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.
What Do You Know About Love
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm soaking from my hat down to my shoes
Rain on me 'cause I'm believing
Love is something I get to lose
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
Mister I got scars on my knees
Take a look at these hands I got from praying
You better believe I do believe
It's raining on bleecker street
From my heart down to my feet now
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
Now I know that this blood here is for bleeding
Sure as jesus is up above
He knows my heart is just for pleading
But what do you know about love?
It's raining on my main street
From my heart down to my feet now
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
Raining from my heart down to my feet now
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
It's raining on bleecker street
Raining from my heart down to my feet now
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
Raining from my heart down to my feet yessir
Doo doo doo doo doo doo...
(should rain on me now)
(falling down on me now now now now)
(should rain on me)
Raining from my heart down to my feet now now
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
What do you know about love?
The lyrics in Lloyd Cole's song "What Do You Know About Love?" convey a sense of longing and vulnerability. The singer seems to be soaked in the rain, perhaps a metaphor for the tears he sheds over lost love. He challenges the listener repeatedly with the question, "What do you know about love?" as if insinuating that they cannot possibly understand the depth of his emotions.
In the second stanza, he shows the physical toll that his love has taken on him in the form of scars on his knees and calloused hands from praying for his love to return. He juxtaposes his pain with a reference to Jesus, implying that his suffering is on par with that of religious martyrs.
The repetition of the phrase "raining from my heart down to my feet" reinforces the idea that the singer is so overwhelmed with emotion that it permeates every aspect of his being. Despite his pain, he continues to believe in the power of love.
Overall, the lyrics of this song explore the complexities of love - the pain, the hope, and the mystery of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Rain on me, I'm not complaining
I accept the hardships of love.
I'm soaking from my hat down to my shoes
The struggles of love are a part of me.
Rain on me 'cause I'm believing
I pursue love even though it may hurt me.
Love is something I get to lose
Love is a risk, but it's worth taking.
What do you know about love?
Do you truly understand the complexities of love?
Take a look at my face to get my meaning
My expressions reveal my emotions.
Mister I got scars on my knees
I've been through heartache before.
Take a look at these hands I got from praying
I believe in the power of love.
You better believe I do believe
My faith in love is unshakable.
It's raining on bleecker street
The difficulties of love are all around me.
From my heart down to my feet now
Love affects me deeply.
Now I know that this blood here is for bleeding
I'm willing to bleed for love.
Sure as jesus is up above
I have a strong belief in love like religion.
He knows my heart is just for pleading
I only want to love and be loved.
But what do you know about love?
Do you truly understand the complexities of love?
Raining from my heart down to my feet now
The emotions of love are overwhelming.
It's raining on my main street
Love is affecting my everyday life.
Raining from my heart down to my feet yessir
The emotions of love are overpowering.
Should rain on me now
I am open to the challenges of love.
Falling down on me now now now now
The struggles of love are encompassing me.
What do you know about love?
Do you truly understand the complexities of love?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Animal Justice
Fantastic song. I remember buying the cassette in 1990!