Late in 1978, The Raincoats became an all female post-punk band, when joined by Palmolive of The Slits (drums), Vicky Aspinall (violin) and manager Shirley O'Loughlin. The band went on their first UK tour with Swiss female band Kleenex, in May 1979 after Rough Trade Records released their first single "Fairytale in the Supermarket"/ "In Love"/ "Adventures Close to Home".
Palmolive left the band after their seminal first album "The Raincoats" and Ingrid Weiss joined in 1980, when the band began recording their second album "Odyshape", and toured Europe and the east coast of the USA. Guest musicians on "Odyshape" included Robert Wyatt, This Heat's Charles Hayward and Richard Dudanski.
In New York, December 1982, The Raincoats recorded a live album at the arts space The Kitchen. "The Kitchen Tapes" (live) was released on ROIR in 1983. The band split after 1984s "Moving" LP.
In 1992 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana went into the Rough Trade shop in London in search of a new copy of "The Raincoats" and Jude Crighton sent him round the corner to see Ana da Silva. Cobain wrote passionately about this meeting in the liner notes of Nirvana’s "Incesticide" album. riot grrrl was at its height and bands like Bikini Kill, Huggy Bear and Hole, who covered Cobain’s favourite Raincoats track “The Void”, prompted interest in the bands’ back catalogue. In late 1993 Rough Trade and DGC Records released the three albums with liner notes by Kurt Cobain and Kim Gordon.
Shirley O'Loughlin persuaded Ana da Silva and Gina Birch to play a show at the Garage in London in March 1994 with Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth on drums and Anne Wood on violin to celebrate the album releases. They recorded a session for John Peel, which was released on Paul Smith’s Blast First and Steve Shelley’s label Smells Like Records. Kurt Cobain invited them to play on Nirvana’s planned UK tour in April, but sadly he died a week before the tour began. Ana da Silva and Gina Birch had written some new material and released a new album "Looking in the Shadows" on DGC Records and Rough Trade in 1996, produced by britpop producer Ed Buller (who'd previously worked with Suede and Pulp) (see 1996 in music). Musicians include Anne Wood (violin, bass), Heather Dunn (drums) and Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks and solo artist).
Since 1996, The Raincoats have played a couple of special events such as Robert Wyatt’s Meltdown (festival) in 2001 and at Chicks on Speed's “99 Cents” album release in Berlin in December 2003. Ana da Silva and Gina Birch are currently working on a version of “Monk Chant” for a compilation of The Monks songs called “Silver Monk Time” due for release in August 2006.
Lola
The Raincoats Lyrics
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Where they drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola
C-O-L-A cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Lola
L-O-L-A Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she almost broke my spine
Oh my Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walks like a woman and talks 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?"
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 went down on my knees
And I looked at her and she at me
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
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Well I left home just a week before
And I'd never never ever kissed a woman before
Lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said "little boy I'm 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
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo Lola
The Raincoats' song "Lola" is a classic rock song that tells the story of the singer meeting a woman named Lola in a club in Old Soho. Lola is described as being a mysterious and alluring woman who drinks champagne that tastes like cherry-cola. Despite Lola's unique appearance and behavior, the singer is attracted to her and they dance all night as he falls under Lola's spell. The lyrics describe Lola as having a deep, dark voice and the unusual behavior of walking like a woman and talking like a man. Eventually, Lola takes the singer home and teaches him how to be a man before the singer decides to leave.
Through its vivid imagery and storytelling, "Lola" subverts traditional gender roles and expectations. The song hints at the idea that gender is a fluid, mutable construct and that traditional definitions of masculinity and femininity are confining and limiting. The lyrics also suggest that different experiences of gender can open up new possibilities for relationship and desire.
Overall, "Lola" is an intriguing exploration of gender and attraction, and a standout track in The Raincoats' discography.
Line by Line Meaning
I met her in a club down in Old Soho
I first encountered Lola at a club located in the Old Soho neighborhood.
Where they drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola
The club serves champagne that tastes just like cherry-cola.
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
Lola approached me and requested that I dance with her.
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Lola
When I inquired about her name, Lola responded in a deep and sultry voice.
I'm not the world's most physical guy
I am not particularly physically strong or aggressive.
But when she squeezed me tight she almost broke my spine
Despite my lack of physicality, Lola was able to squeeze me so firmly that it caused me great discomfort.
I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Although I would not consider myself unintelligent, there are some things that I cannot comprehend.
Why she walks like a woman and talks like a man
One thing that I cannot understand is why Lola appears to have feminine mannerisms but speaks in a masculine voice.
Well we drank champagne and danced all night
Lola and I spent the evening drinking champagne and dancing together.
Under electric candlelight
The club was lit by electric candles.
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
At one point, Lola lifted me up and sat me on her lap like a child.
And said "little boy won't you come home with me?"
Lola asked if I would like to go home with her, referring to me as a 'little boy.'
I'm not the world's most passionate guy
While I have a level of emotional intensity, it is not particularly high compared to others.
But when I looked in her eyes well I almost fell for my Lola
Despite my emotional reserve, simply looking into Lola's eyes had a powerful effect on me and nearly caused me to fall in love with her.
I pushed her away
At some point, I physically pushed Lola away from me.
I walked to the door
After pushing Lola away, I began walking towards the exit door.
I fell to the floor
During my attempt to leave, I fell down to the ground.
I went down on my knees
As I fell, I ended up on my knees on the ground.
And I looked at her and she at me
Even while on the ground, Lola and I continued to make eye contact.
That's the way that I want it to stay
In spite of our brief physical altercation, I want our relationship to remain in this state.
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola
I desire for our dynamic to remain the same because I am deeply attached to Lola.
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
Traditional gender roles are constantly being blurred and overturned.
It's a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola
The world is chaotic and confusing, but Lola is one constant and stable presence in my life.
Well I left home just a week before
I had only recently left my home before encountering Lola.
And I'd never never ever kissed a woman before
Prior to my encounter with Lola, I had never kissed a woman.
Lola smiled and took me by the hand
Lola responded to my lack of experience by smiling and taking my hand.
And said "little boy I'm gonna make you a man"
Lola expressed that she would help me to become a man.
Well I'm not the world's most masculine man
I do not conform to the traditional societal definition of masculinity.
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
Despite my lack of traditional masculinity, I am proud to be a man nonetheless.
And so is Lola
Lola respects and values my masculinity, regardless of its non-traditional nature.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Raymond Douglas Davies
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind