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.
Why In the World?
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the palm of your hand
Why in the world would you want to do that?
Ride out to the station
Stare out into space
Whay in the world would I want to do that?
Wouldnt I?
So when did I cease to see the light?
and maybe you were right
Matbe I’m all dried up inside
Maybe I’m not built for these times
Maybe I don’t know how to live
Got a working illusion
In the palm of your hand
Why in the world would you want to lose that?
Clung on to believing
Just as long as I could
How in the world could you fail to see that?
Hasta luego modern guy
When did I cease to see the light?
and maybe you were right
Matbe I’m all dried up inside
Maybe I’m not built for these times
Maybe I don’t know how to live
Maybe I don’t know how to live
The lyrics to Lloyd Cole's "Why in the World?" speak to a generational gap between the singer and a young, modern person who has embraced technology and the future. The singer questions the appeal of the "working illusion" that technology provides, wondering why anyone would want to "beam into the future from the palm of your hand." At the same time, the singer reflects on his own limitations and failures to keep up with the changes of the times: "Maybe I'm all dried up inside / Maybe I'm not built for these times / Maybe I don't know how to live."
The lyrics raise questions about the value of technology and the changing nature of society. The singer seems to long for a simpler time when looking out into space would be enough to satisfy him, but he recognizes that he may be out of touch with the world around him. It's possible that he is envious of the young, modern person he addresses, but he is also skeptical of their embrace of technology. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest a sense of alienation and disconnection from the world, as the singer grapples with his place in a rapidly changing society.
Line by Line Meaning
Beam in to the future
From the palm of your hand
Why in the world would you want to do that?
Advancements have allowed people to look into the future through devices held in their hands. What would be the reason for doing such a thing?
Ride out to the station
Stare out into space
Whay in the world would I want to do that?
What incentive is there for me to leave my current location to merely gaze into the vast emptiness of space?
If I was a young and modern guy,
Wouldnt I?
So when did I cease to see the light?
Had I been born in a more contemporary era, would I be living life more in sync with the times? When did I start to lose my touch with modernity?
and maybe you were right
Matbe I’m all dried up inside
Maybe I’m not built for these times
Maybe I don’t know how to live
Perhaps those who pointed out my shortcomings in adapting to modernity were correct. Maybe I have lost my passion and vitality, and simply am not equipped to deal with these current times.
Got a working illusion
In the palm of your hand
Why in the world would you want to lose that?
There is an illusion that functions properly and can be accessed through handheld technology. Why would anyone want to give up such a thing?
Clung on to believing
Just as long as I could
How in the world could you fail to see that?
I held onto my beliefs as long as reasonably possible. How could you not have noticed that?
Hasta luego modern guy
When did I cease to see the light?
and maybe you were right
Matbe I’m all dried up inside
Maybe I’m not built for these times
Maybe I don’t know how to live
Maybe I don’t know how to live
Farewell, modern person. When exactly did I lose my edge? Maybe those who accused me of lacking the necessary skills to thrive today were accurate. Maybe I am depleted and ill-equipped to face our current reality.
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.