on water.
though there is absolutely no truth to be discovered
The singer believes that there is no deeper meaning or truth to be found in this story.
albeit truth then is nothing to be found
Even if there is some truth or meaning to this story, it cannot be found at this point.
we academics are not easily discouraged
The artist and their companions are intellectuals who are undeterred by setbacks.
lloyd you know wits they come three to the pound
A nameless character named Lloyd is being addressed, and it is suggested that intelligent people like them are plentiful.
julie said to jim look at the state we're in
Julie acknowledges the unhealthy physical and mental state that she and Jim are in.
it was never her intention to conclude anything
Julie did not have a particular goal or objective in mind when she made that observation.
it wasn't my style to find surf in my eye
The artist was not a fan of being splashed with water while on the river.
it was much more my style to find sand in my eyes
The singer preferred being on land and dealing with dry, dusty sand instead of water.
it was just not my style to find surf in my eye
The singer reiterates that they did not enjoy being on the river.
it was much more my style to get sand kicked in my eyes
The singer is saying that they are better suited for getting sand in their eyes, as opposed to enjoying the water and waves.
sand in my eyes
The phrase is repeated to emphasize the artist's preference for dry land and avoidance of water.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind