What It Feels Like
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.

What It Feels Like
Lola Ray Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got my cigarettes and my
slow motions silhouettes and
Ain't no one say what's wrong with me
Hike up my miniskirt
Bust through my tiny shirt
Sayin' I wear your sex up on my sleeves
HEY, HEY
You think that I'm perfect when I
Scream a little softer
Not just pretend
Cause it's easier now
Shocked to the point of blushing
Put on a little fever
And I get my way
Cause it's easier now
You ask me what it feels like
I say that I don't know better
Touch me where you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem
And I ask you what it feels like
You say that you have had better
Tell me what you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem
And I want to be chopped up into tiny little pieces
I want to be trampled by a dirty old man
I can't believe no one wants me
I'll tell you what it feels like
The loneliest song minus all the words
HEY HEY
You ask me what it feels like
I say that I don't know better
Touch me where you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem
And I ask you what it feels like
You say that you have had better
Tell me what you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem
Give yourself to me
You're better on your knees
Throw you life away
I'll make it so much easier
To be free
You ask me what it feels like
I say that I don't know better
Touch me where you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem
And I ask you what it feels like
You say that you have had better
Tell me what you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem
Oh the games you play
Oh the things you say
Keep talking to me love
I could care less either way
Oh the games you play
Oh the things you say




Just trying to let go
Everything I should have known now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lola Ray's "What It Feels Like" are haunting and perplexing. The song is a heart-breaking plea for acceptance and fulfillment. The singer presents herself as sexually promiscuous and desperately lonely. She expresses her need for both attention and affection in order to feel truly alive. The song plays with the dichotomy of being both a virgin and a sexually open person. The singer's constant refrain of "I'm a virgin with a problem" suggests that she possesses a tension between her outward persona and her internal desires.


The verses of the song, with their references to cigarettes, miniskirts, and sex, present a traditional image of rebellion and experimentation. However, the chorus adds a deeper dimension to this image, revealing the singer's deep emotional pain. She asks, "You ask me what it feels like, I say that I don't know better, Touch me where you want to, I'm a virgin with a problem." These lines suggest that the singer is searching for someone to make her feel alive, but she is incapable of expressing her true desires. Her words indicate a sense of shame and confusion about her own identity.


Overall, Lola Ray's "What It Feels Like" is a powerful and poignant song that explores the complexities of human emotion. The lyrics suggest that we all have secrets and desires that we keep hidden, and that true fulfillment can only be found when we are willing to reveal our true selves to others.


Line by Line Meaning

I've got my cigarettes and my slow motions silhouettes and
I have my cigarettes and I am moving slowly, without any rush


Ain't no one say what's wrong with me
No one is pointing out my flaws


Hike up my miniskirt
I am raising my miniskirt intentionally


Bust through my tiny shirt
I am tearing through my small shirt


Sayin' I wear your sex up on my sleeves
I am showing off a lot of physical sexual behavior


HEY, HEY
A casual exclamation


You think that I'm perfect when I
You believe I am the best


Scream a little softer
I am being less loud and more subtle


Not just pretend
I am not simply pretending


Cause it's easier now
It is now becoming easier


Shocked to the point of blushing
I am appalled and embarrassed


Put on a little fever
I am acting out of passion


And I get my way
I achieve what I want


You ask me what it feels like
You want to know what it's like


I say that I don't know better
I respond by saying I am unsure


Touch me where you want to
You can touch me anywhere


I'm a virgin with a problem
I am inexperienced and have issues


And I ask you what it feels like
I want to know what you feel like


You say that you have had better
You inform me that you've experienced better


Tell me what you want to
You can share what you want


Give yourself to me
You should give your body to me


You're better on your knees
You function better on your knees


Throw you life away
Discard your current life


I'll make it so much easier
I will assist you in making it easier


To be free
To be liberated


Oh the games you play
The games you indulge in


Oh the things you say
The things you express


Keep talking to me love
Continue talking to me, my dear


I could care less either way
I am indifferent to the outcome


Just trying to let go
Trying to release my thoughts and feelings


Everything I should have known now
I am now aware of what I should have known all along




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Sha San

Back when all the cool albums were word of mouth at the local music shops. This album brings back memories

Howdy ho

Word! I got to see them when they opened for Sum 41 back in like '03-'04? They were so good, great to see at the age of like 13

Loofy Love

And I've got my cigarettes
My, slow motions silhouettes, my
Ain't no one say what's wrong with me

Hike up my miniskirt
Bust through my tiny shirt
I wear your sex up on my sleeves
HEY, HEY

You think that I'm perfect when I scream a little softer
Not just pretend
Cause it's easier now
Shy to the point of Blushin'
Put on a little fever
And I get my way
Cause it's easier now

You ask me what it feels like
I say that I don't know better
Touch me where you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem

And I ask you what it feels like
You say that you have had better
Tell me what you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem

And I wanna be chopped up into tiny little pieces
I wanna be trampled by a dirty old man
I can't believe no one wants me
I'll tell you what it feels like
The loneliest song minus all the words
HEY HEY

You ask me what it feels like
I say that I don't know better
Touch me where you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem

And I ask you what it feels like
You say that you have had better
Tell me what you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem

Give yourself to me
You're better on your knees
Throw you life away
I'll make it so much easier
To be free

You ask me what it feels like
I say that I don't know better
Touch me where you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem

And I ask you what it feels like
You say that you have had better
Tell me what you want to
I'm a virgin with a problem

Oh the games you play
Oh the things you say
Keep talking to me love
I could care less either way but

Oh the games you play
Oh the things you say
Just trying to let go
Everything I should have known now

Montauk Mothman

Nostalgic

HombreNate

Lex, 🙏 Thank You. You helped out Two Hombres who have been trying to find this song for DAZE

HombreNate

Lex, thank you!

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