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The Kinks — Lola (live)
Album: To the Bone
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 494









Released: 1994
Length: 4:29
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-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
La-la-la-la 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
La-la-la-la Lola
Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walked like a woman but talked like a man, oh my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Well, we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
And said, ''"Dear 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, well I almost fell for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Then I looked at her and she at me

Well, that's the way that I want it to stay
I'll always want it to be that way for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Well, I left home just a week before
And I'd never ever kissed a woman before
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said, ''"Dear 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
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Comments (61)add comment
 radiojunkie wrote:
Sorry — live version just doesn't do it for me. Plus, they used the "censored" version of the lyrics — cherry cola instead of Coca-Cola! How lame is that?
 
According to a story in the New York Times on Dec. 2, 2020, the reference to Coca-Cola was not allowed in the original song because it was considered a commercial endorsement. The cherry cola line just stuck. 

The rest of the song? Ray Davies is still  unsure how it got past the BBC censors.

BTW: The song is based on crew member being picked up in a Paris nightclub. The crew member realized the following morning that the beautiful blonde who picked him up was growing stubble on her chin. Surprise! 
Posted 3 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
So tired of this song
Posted 6 years ago by Krist    [ Reply ]
 jbunniii wrote:
Sigh, the Kinks must have at least a hundred songs that are better (and certainly less overplayed) than "Lola." This one adds annoying crowd singing to the mix.

 

My thoughts exactly.  I come to RP to try to get away from such as this.


Posted 9 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
My Mom used to sing this when we would visit my Grandfathers house and his old lady neighbor (Lola) would come out to visit and talk through the back yard fence. This song brings back memories as my Mom passed away last year on April 23rd, 2014. Made me smile 😄
Posted 9 years ago by shamushawk    [ Reply ]
Ya overplayed, in the day, but gotta love the Kinks for lotsa great rockin.  Besides the crowd's in pretty good time & tune.  LOL
Posted 11 years ago by markthecarp    [ Reply ]
Sigh, the Kinks must have at least a hundred songs that are better (and certainly less overplayed) than "Lola." This one adds annoying crowd singing to the mix.
Posted 11 years ago by jbunniii    [ Reply ]
Edit from below:  I just knew I find a few of those "this isn't the best version" comments if I read down the page a little.  Yeah, maybe it is, maybe it isn't.  Still has value, yes?
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Sorry it makes you cry.  Life is often mean and cruel, or maybe it's just incredibly indifferent to humans and our emotions.  Personally, I find this is a love song; the guy finds love in a place he didn't really know existed.  And he's happy.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
This song makes me cry... personal reasons....but I would`nt and won`t stop listening it... 
Posted 12 years ago by orquidea    [ Reply ]
Good documentary playing on TV this month:
A Midlife Crisis Prompts Mission To Reunite The Kinks 
Posted 13 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
 Propayne wrote:
One of the great Rock and Roll questions;

Is Lola a man, or is she glad he's a man?

Such a great song. 

 

Yes to both questions.  There are some extremely attractive Trannies out there, BTW.  Extremely.
Posted 13 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
There are some much better live versions of this song out there. Why play this one?
 

For historical accuracy.  Every live performance is a unique experience.  In the case of this particular one, you can hear me in background.  Thank you, thank you very much.
Posted 13 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
 black321 wrote:
My jr. high schooler son is going through a Weird Al phase... I keep hearing Yo-Da.
 
The only reason I remember my 11th grade science teacher's name is because of this song.  His name was Mr. Studola.  So of course, we would all sing Stud-da-da-da-dola whenever he walked in the room. 

Posted 13 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
There are some much better live versions of this song out there. Why play this one?
 
Because this one is very good too and it's the most recent live cut of the song from an excellent, possibly among the last, Kinks live performance.

Posted 13 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
My jr. high schooler son is going through a Weird Al phase... I keep hearing Yo-Da.
Posted 13 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]
{#Puke}


Posted 13 years ago by TheBorgBuilder    [ Reply ]
Nice!
Posted 13 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
There are some much better live versions of this song out there. Why play this one?
Posted 13 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
 vandal wrote:
{#Yawn}
 
Right you are.

Posted 14 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
One of the great Rock and Roll questions;

Is Lola a man, or is she glad he's a man?

Such a great song. 

Posted 14 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
 pinklife wrote:
Takes me back to the dorm room, grapefruit, and green gel tabs...pretty sure I discovered the point of religion that night.  If only I could remember...
 
Vitamin C, you need all you can get when taking gel tabs.   

Posted 15 years ago by zoomzip    [ Reply ]
 robco1 wrote:

Censored? Coke sued or something? I find it hard to believe the drug double-entendre would get noticed in a song about a transvestite, even back in the day . . .

I was a little kid when this came out; took years for the meaning to sink in.

 
It wasn't censored because of any drug reference, but because of a BBC rule against product placements like that.

And even without the BBC, the Coca Cola line isn't a drug reference. It's just a comment on how the singer drank a bit too much too fast. The champagne was easy to drink... could have said it "taste just like Dr. Pepper" but that dun't rhyme too good with Lola.

Posted 15 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
pinklife wrote:
Takes me back to the dorm room, grapefruit, and green gel tabs...pretty sure I discovered the point of religion that night. If only I could remember...

Grapefruit and green gel tabs? Wow, now I'm feeling a little naive . . . {#Eh}
Posted 15 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
radiojunkie wrote:
Sorry — live version just doesn't do it for me. Plus, they used the "censored" version of the lyrics — cherry cola instead of Coca-Cola! How lame is that?

Censored? Coke sued or something? I find it hard to believe the drug double-entendre would get noticed in a song about a transvestite, even back in the day . . .

I was a little kid when this came out; took years for the meaning to sink in.

Posted 15 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
Takes me back to the dorm room, grapefruit, and green gel tabs...pretty sure I discovered the point of religion that night.  If only I could remember...
Posted 15 years ago by pinklife    [ Reply ]
 OHMish wrote:
{#Stop} stop

 
This is an eclectic radio station yet you complain about the choices played.

Tell me then, son, why are you here? Go back to your spoon fed Clear Channel crap.

Have a nice day

Posted 15 years ago by Oscar_the_Grouch    [ Reply ]
{#Stop} stop

Posted 15 years ago by OHMish    [ Reply ]
Sorry — live version just doesn't do it for me. Plus, they used the "censored" version of the lyrics — cherry cola instead of Coca-Cola! How lame is that?
Posted 15 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
Live version is helping this tune with me back.
Posted 16 years ago by sutcliff    [ Reply ]
One of my faverite songs to bash out on my old Takamine
Posted 16 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
Never thought this was among their best songs, but this version is outstanding.
Posted 16 years ago by Cyclehawk    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
Yep, one of his earlier records. FAR better song than the original IMO.
It was on Dare To Be Stupid. My best friend had it on tape, and we wore that thing out!
Posted 17 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
UltraNurd wrote:
Apparently I should have googled the lyrics to Yoda and copy-and-pasted like everyone else. I like my flawed memory better.
nah man, you do it how you do it, and don't let anyone tell you it's wrong! the high-five emoticon was meant to express the congruence of our responses, not the difference.
Posted 17 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
This is not the live version we used to play when I was a kid. That version was much better than this.
Posted 17 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Buzilis    [ Reply ]
Kind of amusing that this song played shortly after "Gotye - Heart's A Mess".
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Is this the disco version??
Posted 17 years ago by scottrock    [ Reply ]
Somehow I can still remember how outre this was in Sydney when it first aired.......... so this version gets a 9 on sentiment. Nice guit, but way prefer the original.
Posted 17 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
bokey wrote:
OK-I'm a "B" so I got this one. Can we get a couple of "C"'s in here?Anyone? We need someone whose name begins with the letter "C" to post the lyrics to the Weird Al version
You must be stopped.
Posted 17 years ago by ahoylola    [ Reply ]
ziggytrix wrote:
I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah Where it bubbles all the time Like a giant carbonated soda S-O-D-A soda. I saw the little runt sitting there on a log I asked him his name and in a raspy voice he said "Yoda" Y-O-D-A Yoda Yo-yo-yo-yo Yoda.
OK-I'm a "B" so I got this one. Can we get a couple of "C"'s in here?Anyone? We need someone whose name begins with the letter "C" to post the lyrics
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
Yep, one of his earlier records. FAR better song than the original IMO.
Thanks...good to know. I'll check it out!
Posted 17 years ago by Almo80    [ Reply ]
Almo80 wrote:
Where does this come from? Weird Al?
OK- back to the start of the alphabet. Anymore "A"s with lyrics to post?Last call for "A'S
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Almo80 wrote:
Where does this come from? Weird Al?
Yep, one of his earlier records. FAR better song than the original IMO.
Posted 17 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
UltraNurd wrote:
Apparently I should have googled the lyrics to Yoda and copy-and-pasted like everyone else. I like my flawed memory better.
Hey, mine WAS from memory. :)
Posted 17 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
Inamorato wrote:
This old chestnut isn't helped by the audience singalong.
What you hate having fun!? Sounding rather like PG.
Posted 17 years ago by tnt_thomas    [ Reply ]
zaknafein wrote:
I met him in a swamp down in Degoba where it bubbles all the time like a giant carbonated soda S-O-D-A soda I saw the little runt sitting there on a log I asked him his name and in a raspy voice he said Yoda Y-O-D-A Yoda Yo yo yo yo Yoda
Where does this come from? Weird Al?
Posted 17 years ago by Almo80    [ Reply ]
ziggytrix wrote:
I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah Where it bubbles all the time Like a giant carbonated soda S-O-D-A soda. I saw the little runt sitting there on a log I asked him his name and in a raspy voice he said "Yoda" Y-O-D-A Yoda Yo-yo-yo-yo Yoda.
DAMNIT! :)
Posted 17 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
Everyone who has a name beginning in "Z"- no more lyrics are being accepted at this time.
Posted 17 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
ziggytrix wrote:
Apparently I should have googled the lyrics to Yoda and copy-and-pasted like everyone else. I like my flawed memory better.
Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
I met him in a swamp down in Degoba where it bubbles all the time like a giant carbonated soda S-O-D-A soda I saw the little runt sitting there on a log I asked him his name and in a raspy voice he said Yoda Y-O-D-A Yoda Yo yo yo yo yoda
Posted 17 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
This old chestnut isn't helped by the audience singalong.
Posted 17 years ago by Inamorato    [ Reply ]
Huey wrote:
Pffffffff....
Fpppppppp...
Posted 17 years ago by mooseisadick    [ Reply ]
UltraNurd wrote:
He lives in a swamp down on Dagobah...
Posted 17 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
If I had a nickel... Love the live version.
Posted 17 years ago by ahoylola    [ Reply ]
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Man, why can't my acoustic guitar have that bright shiny tone like that?
It's called fundage.
Posted 17 years ago by leathepea    [ Reply ]
I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah Where it bubbles all the time Like a giant carbonated soda S-O-D-A soda. I saw the little runt sitting there on a log I asked him his name and in a raspy voice he said "Yoda" Y-O-D-A Yoda Yo-yo-yo-yo Yoda.
Posted 17 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Pffffffff....
Posted 17 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
Man, why can't my acoustic guitar have that bright shiny tone like that?
Posted 17 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
He lives in a swamp down on Dagobah...
Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
L-O-L-A, LOLA, LLLLLOOOOLA, COCA COLA, COCA COOOOOOOOOLA.
Posted 17 years ago by KarimMosna    [ Reply ]