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.
That Boy
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't we let the sun shine through
Because he is a jerk I guess
Does that make him love you less
Could you forgive that boy
Could you find some part of your aching heart
To forgive that boy
Could you hold him in your arms
Until the morning comes
When he's a all cried out
Could you be that girl
What if it were you who fell
Would he have you go to hell?
Because he is a man that's true
Now wasn't she a woman too?
Could you forgive that boy
Could you find some part of your aching heart
To forgive that boy
Could you take him home
Could you hold him in your arms
Until the morning comes
When he's a all cried out
Could you be that girl?
Could you forgive that boy
Could you find some part of your aching heart
To forgive that boy
Could you take him home
Could you hold him in your arms
Until the morning comes
When he's a all cried out
Could you be that girl
Could you be that girl
Could you be that girl
Could you be that girl
Could you be that girl
Could you be that girl
Could you be that girl
Yeah yeah yeah
Lloyd Cole's song "That Boy" reflects on the complexities of forgiveness and asks the question of whether someone can find it within their heart to forgive someone who has hurt them deeply. The song speaks of the contradictory nature of relationships, highlighting the fact that sometimes we love someone in spite of their flaws, or may be hurt by someone we love. The lyrics, "Even though the skies are blue, don't we let the sun shine through," suggests that sometimes we can still find happiness and hope in the world, even when things seem difficult.
Cole looks at the issue of gender and power in the song, as he asks whether if the roles were reversed, would the male protagonist treat the female one with the same callousness and disregard that she has experienced. Key lines in the song such as "Because he is a man that's true, wasn't she a woman too?" show that gender roles and power within relationships can significantly impact how one person treats the other.
Overall, "That Boy" is a melancholic and reflective song that encourages the listener to ask important questions about love, forgiveness, power dynamics, and gender roles in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Even though the skies are blue
Despite the pleasant weather, he still lets his negative attitude impact his relationship.
Don't we let the sun shine through
He refuses to see the bright side of things, even when it's right in front of him.
Because he is a jerk I guess
He recognizes his own bad behavior and how it can negatively affect his romantic partner.
Does that make him love you less
He is unsure if his behavior will drive his partner away, causing her to love him less.
Could you forgive that boy
He is hoping for forgiveness from his partner despite his own actions and mistreatment of her.
Could you find some part of your aching heart
He knows that his partner has been hurt by his actions and is asking if she can find it in her heart to forgive him.
To forgive that boy
He is emphasizing that he needs forgiveness from his partner to move forward in the relationship.
Could you take him home
He wants his partner to bring him back to a place of love and safety in the relationship.
Could you hold him in your arms
He desires a physical embrace from his partner to show that she still cares about him despite his mistakes.
Until the morning comes
He imagines a night of physical and emotional comfort and reassurance, hoping that things will be better in the morning.
When he's all cried out
He envisions a moment of vulnerability, where he is emotionally spent from crying and just needs support from his partner.
Could you be that girl
He is asking if his partner can step up and be the one to forgive him, comfort him, and save their relationship.
What if it were you who fell
He is encouraging his partner to see things from his perspective and imagine how it would feel if the roles were reversed.
Would he have you go to hell?
He questions whether he would treat his partner as poorly as he has been treated, and asks if his partner believes he would.
Because he is a man that's true
He acknowledges traditional gender roles and expectations, but also recognizes that they are not an excuse for bad behavior.
Now wasn't she a woman too?
He points out that women are just as deserving of respect and consideration in a relationship as men are.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NANCY MONTGOMERY, TODD DAVID CERNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind