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
Sean Penn Blues
Lloyd Cole and The Commotions Lyrics
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Telephoned they said
Hey sean could you mosey on down to our gala ball
It reads mister madonna kicks some beat poetry
If I could I would I would I swear I would be better
But it seems I am just a natural no good
And what's more I like living like that
After seven lines seventeen maybe I had to stop
I could not be heard for cowhand laughter
I picked up my books and headed for the door
And if I trash this TV then I know I will feel better
Guess it seems I am just a natural no good
And I like it like that
But when I see you coming down my street
You walk right in and then you
You walk all over me
Oh yeah I need you
Gatecrashing on my beat
Put on your high heels and baby
Walk all over me
All over me
Fat hacks New York Times food columnists
Want to review my soup yeah honestly
My wife says I go looking for trouble
I surely find it
Do you think I like living like that
If I trash this tv then I know I will feel better
Guess it seems I am just a natural no good
And I like it like that
But when I see you
Coming down my street
You walk right in and then you
You walk all over me
Oh yeah I need you
Gatecrashing on my beat
Walking like Nancy Sinatra
Walk all over me
The song "Sean Penn Blues" by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions is a reflection on fame, identity, and the tension between being true to oneself and conforming to societal expectations. The singer, Sean Penn, receives an invitation to perform at a gala ball hosted by the Western Minnesota Intercollegiate Circle. The event is described as a venue for "beat poetry" and "living legends," yet the Philistines in attendance (indicating a lack of cultural sophistication) do not appreciate Sean's contribution. He responds by feeling like a "natural no good" and contemplating the idea that he enjoys living this way. He later encounters someone who has more emotional power over him, who metaphorically "walks all over him" and whose presence he craves even though it comes at a cost to his sense of self.
The lyrics suggest a conflict between the expectations of society and an individual's innate tendencies. The singer enjoys living as a "no good" because it frees him from expectations, but he is also vulnerable to others who have more power over him. The lyrics suggest that Sean might be a stand-in for the singer themselves, who, as artists, might feel pressured to conform to audience expectations while also feeling an innate desire to be true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
The Western Minnesota Intercollegiate Circle
Telephoned they said
Hey sean could you mosey on down to our gala ball
It reads mister madonna kicks some beat poetry
Sean received a phone call inviting him to the gala ball of Western Minnesota Intercollegiate Circle. They informed him that Madonna will be performing beat poetry.
If I could I would I would I swear I would be better
But it seems I am just a natural no good
And what's more I like living like that
Sean admits his shortcomings, but he is okay being his flawed self.
After seven lines seventeen maybe I had to stop
These Philistines were yelling hey sean
I could not be heard for cowhand laughter
I picked up my books and headed for the door
And if I trash this TV then I know I will feel better
Guess it seems I am just a natural no good
And I like it like that
Sean faced criticism and mockery at the poetry reading. He left dejectedly and contemplated wrecking his TV as a release.
But when I see you coming down my street
You walk right in and then you
You walk all over me
Oh yeah I need you
Gatecrashing on my beat
Put on your high heels and baby
Walk all over me
All over me
Sean is submissive towards his lover, and he doesn't mind it. He needs to be with her, and he enjoys when she dominates him.
Fat hacks New York Times food columnists
Want to review my soup yeah honestly
My wife says I go looking for trouble
I surely find it
Do you think I like living like that
Sean has faced criticism from the New York Times for his cooking, and his wife sees him as a troublemaker. He questions whether he enjoys living with such problems.
Walking like Nancy Sinatra
Walk all over me
Sean wants his lover to walk over him like Nancy Sinatra did in her music video.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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