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.
Today I'm Not So Sure
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shelter and protect you
Didn't I answer - Yes I do
Well, today I'm not so sure
Didn't the stars shine awful bright then
Didn't I look into your eyes and
Didn't I swear I'd always be there
Today I'm not so sure
Today I'm not so sure
Wasn't the world much younger then
Isn't the word indifferent
Which Best describes this man in descent
Caught beteween love
And what I meant
Didn't I promise always to
Shelter and protect you
Didn't I answer - Yes I do
Well, today I'm not so sure
Didn't the stars shine awful bright then
Didn't I look into your eyes and
Didn't I swear I'd always be there
Well, yeah, yeah, yeah
Today I'm not so sure
The lyrics of the song "Today I'm Not So Sure" by Lloyd Cole are about the doubts and uncertainties that can arise in a relationship as time passes. The singer is questioning his ability to keep his promises of protecting and sheltering his partner. He remembers the brighter, more optimistic times when he made those promises, when the stars shined bright and he looked into his partner's eyes full of love and hope. However, at present, he is uncertain about his ability to follow through on those promises. He is caught between love and what he meant, perhaps questioning whether his own expectations were too high or unrealistic.
The lyrics reflect the universal struggle that people face in relationships. Promises are made, but time and experience can make them difficult to keep. Doubts and fears can set in, and a once-shining future can become clouded with uncertainties. The song is a reminder that it takes work and commitment to maintain a relationship, and even then, doubts can linger.
Overall, "Today I'm Not So Sure" is a poignant and relatable song about the ups and downs of love and the uncertainties that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't I promise always to
Didn't I commit to
Shelter and protect you
Providing you with security and care
Didn't I answer - Yes I do
Didn't I say that I would
Well, today I'm not so sure
But today, I'm uncertain about it
Didn't the stars shine awful bright then
Weren't those times full of promise and potential?
Didn't I look into your eyes and
Didn't we connect deeply and intensely?
Didn't I swear I'd always be there
Didn't I make a solemn commitment to always support you?
Well, yeah, yeah, yeah
Indeed, I did
Today I'm not so sure
But now, amidst the uncertainties and the unknowns, I'm hesitant.
Wasn't the world much younger then
Those happy memories was a long time ago
Isn't the word indifferent
Isn't life uncaring and cruel?
Which Best describes this man in descent
Which noun could best describe the sufferings of this man?
Caught beteween love
Torn between the love I have for you
And what I meant
And the fact that I'm unsure whether I can deliver what I promised
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lloyd Cole
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind