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.
Went To Woodstock
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went to Woodstock
I've been to Big Sur,too
And neither one held much for
I tried The Tropics
Couldn't get into Celine
Not my scene
Where did my angel go?
I held a mirror to my love stained life
I had no need of other means
I went for a song
But then I was young and strong
Every night long
And I was hoping you might know
Where did my angel go?
It was not just my imagine
I was unduly favoured
There is no free association
I've got to bring home the bacon
How can love be fair
When it's always out of nowhere?
Smile if you want to
Yes, but take my advice
And try to avoid the present tense
And don't got to Woodstock
Not if you feel alright
You know, young and uptight
Well, I was hoping you might know
Where did my angel go?
In this song, Lloyd Cole reminisces about his travels to different places including Woodstock, Big Sur, and The Tropics. While he had hoped to find something meaningful in these places, he ultimately didn't find what he was looking for. He reflects on his past and the question of where his angel (his source of happiness) has gone, as he struggles to find meaning in his present life.
The first verse of the song sees Cole listing the places he's been to, Woodstock and Big Sur, in particular. While these were significant places in the 60s and 70s counterculture movement, Cole indicates that they didn't hold much for him personally. He then moves onto The Tropics, where he couldn't get into Celine, indicating that he wasn't interested in the commercial aspects of the place. In the second verse, Cole reflects on his past and the glory days of his youth. He went to Woodstock for a song, which was significant during his younger years when he was "young and strong" and "every night long," but the memories and experiences he had there don't seem to bring him the same satisfaction or fulfillment now.
He questions why love always seems to be "out of nowhere" and reflects on how he may be unduly favored in life, but he still has to bring home the bacon. In his final exhortation to "smile if you want to," he advises the listener to avoid living in the present tense and not to go to Woodstock, especially if they're young and uptight. Finally, he asks the question again in the last line, "Where did my angel go?" implying that he's still struggling to find meaning, even after all his travels and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to Woodstock
I travelled to Woodstock, New York to attend the festival.
I've been to Big Sur, too
I also visited Big Sur, California.
And neither one held much for
However, I did not find either of these places very fulfilling.
I tried The Tropics
I attempted to enjoy The Tropics, a nightclub in some location.
Couldn't get into Celine
I did not like Celine, another nightclub I visited.
Not my scene
This type of atmosphere was not something I enjoyed.
Well, I was hoping you might know
I am now asking for your help.
Where did my angel go?
I am searching for my love interest and seeking assistance in finding them.
I held a mirror to my love stained life
I took a close look at my romantic history.
I had no need of other means
I did not require any additional substances, such as drugs or alcohol, to cope with this introspection.
I went for a song
Initially, I only attended Woodstock to hear the music.
But then I was young and strong
However, I was also young and naive at the time.
Every night long
I enjoyed the festivities and stayed up all night each night of the festival.
It was not just my imagine
These experiences were real, not just products of my imagination.
I was unduly favoured
I believe that I received unwarranted and disproportionate attention in these situations.
There is no free association
I do not believe that people can truly associate freely without consequences or judgments.
I've got to bring home the bacon
I now have the responsibility of providing for myself and potentially a family.
How can love be fair
I question the fairness of love and whether it is distributed evenly.
When it's always out of nowhere?
It often feels as though love comes unexpectedly and without warning.
Smile if you want to
You may smile if you desire.
Yes, but take my advice
However, I do have some advice for you.
And try to avoid the present tense
My suggestion is to not dwell too much on the present and instead focus on the future.
And don't go to Woodstock
I do not recommend attending Woodstock or similar events.
Not if you feel alright
Especially if you are content with your current situation.
You know, young and uptight
It is common for younger individuals to feel tense or anxious.
Well, I was hoping you might know
Once again, I am seeking your guidance.
Where did my angel go?
I am still searching for my missing love interest.
Contributed by Nicholas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.