One of The Kinks' best-known songs, the single was taken from the album Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One, which was released in June, 1970, and reached #2 in the UK charts and #9 in the US. It was ranked 422nd on the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is famous for its C-D-E power riff.
In the book The Kinks: The Official Biography, Ray Davies says that he was inspired to write this song after the band manager Robert Wace had spent the night dancing with a transvestite. Davies said,
“ I remembered an incident in a club... in his apartment Robert Wace had been dancing with this black woman, and he said, ‘I’m really on to a thing here.’ And it was okay until we left at six in the morning and then I said, ‘Have you seen the stubble?’ He said ‘Yeah,’ but he was too pissed [drunk] to care, I think. ”
Accounts also indicate a similar incident occurred at about the same time during a Kinks European tour in the mid-1960s, cementing the song's scenario in Davies' mind for later use.[citation needed]
In late 1969, Davies' father encouraged him to focus his energy on writing another worldwide hit single after a long dry spell for the band, and "Lola" was the result. Davies and the Kinks spent extra time and effort recording and crafting the song at Morgan Studios in London during early 1970.
In his autobiography, Dave Davies mentions that he came up with the music for what would become Lola. After Dave had shown his brother the music, Ray came up with the lyrics. Dave goes on to claim his brother took all the credit for the song. The original lyrics had the word "Coca-Cola" but because of BBC Radio's policy against product placement, those words were changed to the generic "cherry cola" for the single release.
The success of the single had important ramifications for the band's career at a critical time, allowing them to negotiate a new contract with RCA Records, construct their own London Studio, and assume more creative and managerial control. "Lola" also became their most popular sing-along anthem at concerts, as they struggled to regain a footing in the US concert market after a five year absence.
Lola
Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola
See-O-L-A cola.
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance.
I asked her name and in a dark brown voice she said, "Lola"
L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walk like a woman and talk like a man
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Well, we drank champagne and danced all night,
Under electric candlelight,
She picked me up and sat me on her knee,
And said, "Little boy won't you come home with me?"
Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy,
But when I looked in her eyes,
Well I almost fell for my Lola,
Lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola lo lo lo lo Lola lo lo lo lo Lola
I pushed her away. I walked to the door.
I fell to the floor. I got down on my knees.
I looked at her, and she at me.
Well that's the way that I want it to stay.
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola.
Lo lo lo lo Lola.
Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls.
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world,
Except for Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola.
Well I left home just a week before,
And I've never ever kissed a woman before,
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand,
And said, "Little boy, gonna make you a man."
Well I'm not the world's most masculine man,
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man,
And so is Lola.
Lo lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola.
Lola lo lo lo lo Lola. Lola lo lo lo lo Lola
(Repeat and fade)
The Kinks' song, Lola, tells the story of a man who meets a woman named Lola at a club in North Soho. The singer describes how Lola is different from other women, as she walks like a man and talks like a woman. Despite this, the singer is drawn to her and they spend the night dancing and drinking champagne. Eventually, Lola invites him back to her place and the singer struggles with his masculinity as he is not the most physical or passionate guy.
The song is significant as it explores themes of gender identity and sexuality at a time when these topics were largely taboo in mainstream music. The ambiguous nature of Lola's gender is intentionally left unclear, allowing listeners to draw their own conclusions about her identity. The song's message of acceptance and love for those who don't conform to traditional gender roles is still highly relevant today.
Line by Line Meaning
I met her in a club down in North Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola
See-O-L-A cola.
The singer meets Lola in a glamorous club, where the atmosphere is so rich and intoxicating that even the drinks taste like cherry cola.
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance.
I asked her name and in a dark brown voice she said, "Lola"
L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola was the first one to show interest, and the singer finds her intriguing despite her masculine voice. When she spells her name, he is charmed by her playful personality.
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy,
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
While he’s not a muscular guy, Lola still manages to be irresistible and even overpowering. He is desperately in love with her.
Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walk like a woman and talk like a man
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola is not conforming to gender norms, and that puzzles the artist. However, he still finds her interesting despite the mystery that she represents.
Well, we drank champagne and danced all night,
Under electric candlelight,
She picked me up and sat me on her knee,
And said, "Little boy won't you come home with me?"
Their night together is filled with passion and frivolity, and they dance as if electricity is in the air. Lola is so confident and assertive that she takes the lead and invites him over to her place.
Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy,
But when I looked in her eyes,
Well I almost fell for my Lola,
Lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Perhaps lacking passion in general, he still feels weak at the knees for Lola. When he looks in her eyes, he is overwhelmed with emotions.
Lola lo lo lo lo Lola lo lo lo lo Lola
The repetition of her name shows that the singer is completely smitten with Lola.
I pushed her away. I walked to the door.
I fell to the floor. I got down on my knees.
I looked at her, and she at me.
The artist can't handle the feelings he has towards Lola and tries to run away from them. However, he is immediately drawn back to this world of possibilities and desire, where Lola is the only force that matters.
Well that's the way that I want it to stay.
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola.
Lo lo lo lo Lola.
Despite the challenges that Lola poses to the artist's conception of gender, he loves her unconditionally and wants to keep things between them as they are.
Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls.
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world,
Except for Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola.
The artist is aware of the complexities of gender, but he knows that Lola is his anchor in a world that doesn't make much sense to him. She is the one constant that he clings to.
Well I left home just a week before,
And I've never ever kissed a woman before,
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand,
And said, "Little boy, gonna make you a man."
The singer is inexperienced and has limited exposure to the world, especially when it comes to romance. Lola represents a journey of self-discovery and transformation for him.
Well I'm not the world's most masculine man,
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man,
And so is Lola.
Lo lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola.
The artist may not be the archetypal “masculine man,” but he’s content being himself and unaware of the societal pressures to conform to certain gender expectations. Lola, too, respects that and finds comfort in his authenticity.
Lola lo lo lo lo Lola. Lola lo lo lo lo Lola
The repetition of her name at the end reinforces that Lola is the true focus of the song, and completes the circle of the singer's emotionality towards her.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAY DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jorgep.1877
10 Reasons to be a Kinks Fan:
1. They have lots of music: 24 studio albums and 5 live albums.
2. They cover 4 decades: sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties.
3. They have many popular songs: 26 Top 40 hits.
4. They have a wide variety of music styles: rock, pop, R&B, ballad, music hall, hard rock.
5. They have concept albums!
6. They were key members of the British Invasion of the mid 60s
7. Dave Davies: inventor of the “hard rock guitar riff”.
8. Ray Davies: master of social commentary and hero of the working class.
9. You can dance to The Kinks!
10. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
@0x777
Fun fact: The BBC originally refused to play it. Not because of the "raunchy" lyrics later in the song, but for the first line. "I met her in a club down in old Soho , where you drink champagne and it tastes just like coca cola"
That was advertising.
And that was forbidden on BBC radio.
They changed it to "cherry cola" and there wasn't a problem anymore.
So yes, the UK and the US speak the same language, but that's where the similarities end.
@ovcharkaboxing
its on the list.
sister ray.
at the hop danny and the junoirs.
sweet orphan lady by the pretty things is good.
good golly miss molly.
please please james brown.
the 50s og unchained melody.
pata pata by miriam makeba.
rough stuff by acdc.
soli by gong.
de cameno a la vereda buena vista social club.
the wreck of the edmund fitzgerald gordon lightfoot.
song for the siren original by buckley.
farewell to the gold nic jones.
born this way lady gaga
to name a few. all must hear AMAZING - there are too many imo to pick just 1.
@flyman140
11 years ago we got a dog and we were trying to come up with a name for her when this song came on the radio. Tonight was Lola's last night on earth. Rest in peace you wonderful pup.
@youmum4841
flyman140 sorry for u loss
@mikey_suzefour
So sorry for your loss +flyman140! (Lola singing with other pups and pets in their 'doggie' Heaven)
@HallofFLAME666
F
@grecorobert97
Back when this was still played more regularly on the good old radio. I'm sorry.
@GIMMEDEMKEYS
flyman140 Sorry for your loss. Great name for your furry loved one!
@wildburns23
My mom has a parrot named Lola. Every time I go home to visit, I pull out my guitar and sing this song to her. She gets really happy and starts flapping her wings and screams “Lola “ 😊
@martignyvalais9635
Your mom sounds pretty cool - most moms don't have wings.
@ryanpellegrini
@@martignyvalais9635 LOL
@chloeevans2569
Awww! 😍😍😍