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 BjΓΆrk, 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 β 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 β Guesswork β was released on July 26, 2019 by earMUSIC.
Weakness
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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.