Lloyd Cole's "Don't Get Weird On Me, Babe"

Lloyd Cole's second solo album, 1991's Don't Get Weird on Me, Babe, was about a half-decade ahead of its time. If it had come out in 1996, after Richard Davies' Cardinal project, the High Llamas' Gideon Gaye, and the new belief in indie circles that Pet Sounds and Burt Bacharach were musical icons worthy of veneration, this would have slotted right in. In the year bracketed by My Bloody Valentine's Loveless and Nirvana's Nevermind, Don't Get Weird on Me, Babe (title courtesy of Raymond Carver) was considered a self-indulgent oddity. In retrospect, however, it's clearly one of Lloyd Cole's finest works. The album is divided into two distinct parts. One (the first half in the U.S., the second half everywhere else) is more of Cole's trademark literate, jangly guitar pop, featuring the sterling "Tell Your Sister" and the uncharacteristically rocking "She's a Girl and I'm a Man," the closest Cole ever came to an American hit single. This side features a core band of Fred Maher (who co-produced) on drums, Matthew Sweet on bass, and Robert Quine on guitar. That trio also appears on the other half of the album, but that set of six songs is dominated by a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Paul Buckmaster. Buckmaster's dramatic orchestrations add an entirely new dimension to the darker-edged songs without drowning them in Mantovani-style glop. In fact, the arrangements are rather low-key, especially on the haunting, hushed "Margo's Waltz," a gorgeous song with a jazzy bass part by Leland Sklar, subtle vibes, breathy female backing vocals, and almost subliminal brushed drums. Strongly reminiscent of Bacharach's most restrained '60s work -- especially during ex-Commotion Blair Cowan's lovely Hammond B3 solos -- "Margo's Waltz" is among the three or four best songs Cole has ever written. However, it's only one of many highlights on this exceptional, underrated album.


By Ravi @ allmusic.com



Tracklist


01 Butterfly    3:05
02 There For Her    4:05
03 Margo's Waltz    4:03
04 Half Of Everything    7:05
05 Man Enough    4:03
06 What He Doesn't Know    4:04
07 Tell Your Sister    3:32
08 Weeping Wine    2:38
09 To The Lions    2:40
10 Pay For It    6:20
11 The One You Never Had    2:30
12 She's A Girl And I'm A Man    4:15





Lyrics


Butterfly

You were an innocent child before I laid my hands on you
And all that pain that you held inside
Was just waiting to bloom in a darkened room
And you just flew right into the light and came alive
My little butterfly

Well you'd never known love and you'd never known pain
But you found out that they were just like wine and champagne
You could drink a little more, then you hurt a little less
And you get that butterfly feeling underneath your dress
And your promises will turn into lies
Then you will fly
My little butterfly

Now I'm lying here babe on your side of the bed
And I've got unclean thoughts flying through my head
And I'm thinking about love, yes I'm thinking about pain
And I'm thinking about some way that I might feel good again
Yes I'm thinking about my little butterfly



There For Her

Sometimes I get to thinking
I'm a hurting kind of guy
Why'd that woman leave me for a lesser kind
If you don't know now, then you never will
Is what she said
She said I didn't listen
Well I know that that's untrue
She said I didn't understand her
Well I guess that you do
Well I guess you do

Summer came around
Her old blanket on the floor
I woke to the slamming of the door
Then the rain came
And I just let it pour all over me

Sometimes I get to thinking
I've been wronged by my own kind
Downed by my own undertakings
Now I'm down by the water, black water
And I'm looking in

She said I wouldn't miss her
Well you know that that's unfair
She said I wasn't there for her
Well I never would have been there
No sir, if not for her

Summer comes around
And I miss that woman more
I guess I'll get me somewhere by the fall
When the rain comes
Well I'll just let it pour all over me

Sometimes I get to thinking
I'm a hurting kind of guy
Why'd that woman leave me for a lesser kind
If you don't know now, then you never will
Is what she said

Summer comes around
And I miss that woman more
I guess I'll get me somewhere by the fall
When the rain comes
Well I'll just let it pour all over me



Margo's Waltz

She said don't worry baby
I'll do my own crying
I'm a big girl now
Now I'm gonna be okay
Yes I'll find a new way of living
You know I will

And you lie there without sleeping
And you stare at your wall
And you realize you're not weeping
You don't need her anymore

You say don't hate me baby
It won't hurt you if you do
You got no reason not to
She'll kiss you on the head
Says there's no easy road for leaving
If it hurts you too

And you lie there without sleeping
And you stare at your wall
And you realize you're not weeping
You don't need her anymore

You walk by the old place
Looks like just any other place
Yeah that's what you say
You say I'll be okay
Yes I'll find a new way of living
Sure I will

And you lie there without sleeping
And you stare at your wall
And you realize you're not weeping
You don't need her anymore
And you lie there without sleeping
And you stare at your wall
And you realize you're not weeping
'Cause you don't need her anymore
You guess that it's over



Half Of Everything

You walk in my house with her lipstick over your face
You tell me you got news for me well, do you think I can't see straight?
Do you think I can't recognize her perfume on your clothes
You tell me you got news for me well, I don't need to be told

Let me guess, she's looking for a little peace of mind
I don't want to cause any more pain but could I please have what's mine?
She's got such a pretty please I never could say no
Well just take her half of everything and then please go

Now I know right now you're thinking I'm some crazy kind of fool
But the truth of the matter is I'm just like you
She's some kind of voodoo woman, she said she can't use me anymore
That's what she said to me she said, I can't use you anymore

I don't need your lovin', I don't need your kissin'
I don't need for you to tell me all that I've been missin'
I don't need your lovin', I don't need your kissin'
I don't need for you to tear me down and tear me down again

Every time you give a little more, she could still use a little more
Every time you give a little more, she could still use a little more
And when you can't give a little more, she could still use a little more
She could still use a little more, she could still use a little more

Tell her that she done me, that she done me good
Tell her that she done me, like a lady should
I never ever seen her and I hope I never do
I might have to show her just what love can do

The sun ain't gonna shine, and the rain is gonna fall
'Cause I put a spell on you
And all the years I cried, all the years that I tried
To save a stillborn love
I know what you're thinking, pretty soon I'll howl at the moon
But you better believe me, 'cause I was just like you
Mister read the writing on the wall, get out while you're still whole
While you're still breathing

I don't need your lovin'
(I don't need your lovin')
Kissin'
(I don't need your kissin')
Lovin', no I don't need
Tear me down again
(I don't need your lovin')
Mmm lovin'
(I don't need your kissin')
Mmm kissin', and I don't need
Tear me down again
(I don't need your lovin')
Yeah
(I don't need your kissin')
No, I don't need her to tear me down again




Man Enough

Now that the low life has no meaning
'Cause you've been there, now you're gone
But your heart won't keep from cheating
It's stringing you along

Stranger to me, well what's the lowdown
Are you man enough to pray
For a better way of living
I believe I've lost my way

Oh May, could you please hold me
I believe I might fall
I believe that I might fall

Could there be a better way of living
Better than the easy way
Could the wretched be forgiven
Are you man enough to pray

Wore my heart upon my sleeve
To court the wretched and the free
But if by chance I'd lost my way
Would you help me find it babe

Oh May, could you please hold me
I believe that I might fall
I believe I might fall

Now that the low life has no meaning
'Cause you've been there, now you're gone
But your heart won't keep from cheating
It's stringing you along

Wore my heart upon my sleeve
To court the wretched and the free
But if by chance I'd lost my way
Would you help me find it babe

Oh May, could you please hold me
I believe that I might fall
I believe that I might fall

Wore my heart upon my sleeve
To court the wretched and the free
But if by chance I'd lost my way
Am I man enough to pray

Am I man enough to pray
Are you man enough to pray
Are you man enough to pray



What He Doesn't Know

If I told you that I'd never really cared
And if I told you that I'd never cried you'd know that I lied
You'd know I lied
And if I told you that I'd found somebody new
It wouldn't make it any easier and what he doesn't know
Won't hurt at all

You know just as well as i that he's a better man than I
And i know you know

Guess I never got around to telling you
I guess that if I told you now then I'd have nothing to lose
Well I think of you
'Cause if I told you that I'd found another girl
It wouldn't make it any easier and what he doesn't know
Won't hurt at all

You know just as well as I that he's a better man than I
You know just as well as I, you know just as well as I
He's a better man than I, he's a better man than I could ever be




Tell Your Sister

I've got a little piece of paper with your name written on it
Got a head full of attitude and nowhere to put it
Tell me why don't you come down to rue morgue avenue
Why don't you come down
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground of Rue Morgue Avenue

Well there's a chapel on the corner where I'm doing my crying
There's a limit to my patience, what d'ya say fay let's get married
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They say the world keeps on turning, everything remains the same
Well my heart's burning and I say everything must change
Why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue
Why don't you come down
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground of rue morgue avenue
Rue Morgue Avenue

Rita Mae, tell your sister she's unkind
Tell your sister well, I don't mind
Tell your sister, she's got mine

Why don't you come down
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground
I got a four letter word, starts with the letter L
Can't bring myself to say it 'cause it's making my life hell
Why don't you come down to rue morgue avenue
'Cause I've been drinking all night and all day
Just trying to picture your sweet face
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue

Rita Mae, tell your sister she's unkind
Tell your sister well, I don't mind
Tell your sister, she knows where, where I lie
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on...
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue




Weeping Wine

If every lover that you'd ever known
Could turn around would you take one
Or would you really rather be alone
And fool around if and when you might please
Well I don't know babe if you ever have been told
But you're a tough one to play for
I tried to be what you were looking for
Now I'm not sure if you ever really knew

You know the world won't wait, babe you're crying too late
And you're drinking on borrowed time
And the last thing you need is me and my weeping wine
I guess that the last thing you need is me and my weeping wine

You sit around sticking pins in dolls
What's there to fall down and die for?
You're looking fine baby it's well known
Why does your story have to be so short?
Well pretty soon babe you're gonna show your age
'Cause you're drinking on borrowed time
And then the last thing you need is me and my weeping wine
I guess the last thing you need is me and my weeping wine

You know the world won't wait, babe you're crying too late
you're drinking on borrowed time
And the last thing you need is me and my weeping wine
Yeah I guess that the last thing you need is me and my weeping wine
Me and my weeping wine
Me any my weeping wine




To The Lions

I lost my girl on monday
Looking for some sympathy
I went to church directly
The lord was not there for me
Didn't go to work on tuesday
Got to drinking around noon
I lost my heart to a mean bartender
She knocked me off my stool

Now the world's spinning round too fast lord
Won't you let me off on the corner
You know a man could take to sinning
All he needs's a little push in that direction

I lost my job on friday
Said a lack of discipline
I went to church directly
Peter said he was not in
I hit the bar on sunday
Looking for some discipline
I sold my soul to the mean bartender
She said I'm born again

Now the world's spinning round too fast lord
Won't you let me off on the corner
You know a man could take to sinning
All he needs's a little pushing
You time it just right
You could send me to the lions tonight




Pay For It

Strange to see you babe, ain't nothing down here free
Did you lose your ticket, hope you weren't looking for me
Now I'm still wearing the scars I got from being your fool
You messed me up pretty good babe I didn't mean to rule you

Remember when I first saw you babe you were looking pretty good
Said you were looking for love, well then why didn't you
You just sat there taking everything you could get
Never thought one day you might have to pay for it

Well did you ever dream baby one day you might fall
And feel your back against the wall
Well did you ever dream baby one day you might crawl
Did you ever dream

Now when you're putting on your face I guess that you feel kinda low
Knowing that you passed your best and you got nothing to show
Well baby you know just as well as I some fool is gonna fall your way
Only this time around you might have to pay for it

Well did you ever dream baby one day you might fall
And feel your back against the wall
Well did you ever dream baby one day you might crawl
That's what I said
Did you ever dream, baby
When you had no need, baby
Did you ever dream
That you might have to pay for it
I do believe that you might have to pay now
Well did you ever dream baby one day you might fall
Yeah and feel your back against the wall
Well did you ever dream baby one day you might crawl

(improvise)

Strange to see you baby
Mmm strange, very strange
'Cause you messed me up good
Yes you messed me up
Messed me up pretty good now didn't you baby
Mmm, took me a long time, to get back here
But I swear I didn't mean to rule you
Yeah I swear I didn't mean to rule you
How do you mend what you didn't mean to do
'Cause I swear I didn't mean it
I swear I didn't mean it
And I swear I didn't, swear I didn't mean to
Swear I didn't mean to rule you
I swear, but you messed me up
You know that you messed me up good, do you now
You messed me up good, yes you did
Yes you did now now, baby
'Cause I'm looking at you now
And you're paying now, yes you are now
I swear, and you never dreamed that
And you never dreamed that
No you never dreamed that
But you're paying now
Mmm you never dreamed that
Mmm I'm looking right at you now
And you're paying now, yes you are




The One You Never Had

Well I don't know but I've been told and
Seen what you've left behind
And I don't know if I like what I see
When it's knocking at my door

And you don't know if you're laughing or crying
And I don't know if I care
'cause I know right here
I've got me something that you never had
You might laugh but what are you looking at?
Sending your own valentines to the one you never had

Well I don't know but I've been told and
Seen what you've left behind
And all those ladies you left standing on the corner
They're laughing at you now

(You never had, you never had)
So you drink all night and you sleep all day
'Cause you see what you've left behind
And standing on the corner, hey lady got a quarter
She's passing you by

And you don't know if you're laughing or crying
And I don't know if I care
'Cause I know right here
I've got me something that you never had
You might laugh but what are you looking at?
Sending your own valentines to the one you never had



She's A Girl And I'm A Man

She said she didn't understand and so she guessed he was deep
He swore he'd never been to college and was too tall to be
So as she led him to the slaughter thinking she'd be laughing last
Now the lady in the question is his better half

She's gotta be the stupidest girl I've ever seen
She don't care who, why, where I've been
She's got a right to be, with all that's wrong with me
But she doesn't wanna understand that she's a girl and I'm a man

He thought that women and drink would make a man out of him
But the extent of his studies left a jaded man
So as she led him to the altar he was easily led
And when they asked him if he did, well then this is what he said

She's gotta be the stupidest girl I've ever seen
She don't care who, why, where I've been
She's got a right to be, with all that's wrong with me
But she doesn't wanna understand that she's a girl and I'm a man

Well she's a girl and I'm a man
She's a girl and I'm a man
She's a girl and I'm a man
She's a girl and I'm a man
She's a girl and I'm a man
She's a girl

She's gotta be the stupidest girl I've ever seen
She don't care who, why, where I've been
She's got a right to be, with all that's wrong with me
But she doesn't wanna understand that she's a girl and I'm her man

Every time she's near me
She gives me a new reason to be alive
Try to get right
Yeah she looks right through me
She says you're not cool, you're just like me
You're a stupid man
Get over here, hold my stupid hand
She's all right, yeah...

You wouldn't understand, sister is a man fan
She's gotta be the stupidest girl I've ever seen
She don't care who, why, where I've been
She's got a right to be, with all that's wrong with me
But she doesn't wanna understand that she's a girl and I'm a man