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
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole and The Commotions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She says a girl needs a gun these days
Hey on account of all the rattlesnakes
She looks like Eve Marie saint in on the waterfront
She reads Simone de Beauvoir in her American circumstance
She's less than sure if her heart has come to stay in San Jose
As she speeds down the freeway
As she tries her luck with the traffic police
Out of boredom more than spite
She never finds no trouble, she tries too hard
She's obvious despite herself
She looks like Eve Marie Saint in on the waterfront
She says all she needs is therapy, yeah
All you need is, love is all you need
Jodie never sleeps 'cause there are always needles in the hay
She says that a girl needs a gun these days
Hey on account of all the rattlesnakes
She looks like Eve Marie Saint in on the waterfront
As she reads Simone de Beauvoir in her American circumstance
Her heart, heart's like crazy paving
Upside down and back to front
She says "ooh, it's so hard to love
When love was your great disappointment."
The lyrics of "Rattlesnakes" by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions contain various themes and imagery that can be analyzed for their meaning. The song tells the story of Jodie, a troubled woman who wears a hat even though there is no rain, suggesting a sense of paranoia and anxiety. She claims that women need guns these days because of the "rattlesnakes," which could symbolize the dangerous and unpredictable nature of men.
Jodie's character is further developed through references to films and literature. She looks like Eve Marie Saint in "On the Waterfront," a classic film in which a woman tries to protect her lover from danger. Jodie also reads Simone de Beauvoir, a feminist writer who explored the experiences and struggles of women. These references suggest that Jodie is a complex and intelligent woman who is trying to navigate a world that is often hostile to women.
Another prominent theme in the song is love and its difficulties. Jodie's heart is "like crazy paving," suggesting that it is fractured and chaotic. She says that it is hard to love when love has been a disappointment, indicating that she has experienced heartbreak or trauma in the past. The song's final lines, "All you need is, love is all you need," could be interpreted as a critique of simplistic and idealistic views of love.
Overall, "Rattlesnakes" is a nuanced and thought-provoking song that explores themes of gender, violence, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Jodie wears a hat although it hasn't rained for six days
Jodie is always cautious and prepared for the worst to happen
She says a girl needs a gun these days
Hey on account of all the rattlesnakes
Jodie believes that the world has become a dangerous place and a woman needs to protect herself
She looks like Eve Marie saint in on the waterfront
She reads Simone de Beauvoir in her American circumstance
Jodie embodies the duality of the modern woman who can be a sheltered beauty but also an independent individual
She's less than sure if her heart has come to stay in San Jose
And her never-born child still haunts her
As she speeds down the freeway
Jodie is uncertain about her future and is constantly haunted by the child she never had
As she tries her luck with the traffic police
Out of boredom more than spite
She never finds no trouble, she tries too hard
She's obvious despite herself
Jodie is seeking adventure but never succeeds, and her attempts to be different are transparent
She says all she needs is therapy, yeah
All you need is, love is all you need
Jodie acknowledges her emotional instability but believes love is still the answer to all of life's problems
Jodie never sleeps 'cause there are always needles in the hay
She says that a girl needs a gun these days
Hey on account of all the rattlesnakes
Jodie is always on guard, anticipating danger and ready to protect herself
Her heart, heart's like crazy paving
Upside down and back to front
She says "ooh, it's so hard to love
When love was your great disappointment."
Jodie's emotions are scattered and confusing due to her past disappointment in love
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LLOYD COLE, NEIL ROBERT CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Kuczynski
Here are these amazing and wonderful lyrics :
Jodie wears a hat although it hasn't rained for six days
She says a girl needs a gun these days
Hey, on account of all the rattlesnakes
She looks like Eva Marie Saint in "On the Waterfront"
She reads Simone de Beauvoir in her American circumstance
She is less than sure if her heart has come to stay in San Jose
And her neverborn child still haunts her
As she speeds down the freeway
As she tries her luck with the traffic police
Out of boredom more than spite
She never finds no trouble, she tries too hard
She's obvious despite herself
She looks like Eva Marie Saint in "On the Waterfront"
She says all she needs is therapy
Yeah, all you need is love is all you need
Jodie never sleeps because there are always needles in the hay
She says that a girl needs a gun these days
Hey, on account of all the rattlesnakes
She looks like Eva Marie Saint in "On the Waterfront"
As she reads Simone de Beauvoir in her American circumstance
Her heart... heart's like crazy paving
Upside down and back to front
She says, "Ooh, it's so hard to love
When love was your great disappointment"
Kate Walker
My dad was a single parent who raised me n my sister after our mum left for drugs. He used to sing to us and dance to this song round the front room. What an amazing song and lyrics. They don't make them like this anymore ❤❤❤
Brenton Thorogood
Rattle snakes this is real music,it's smooth and easy to listen to,not like alot of the shit music that is around now
ukuburu1972
Your dad is a hero! Praise men like him ❤
Kate Walker
@ukuburu1972 ❤️❤️❤️
RAZIELѮ†
for sure,nearly 60, love the memories of the time
Michael Mason
A real man
El diván de Louis Cypher
Not only this song, the whole album is sensational.
J RVR
What an amazing display of talent. This is one of those rare songs in which everything is exactly in its place. Lyrics, drums, bassline, guitar strums, string flourishes... A masterpiece of the genre.
FreeRadicals
This song brings back a lot of memories to the fantastic music that has been made in the 80s. Rattlesnakes is legendary.
Paul Maney
Certainly "Rattlesnakes" is one of the GREATEST debut records of all-time! It's the gift that's kept giving for three and a half decades!