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
Four Flights Up
Lloyd Cole and The Commotions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your mother was singing in the bathroom, she will never be my child
Oh baby talks in her sleep so loud
We're living four flights up but I swear right now it feels like underground
Well you have absolutely no common sense, yes I know that's your charm
You spend the whole day on the phone, you say well it helps you stay calm
You cling to my arm, yes I know that's your charm
Well then could you give me some peace, you say well maybe for a while
Sometimes you know you could almost be a child
Oh must you tell me all your secrets
When it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing
We're living four flights up but I swear right now it feels like underground
You are your own worst enemy, so don't expect my sympathy
Oh go back to your mother's house and cry your little heart out
You can drive them back to town in a beat-up grace kelly car
Looking like a friend of truman capote, looking exactly like you are
Yes, yes I know that's your charm
So don't ask me if I want you, only ask me if I must
I been blown around so long, don't know which senses to trust
Oh no, but I know that I must
Oh must you tell me all your secrets
When it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing
We're living four flights up but I swear right now it feels like underground
The lyrics of "Four Flights Up" by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions is a song about the dynamics in a relationship that is complicated, difficult, and sometimes suffocating. The song starts with the singer being woken up at four a.m. by the sound of his partner's screams and anguished cries, possibly indicating that the relationship is not a peaceful one. The partner's mother is singing in the bathroom, and the singer says she will never be his child, which could suggest tension and conflict between the couple's families. The partner talks in her sleep so loud that it feels like they are living underground despite being four flights up, indicating that they are overwhelmed by the problems in their relationship.
The song goes on to describe how the partner has no common sense, spends the whole day on the phone, and tells the singer all her secrets, despite it being hard enough to love her knowing nothing. The partner clings to the singer's arm, which is considered her charm, but the singer is frustrated and asks for some peace, which the partner replies with "maybe for a while." The singer suggests that the partner is her own worst enemy and should not expect sympathy. The song ends with the singer telling the partner to go back to her mother's house and cry her little heart out, emphasizing that their relationship is not healthy and possibly toxic.
Overall, the lyrics of "Four Flights Up" paint a picture of a relationship that is complicated, frustrating, and overwhelming. The partner seems to have issues that she is not dealing with, and the singer is tired of dealing with the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
I was woken up at four a.m. by your screams and anguished cries
You were screaming and crying in the middle of the night, waking me up.
Your mother was singing in the bathroom, she will never be my child
Your mother was singing and making noise, reminding me that I don't feel a connection with her.
Oh baby talks in her sleep so loud
You talk in your sleep really loudly.
We're living four flights up but I swear right now it feels like underground
Our living situation is making us feel trapped and isolated.
Well you have absolutely no common sense, yes I know that's your charm
You do things that are illogical, but I find it endearing.
You spend the whole day on the phone, you say well it helps you stay calm
You talk on the phone all day to stay relaxed.
You cling to my arm, yes I know that's your charm
You hold onto me when we're together, and I find it cute.
And when I ask you what you want you say do you mind hey crocodile
When I ask what you want, you respond with a nonsensical phrase.
Well then could you give me some peace, you say well maybe for a while
I ask for some space, and you reluctantly agree to it for a short time.
Sometimes you know you could almost be a child
You have childlike tendencies at times.
Oh must you tell me all your secrets
You share all your secrets with me, even when it's difficult to handle.
When it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing
It's already difficult to love you when I don't know everything about you.
You are your own worst enemy, so don't expect my sympathy
You often cause your own problems, and I won't always feel bad for you.
Oh go back to your mother's house and cry your little heart out
You should go to your mother's house and release your emotions there.
You can drive them back to town in a beat-up grace kelly car
You have the ability to drive them around in an old and beat-up car.
Looking like a friend of truman capote, looking exactly like you are
You dress and look like a friend of Truman Capote, just like you want to.
So don't ask me if I want you, only ask me if I must
You shouldn't ask if I want you, but only if I need you.
I been blown around so long, don't know which senses to trust
I've been confused and lost for so long, I don't know what to believe.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LAWRENCE DONEGAN, LLOYD COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Troy Trojac
The lyrics (Must you tell me all your secrets..) are some of my favourite words of anybody. The lyrical genius that is Lloyd Cole. :-)
The Tazzman
@Patrik Nilsson --- My favorite is Four Flights Up. I have to get the CD.
Patrik Nilsson
@The Tazzman Was?! L.C is King, in my country (Sweden)! Well, if you're 45+😁😁😁
The Tazzman
@Troy trojac Lloyd Cole was one unique singer and songwriter. They never played this song enough on the radio!
Dave Southwick
Absolutely brilliant 80's pop song with echoes of Bob Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home" 1965 album to my ear, but masterfully updated & in no way derivitave. Lloyd is a great lyricist & tunesmith in his own right. Does anyone else miss the days of real R & B, as opposed to the monotonous, insipid studio assisted wailing of dumb ass, talentless "y'all" purveyors currently polluting the planet? 😫
Sean Mcmeown
Great album pretentious lyrics but still a great album 😁
L Taylor
Must you tell me all your secrets
When it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing?
Tetedepoulet
LOVE this
Roberto Riva
❤
Jupiter-8
I've been blown around so long don't know which senses to trust...