Song of the Day #2,824: ‘Lola’ – The Kinks

kinks_lola_powermanAnother 1970 album that I own but haven’t paid much attention is The Kinks’ Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One. I’m familiar with only two songs on this record: today’s SOTD, ‘Lola,’ and ‘This Time Tomorrow,’ which was featured in the Wes Anderson film The Darjeeling Limited.

Based on those songs, and the fact that I love The Kinks’ overall sound, I suspect I’d enjoy the rest of the record, too.

‘Lola’ is the only hit song I can think of about inadvertently hooking up with a trans woman. I’m sure there must be others.

I met her in a club down in North Soho
Where you 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 Lola

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 Lola, lo lo lo Lola
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 Lola, 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
She 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
I almost fell for my Lola
Lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo Lola, 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
I always want it to be that way for my Lola
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 Lola. Lo lo lo Lola

Well I’d left home just a week before
And I’d never ever kissed a woman before
Lola smiled and took me by the hand
She 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
So is Lola
Lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo Lola

[Outro]
Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola

2 thoughts on “Song of the Day #2,824: ‘Lola’ – The Kinks

  1. Dana says:

    Lou Reed’s “Wild Side” makes reference to an affair with a trans. Another one is Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like a Lady.”

  2. Peg says:

    sorry I can’t add to the list 🙂

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