Written by Ray Davies
Recorded by The Kinks
I first heard “Lola” while in middle school. I loved the song immediately, but it took many listens, and maybe a few years, to truly understand that this is a song about love conquering all.
Our narrator is a young man, fresh in town and a virgin in every sense of the word. And then one night at the club, he lays his eyes on Lola. She asks him to dance, and he happily obliges, but quickly becomes confused:
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight, she nearly broke my spine
Well, 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
The listener knows long before he does that Lola is trans. At this point in my life, it's the 1980s, and the language of that time was limited to a few hateful sentiments. Trans people were portrayed as predators or punchlines. This was an unfortunate trope in 1980s entertainment. Still far from being a developed human being, I quickly made the assumption that this song followed suit. But over additional listens, I was drawn into what happens to our narrator during the bridge.
After some drinks and dancing, Lola invites the narrator to go home with her. Despite not being “the world's most passionate guy,” he looks into her eyes, but just before he allows himself to say “yes,” he panics. This act of love is against everything he knows and has been taught. And this is when we get to the bridge.
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Well, I looked at her, and she at me
His heart wouldn’t let him leave the club – not without Lola. He's in love and he wants to be with her. It’s as simple as that and it’s beautiful. This shook-up world is more muddled and mixed up than ever. So love who you are and love who you love.
The bridge is wonderful for many reasons. Lyrically, it represents a change of heart and a change in the way one thinks. That’s a whole lot in just five short lines. It’s a bridge with intention, driven by the story. No surprise from Ray Davies. Perhaps we’ll circle back to some more Kinks on the Best Bridges Blog. Until then, go enjoy some champagne. I hear it tastes just like Coca-Cola (C-O-L-A!)
-MJK
Recorded by The Kinks
I first heard “Lola” while in middle school. I loved the song immediately, but it took many listens, and maybe a few years, to truly understand that this is a song about love conquering all.
Our narrator is a young man, fresh in town and a virgin in every sense of the word. And then one night at the club, he lays his eyes on Lola. She asks him to dance, and he happily obliges, but quickly becomes confused:
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight, she nearly broke my spine
Well, 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
The listener knows long before he does that Lola is trans. At this point in my life, it's the 1980s, and the language of that time was limited to a few hateful sentiments. Trans people were portrayed as predators or punchlines. This was an unfortunate trope in 1980s entertainment. Still far from being a developed human being, I quickly made the assumption that this song followed suit. But over additional listens, I was drawn into what happens to our narrator during the bridge.
After some drinks and dancing, Lola invites the narrator to go home with her. Despite not being “the world's most passionate guy,” he looks into her eyes, but just before he allows himself to say “yes,” he panics. This act of love is against everything he knows and has been taught. And this is when we get to the bridge.
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Well, I looked at her, and she at me
His heart wouldn’t let him leave the club – not without Lola. He's in love and he wants to be with her. It’s as simple as that and it’s beautiful. This shook-up world is more muddled and mixed up than ever. So love who you are and love who you love.
The bridge is wonderful for many reasons. Lyrically, it represents a change of heart and a change in the way one thinks. That’s a whole lot in just five short lines. It’s a bridge with intention, driven by the story. No surprise from Ray Davies. Perhaps we’ll circle back to some more Kinks on the Best Bridges Blog. Until then, go enjoy some champagne. I hear it tastes just like Coca-Cola (C-O-L-A!)
-MJK
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