Weakness
Lloyd Cole Lyrics


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Cole

Place one finger under your eye
Catch a tear and let it dry
Grasp the moment now and it's gone
With the wild swans
Yonder streetlight avenue
See it beckons me and you
Wander downtown, follow your shoes
Likely they know better than you
Without an earthly chance
But somehow a second glance
She said "I read your paperback"
Could we be insignificant others?
You could accuse me of courting despair
Forsaken for art's sake, guilty as charged
You could refuse me, I know
You'll do as you please




But could I call you Sweetness?
For you are my weakness

Overall Meaning

In the song "Weakness" by Lloyd Cole, the singer sings about his weakness for a woman who has caught his attention. The song talks about how the woman he is interested in is his weakness and how he feels drawn towards her. The lyrics talk about the fleeting nature of moments, and how sometimes we miss them, but in this case, the singer is embracing the moment and seizing the opportunity to express his feelings.


The song paints a picture of nighttime in the city, with the image of a streetlight avenue beckoning the singer to follow it. The singer talks about wandering around downtown, following his shoes, implying that he is not sure where he is going but is open to the adventure. In the song, the woman he is interested in approaches him and acknowledges that she has read his paperback. The song suggests that the two may become "insignificant others," highlighting the idea that the people we meet in this world may not always matter to us in the grand scheme of things, but they can still impact our lives and leave a lasting impression.


The chorus of the song suggests that the woman is the singer's weakness because he is drawn to her despite the possibility of being hurt. He asks if he could call her "Sweetness," indicating his desire to be close to her. Overall, "Weakness" is a song that speaks about seizing the moment, embracing opportunities, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable in love.


Line by Line Meaning

Place one finger under your eye
Start by locating a teardrop.


Catch a tear and let it dry
Dry the tear you caught with a finger.


Grasp the moment now and it's gone
Seize the present moment while it lasts.


With the wild swans
Go with the flow of things or join the crowd.


Yonder streetlight avenue
Take a stroll down the street.


See it beckons me and you
The streetlight avenue invites both of us.


Wander downtown, follow your shoes
Explore what the city has to offer; let your feet guide you.


Likely they know better than you
Trust your feet to lead you to something great.


Without an earthly chance
We don't have a high chance of success.


But somehow a second glance
Still, there's a slim chance.


She said "I read your paperback"
The singer's crush is showing interest in them by mentioning their work.


Could we be insignificant others?
Are we a perfect match despite having unimportant lives?


You could accuse me of courting despair
You might say I'm trying to depress myself.


Forsaken for art's sake, guilty as charged
I'm willing to sacrifice love for the sake of being artistic.


You could refuse me, I know
I'm aware that you might turn down my advances.


You'll do as you please
You'll make up your own mind.


But could I call you Sweetness?
May I use a term of endearment for you?


For you are my weakness
You have a hold over me that I cannot resist.




Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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