When John Balicanta decided to attend NYU, he not only had to move from his… Read Full Bio ↴When John Balicanta decided to attend NYU, he not only had to move from his native California to New York City but he also had to leave his high-school band behind. Vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Balicanta had formed Lola Corin (translated from Filipino, it means "Grandma Corin") with high-school friends Brian Spina (guitar) and James McIvor (bass). They were a loud band, playing in the style of the Smashing Pumpkins, Fugazi, and Failure, until college broke them up. While at NYU, Balicanta was studying audio engineering and needed an internship. He got one at Dumbo Studios, owned by Peter Robinson who was the V.P. of A&R at RCA Records. Balicanta was now recording demos and performing under the name Lola Ray, and invited Robinson to one of his open-mic gigs. Robinson was willing to get behind Balicanta and shop his demo around if he could come up with a real band. Through Dumbo Studios, Balicanta met drummer Alex Smolinski but finding a suitable guitarist and bassist in New York City proved difficult. Old buddies Spina and McIvor moved to new New York and joined the new band as soon as they received Balicanta's call. Robinson gave Good Charlotte's Benji Madden a tape of the band, and Lola Ray found the perfect label for their debut. With a sound that coupled their earlier hard, alternative rock style with a powerful pop polish, Lola Ray released their debut, I Don't Know You, on Good Charlotte's new label D.C. Flag in April of 2004.

In 2006, they released their second album, Liars.

Since then, they have undergone a line up change. Alex left the band for vocals in his side project and as of October, James left to return to university. No hard feelings are felt.

Slave
Lola Ray Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All my friends want to meet you darling
Please stay away, away now
Bite my tongue
As you're pushing me to the ground
Can't stay away, away, away now

Ten days ago we fell asleep in bed ba bada bada ba bada
Today I woke up and everything was dead ba bada bada ba bada

She said "Hi, what's your name?
I like the coat you're wearing."
I said, "Hi I'm your slave.
It's what I do all day."
She said, "great by the way,
I want to put you on a shelf.
I'm alive to obey
I don't know anything else."

Hold my hand through the thick and thicker
Go away, away, away now
Can't let go
Even if you can go away, away now

Ten days ago we fell asleep in bed ba bada bada ba bada
Today I woke up and everything was dead ba bada bada ba bada

She said "Hi, what's your name?
I like the coat you're wearing."
I said, "Hi I'm your slave.
It's what I do all day."
She said, "great by the way,
I want to put you on a shelf.
I'm alive to obey
I don't know anything else."

I change my mind
I'm sick of always see what I am worth to you my love
Don't waste my time with all these bedroom lies

She said "Hi, what's your name?
I like the coat you're wearing."
I said, "Hi I'm your slave.
It's what I do all day."
She said, "great by the way,
I want to put you on a shelf.

I'm alive to obey
I don't know anything else."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lola Ray's "Slave" depict a dysfunctional, unbalanced relationship where the singer is hopelessly in love with someone who treats them as an object, and they are willing to do anything to please their partner. The first verse expresses the singer's conflicting emotions, where all their friends want to meet the person they love, but they know deep down that it would be better to stay away. They feel like they're being pushed to the ground, unable to resist the allure of the relationship even though it's toxic. The chorus describes how their situation has deteriorated in just ten days, as if everything beautiful between them has died.

The second verse is a conversation between the singer and their lover. The lover is portrayed as cold, emotionless, and demanding. The lover only cares about the appearance of the singer and values them as a possession, wanting to put them on a shelf to admire. The singer, on the other hand, has lost their sense of self and willingly identifies as a slave. The chorus then repeats, showing the singer's inability to let go of their lover despite the pain they feel.

The final verse sees the singer change their mind about their relationship, realizing that they can't keep living in a lie. They want to break free from the cycle of abuse and stop wasting their time on this person who doesn't treat them as an equal. However, the chorus repeats once more with the same interactions as before, highlighting that the singer may not be able to let go of their lover.

Line by Line Meaning

All my friends want to meet you darling
My friends are eager to meet you

Please stay away, away now
But I want you to keep your distance

Bite my tongue
I have to restrain myself

As you're pushing me to the ground
From your aggressive behavior

Can't stay away, away, away now
Despite how I feel

Ten days ago we fell asleep in bed ba bada bada ba bada
We were happy together not long ago

Today I woke up and everything was dead ba bada bada ba bada
But now it's all gone

She said "Hi, what's your name?
Then I met her

I like the coat you're wearing."
She admired my outfit

I said, "Hi I'm your slave.
I thought I was just doing what she wanted

It's what I do all day."
Being her slave

She said, "great by the way,
She was pleased with the arrangement

I want to put you on a shelf.
And wanted me to be obedient

I'm alive to obey
She wants me to do what she says

I don't know anything else."
That's all she knows how to do

Hold my hand through thick and thicker
I want to be with her

Go away, away, away now
But I know I shouldn't

Can't let go
I'm stuck with her

Even if you can go away, away now
Even if it's not healthy

I change my mind
But I want to change my situation

I'm sick of always see what I am worth to you my love
I don't want to just be her slave anymore

Don't waste my time with all these bedroom lies
I don't want to just be used for sex

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SCOTT JONATHON KINGMAN, CAMERON WALLACE MC KENZIE, ANDREW DONALD MCLEAN, MICHAEL JAMES VALLANCE, CRAIG DOUGLAS WAUGH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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