Lyric discussion by nigelisten 

Cover art for Are you ready to be heartbroken? lyrics by Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Are you ready to be heartbroken is a coming-of-age song about crossing the threshold into the “real world”. The song is full of references to ‘pop’ culture surrounding an idealised young adult life, with the main conceit being this ‘warning’ about how the subject will face heartbreak over something soon.

The entire album is full of rhetorical questions, literary references and foreboding narratives/conversations. On account of Lloyd Cole being 23 when the song came out, this seems quite fitting.

I think this song is about a young person worrying about how long their naive and carefree life will go on for, posing as a cynical voice to warn/prepare themselves for the real world.

Song Meaning
Negative
Subjective
Fear
Coming-of-age
Pop Culture
Heartbreak
Youth
Real World

@nigelisten I won't add anything to that, was basically my interpretation of the song. The protagonist is full of youthful idealism but the brutalities of life and a few harsh lessons are coming around the corner, ready to break his heart.