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.
Women's Studies
Lloyd Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taking unpaid leave from my
Women's Studies, uh huh
Out here in the meadow
With A People's History of America
I smoke a pipe to Johnny 99
Bipartisan Consensus
I'm keeping it dry, nothing flighty
We were young and we were stupid
And it was fine while it lasted
To complete my education
I had to wake up in your bathtub
Oh, those Monday morning quarters
I grew so accustomed to
I've seen enough
I've made my recommendations
My work here is finished
Your powers of reduction
Remain strangely undiminished
Yes you, in your hushed tones
And your campus etiquette
If we cannot speak of nothing
Then nothing should keep her mouth shut
We were young and we were stupid
And it was fine while it lasted
Yes, I wrote my dissertation
On the barstools of your neighbourhood
But the bars were filled with lawyers
Filing action two by two
Through the valley of the women
That I am not married to
Are these riches here the spoils of my retreat?
These rented rooms and bachelor's degree
It's a Penguin Classic scene
Broken spine and faded green
Trying to relocate my arms
Around a memory
I'm drinking tea
Taking unpaid leave from my
Women's Studies, uh huh
Hiding up here in the library
With The Great Wall Of China
If Josef K was from Edinburgh
And Fast Product from Prague
That could have been kind of funny
Or maybe not that funny at all
We were young and we were stupid
And it was fine while it lasted
To complete my education
I had to wake up in your bathtub
With the shadows of the women
That I am not married to
The first verse of Lloyd Cole's "Women's Studies" paints the picture of the singer's current state – taking unpaid leave from Women's Studies, smoking a pipe in a meadow, and reading A People's History of America. The tea-sipping narrator describes himself as nothing flighty, following the therapist's guidance, and observing Bipartisan Consensus. The verse comes across as someone trying to escape their past and present while struggling with mental health issues.
The second verse reminisces about a relationship that was "fine while it lasted," but the singer had to complete their education and leave it behind. There's a reference to writing a dissertation in the barstools of their old neighborhood, but the singer eventually moves on from it. The singer has made recommendations, completed their work and believes that if they cannot speak of nothing than nothing should keep her mouth shut. The third verse appears to be a reflection on the struggles of transition, fame, and sophistication. They've achieved a bachelor's degree and lived enough life to escape the shadows of past relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm drinking tea
I am currently drinking tea.
Taking unpaid leave from my
I am currently on unpaid leave from my
Women's Studies, uh huh
I am taking a break from studying women's issues.
Out here in the meadow
I am currently outside in nature.
With A People's History of America
I am currently reading A People's History of America.
I smoke a pipe to Johnny 99
I am smoking a pipe while listening to Johnny 99.
Bipartisan Consensus
I agree with people from different political parties.
I'm keeping it dry, nothing flighty
I am being responsible and not engaging in anything excessive.
On orders from my therapist
My therapist has advised me to act responsibly.
We were young and we were stupid
In the past, I made foolish decisions.
And it was fine while it lasted
Even though it was not wise, I enjoyed it at the time.
To complete my education
I needed to finish my education.
I had to wake up in your bathtub
I had an experience in your bathtub.
Oh, those Monday morning quarters
I am reminiscing about something that happened on a certain Monday morning.
I grew so accustomed to
I became very familiar with.
I've seen enough
I have seen and experienced enough.
I've made my recommendations
I have given my advice or suggestions.
My work here is finished
I am done with this task or job.
Your powers of reduction
Your ability to take something complex and make it simple or insignificant.
Remain strangely undiminished
Your ability to do this remains strong.
Yes you, in your hushed tones
I am referring to you with your quiet voice.
And your campus etiquette
I am referring to your behavior or mannerisms.
If we cannot speak of nothing
If we cannot talk about unimportant things.
Then nothing should keep her mouth shut
Then there is no reason why someone should not be able to speak.
Yes, I wrote my dissertation
In the past, I wrote my dissertation.
On the barstools of your neighbourhood
I worked on my dissertation at local bars.
But the bars were filled with lawyers
But the bars were popular with lawyers.
Filing action two by two
The lawyers were filing actions in pairs.
Through the valley of the women
The lawyers were surrounded by women.
That I am not married to
These women were not my spouse.
Are these riches here the spoils of my retreat?
I am wondering if what I have gained is worth what I gave up.
These rented rooms and bachelor's degree
I am referring to my rented accomodations and bachelor's degree.
It's a Penguin Classic scene
It feels like a scene from a Penguin Classic novel.
Broken spine and faded green
The book is old and worn.
Trying to relocate my arms
I am attempting to find a comfortable sitting position.
Around a memory
I am thinking about a past event.
Hiding up here in the library
I am hiding in the library.
With The Great Wall Of China
I am currently reading The Great Wall Of China.
If Josef K was from Edinburgh
If Josef K came from Edinburgh.
And Fast Product from Prague
And Fast Product came from Prague.
That could have been kind of funny
That might have been a humorous situation.
Or maybe not that funny at all
Or perhaps not humorous at all.
With the shadows of the women
I am thinking about the women from my past that are not married to me.
Writer(s): Lloyd Cole
Contributed by Christopher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
okrajoe
Such a fantastic piece of music.
WellerT
Very good.