Signed to Polydor in 1984, the band was known for combining Clark's twangy guitar style with Cole's low-key singing style. Particularly notable were Cole's literary lyrics (he was studying Philosophy at the University of Glasgow when the band started) and name-dropping the likes of Norman Mailer, Arthur Lee, Grace Kelly, Truman Capote, Eva Marie Saint, Simone de Beauvoir, and Nancy Sinatra.
For a period in the mid 1980s the band was one of the most successful indie acts in Britain, vying with The Smiths. The band broke up in 1989 amid reports of personality clashes between members, and Cole moved to New York City to pursue a successful solo career. The band reformed in 2004 to perform a 20th anniversary tour of the UK and Ireland.
Band members
Lloyd Cole (born 31 January 1961) - vocals, guitar, lyricist
Blair Cowan (born 1960?) - keyboards
Lawrence Donegan (born 13 July 1961) - bass guitar
Neil Clark (born 3 July 1955) - guitar
Stephen Irvine (born 16 December 1959) - drums
Big Snake
Lloyd Cole and The Commotions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the cool of the mist
Walking in the shadows of the trade ships
I'll be your baby
I will not be your man
I will not be around when you call
Oh Daddy
I'll be Daddy's little girl
The warm summer rain
Washes your tears in to the big snake
Into the ocean
And your skin is so white under harbour light
Should you fall I'll be your baby
Say I'll be daddy's little girl
Oh Daddy
I'm all alone now
Hush little baby
Don't you cry
I will sing you a lullaby
It's high tide
In the still of your room
And the big snake's a crawling
Through the smoke and perfume
To be your baby
I will not be your man
I will be around when you fall
I'll be your baby
I'll be Daddy's little girl
Say it be my Daddy
I'll be Daddy's little girl
Oh Daddy
We're all alone now
Won't you be my Daddy
We're all alone now...
The song "Big Snake" by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions is a melancholic ballad that talks about the singer's delicate relationship with someone older, presumably an older man, referred to as Daddy. The lyrics suggest that the singer was fascinated by this person, but the relationship was not a conventional one, and they were often left alone. The opening lines "High tide/ In the cool of the mist/ Walking in the shadows of the trade ships" paint a picture of the singer walking by the water in the early hours of the morning, lost in thought. The lyrics "I'll be your baby/ I will not be your man/ I will not be around when you call" suggest that the singer is willing to be emotionally available to Daddy but not in a way that may cause confusion or misunderstanding.
As the song progresses, the lyrics "Black water/ The warm summer rain/ Washes your tears into the big snake/ Into the ocean" refer to the cleansing of sadness and tears into the ocean, which is compared to a big snake. The lyrics "And your skin is so white under harbour light" suggest that the contrast of the light makes the skin seem transparent or vulnerable. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Oh Daddy/ I'll be Daddy's little girl," conveys the longing the singer has to stay close to this person, even if just emotionally. The song ends on a somber note, with the lyrics "Won't you be my Daddy/ We're all alone now," suggesting that the singer is still searching for that connection with Daddy despite feeling isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
High tide
The water level is high.
In the cool of the mist
It is misty and cool.
Walking in the shadows of the trade ships
Walking alongside the trade ships, in the shadows they cast.
I'll be your baby
I will be there for you when you need me.
I will not be your man
I won't take on a stereotypical masculine role in this relationship.
I will not be around when you call
I won't always be readily available to answer your calls or requests.
Oh Daddy
A term of endearment used for a father figure.
I'll be Daddy's little girl
I'll always seek comfort and protection from my father figure.
Black water
The water is dark in color.
The warm summer rain
It is raining and the weather is warm.
Washes your tears into the big snake
The rain takes away your tears, washing them into the river nearby.
Into the ocean
The river flows into the sea.
And your skin is so white under harbour light
Your skin appears pale under the light near the harbor.
Should you fall I'll be your baby
If you ever fall or need help, I'll be there for you.
Say I'll be daddy's little girl
Asserting the desire to continue being a father's little girl.
Oh Daddy
A term of endearment used for a father figure.
I'm all alone now
I'm currently alone.
Hush little baby
Comfort for someone who is upset or distressed, like a mother would give to her baby.
Don't you cry
Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.
I will sing you a lullaby
To help you relax and fall asleep, I will sing a soft, soothing song.
It's high tide
The water level is high.
In the still of your room
In the quietness of your own space, where you feel safe.
And the big snake's a crawling
A snake is nearby, moving across the ground.
Through the smoke and perfume
Through the lingering scent of smoke and perfume in the air.
To be your baby
I want to be there for you and take care of you.
I will not be your man
I won't take on a stereotypical masculine role in this relationship.
I will be around when you fall
I'll be there to help and support you when you need it most.
I'll be your baby
I'm here to take care of you and provide comfort.
I'll be Daddy's little girl
I'll always seek comfort and protection from my father figure.
Say it be my Daddy
Asking for confirmation that this person will fulfill the role of a father figure.
We're all alone now
There's no one else around.
Won't you be my Daddy
Asking for confirmation that this person is willing to take on the role of a father figure in a loving and supportive way.
We're all alone now...
Continuing to assert the desire for support and protection in a lonely and vulnerable moment.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IAN STANLEY, LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind