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.
Undressed
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better even in your current state of undress
Tears caressing me like rain
And I'm not even thinking, I feel fine in your pain
The coolest thing I ever saw
You were sitting there smoking my cigarettes
You were naked on the bare stone floor
You looked at me to say don't guess
Is it really such a sin?
Should I feel some kind of shame?
Will I truly go to hell?
Oh you never lock the bathroom door
Should I be embarrassed when I've seen a hundred times before
How do married couples cope
Should I say excuse me darling, I don't know
We could disconnect the telephone
Just sit around and mess around
And tell your ma we went to rome, tennessee
And I'm not even drinking, I feel fine, it's scary
Is it really such a sin?
Should I feel some kind of shame?
Will I truly go to hell?
Oh well
The coolest thing I ever saw
You were sitting there smoking my cigarettes
You were naked on the bare stone floor
You looked at me to say don't guess
I was only watching, is it bad that I should love you best
Undressed
Lloyd Cole's song "Undressed" is a provocative, intimate song that speaks to the complexities of love and desire. The lyrics reveal an almost voyeuristic perspective, as the singer describes his lover's depressed and undressed state, finding beauty and allure in her pain. The singer asks philosophical questions about the morality of their behavior and explores the boundaries of their relationship. Ultimately, the song questions whether loving someone in their vulnerable state is a sin or an act of true intimacy.
The line, "Tears caressing me like rain," suggests a sense of emotional connection and a willingness to immerse oneself in another's pain. Despite the potential ethical concerns, the singer finds himself drawn to his lover's naked body on the bare stone floor. The line "I was only watching, yes I love you more undressed" suggests that there is something profound and beautiful about their intimacy in this moment.
The song also touches on the anxieties and awkwardness that can accompany sexual and emotional intimacy. The singer wonders if he should be embarrassed or feel shame for their actions and ponders how married couples deal with this aspect of their relationship. The line "Should I say excuse me darling, I don't know" expresses uncertainty and vulnerability.
Overall, "Undressed" is a complex and emotionally charged song that explores the various aspects of love and intimacy, including pain, desire, morality, and vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
You look so good when you're depressed
I find you attractive even when you are feeling low
Better even in your current state of undress
Your physical appearance is even more appealing to me when you are naked
Tears caressing me like rain
Your tears are comforting to me as if they were rainfall
And I'm not even thinking, I feel fine in your pain
Being with you while you are in pain is soothing to me and I don't have to think about anything else
The coolest thing I ever saw
You being naked and smoking my cigarettes is one of the most captivating things I have witnessed
You were sitting there smoking my cigarettes
You were calmly smoking my cigarettes
You were naked on the bare stone floor
You were completely unclothed and lying on the hard floor
You looked at me to say don't guess
You stared at me, conveying that I wasn't supposed to speculate about your intentions
I was only watching, yes I love you more undressed
I was merely observing you, but I find myself even more enamored with you when you're naked
Is it really such a sin?
I'm questioning whether it's truly immoral
Should I feel some kind of shame?
Is it inappropriate for me to be attracted to you in this situation?
Will I truly go to hell?
Am I going to be punished for my feelings?
Oh you never lock the bathroom door
You don't lock the bathroom door even though you know I could walk in at any time
Should I be embarrassed when I've seen a hundred times before
Should I still feel bashful even though I've seen you naked so many times?
How do married couples cope?
I'm curious about how people in committed relationships deal with these kinds of situations
Should I say excuse me darling, I don't know
Should I apologize for not knowing how to handle this?
We could disconnect the telephone
Let's ignore the outside world and focus on ourselves
Just sit around and mess around
Let's spend time together and engage in playful activities
And tell your ma we went to rome, tennessee
We can make up a story to tell your family if they ask where we went
And I'm not even drinking, I feel fine, it's scary
I don't need alcohol to feel good in your company, which is both surprising and unsettling
I was only watching, is it bad that I should love you best
I was simply admiring you, but is it wrong that I feel more affection for you when you are naked?
Undressed
Being naked
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@steveroden2218
Absolutely love this song. Great songwriting!
@carolineboon1562
Loved this all the years. Massive fan
@richardwarry7281
Superb lyricist at his superb best
@kathleenmcculloch5060
Lloyd at his best
@iannaiism
Bravo!
@drstevie
Brill song..very Dylan.
@marcmelander1815
He covers 'Most of the time' on a B side. And superbly.
@mooncat.787
I was only watching, yes I love you more.........undressed !