Lola by The Kinks - Songfacts

Album: Lola vs. Powerman And The Moneygoround, Part 1 (1970)

Charted: 2 9

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This song is about a guy who meets a girl (Lola) in a club who takes him home and rocks his world. The twist comes when we find out that Lola is a man.

As stated in The Kinks: The Official Biography, Ray Davies wrote the lyrics after their manager got drunk at a club and started dancing with what he thought was a woman. Toward the end of the night, his stubble started showing, but their manager was too tanked to notice.

Said Davies: "'Lola' was a love song, and the person they fall in love with is a transvestite. It's not their fault - they didn't know - but you know it's not going to last. It was based on a story about my manager."

Ray Davies revealed to Q magazine in a 2016 interview: "The song came out of an experience in a club in Paris. I was dancing with this beautiful blonde, then we went out into the daylight and I saw her stubble. "

He added; "So I drew on that but colored it in, made it more interesting lyrically."
The Kinks came up with the riff after messing around with open strings on guitars. The group's guitarist, Dave Davies, contended that he deserved a songwriting credit on the track, leading to additional friction with his brother Ray, who got the sole composer credit.
"Lola" revived The Kinks in America, where they hadn't had a Top 40 hit since "Sunny Afternoon" in 1966. Their first American tour in 1965 did not go well - they clashed with their promoter, drew sparse crowds, and often played short sets. The group was so petulant, the American Federation of Musicians refused to issue them permits, effectively banning them from the country until 1969. By the time "Lola" was released, most Americans hadn't heard from the Kinks in years, but the song proved very popular and this time, the band could promote it.

The next single, "Apeman," reached #45, but the next few Kinks albums took them in a more theatrical direction. They didn't have another substantial hit in the US until "Come Dancing" in 1982.
The line "You drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola" was recorded as "it tastes just like Coca-Cola." The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) refused to play it because of the commercial reference, so Ray Davies flew from New York to London to change the lyric and get the song on the air.
There was speculation, fueled by a 2004 piece in Rolling Stone magazine, that this song was inspired by the famous transgender actress Candy Darling, who Kinks lead singer Ray Davies allegedly dated for a brief time. This is the same Candy mentioned in Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" ("Candy came from out on the island, in the backroom she was everybody's darling").
Ray Davies, who wrote this song, told Rolling Stone in 2014 why this song didn't cause more of an uproar considering its storyline. "The subject matter was concealed," he said. "It's a crafty way of writing. I say, 'She woke up next to me,' and people think it's a woman. The story unfolds better than if the song were called 'I Dated a Drag Queen.'"
Kinks fans were not the types who would relate to a cross-dresser, but they loved this song. It opened the door for artists like Lou Reed and David Bowie to explore gender fluidity in songs that appealed to rock fans of all stripes.
Weird Al Yankovic recorded a parody of this song entitled "Yoda" (based on the Star Wars movies) for his 1985 album Dare to Be Stupid. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jerro - New Alexandria, PA
Ray Davies used his National Steel resonator guitar for the first time on this song. He recalled to Uncut: "On 'Lola' I wanted an intro similar to what we used on Dedicated Follower Of Fashion, which was two Fender acoustic guitars and Dave's electric guitar so I went down to Shaftesbury Avenue and bought a Martin guitar, and this National guitar that I got for £80, then double-tracked the Martin, and double-tracked the National – that's what got that sound."
The Kinks probably weren't familiar with it, but an American song published in 1918 also mentions Lola and Coca-Cola. In "Ev'ry Day'll Be Sunday When The Town Goes Dry," we hear the line, "At the table with Lola they will serve us Coca-Cola."
Ray Davies told Daniel Rachel (The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters) that he didn't initially show the lyrics to the band. "We just rehearsed it with the la-la la-la Lo-la chorus which came first. I had a one-year-old daughter at the time and she was singing along to it."
Lola is mentioned in the 1981 Kinks song "Destroyer," which begins: "Met a girl called Lola and I took her back to my place."
Ray Davies knew how to craft a hook, and he found a good one here. He said: "I wrote 'Lola' to be a great record, not a great song. Something that people could recognize in the first five seconds. Even the chorus, my two-year-old daughter sang it back to me. I thought, 'This must catch on.'"

Comments: 83

Philip From Frm Miami F-l -a from MiamiI first heard LOLA in about 1970 when it first came out. I was now a 12 grader in school - and the world was changing in incredible ways - Stonewall riots were over and left their mark on society that gays are real and kind of cool Any kid I knew at the time was well aware of what LOLA was about and the subject matter was the song. I was struggling with my sexuality at the time but cross dressing was not one of them. I consider LOLA perhaps the greatest rock song in creating a scene , a mood that is not the usual rock song plot lines. And many sex role confused kids like me saw it as our song - putting our stories in song - even if it was not necessarily about CROSS DRESSERS.
Rnmorton from West Chester PaWe played this to death as college freshmen, I don't think we really understood the lyrics at first, but after we did we just kept on singing it anyway. Regardless of your perspective, it is a cheerful, vibrant song.
Cyberpope from Vancouver, CanadaIt was obvious from first hearing what the song was about -- didn't care -- I was into good catchy music(still am, any genre, topic) & just enjoyed it every time it hit the radio! If you're against this song because it's about a man dressed like a woman, you may want to figure out why that's so sensitive for you. Music is music. If you can get an additional level of enjoyment by understanding the lyrics, great! If not, there's still the music.
Jojo from CtWhen considering the entire context of the song, it is ridiculous to think think anything other than that Lola is a man who is acting like a woman.
Dan from NjHave listened to the catchy song all of it's 49 years, never noticing until today that it about a trannie.
Sandy from The Berkshires-maMy husband used to walk around happily singing the song Lola like he was thinking about some long lost girlfriend. One day I said to him, "You do know that Lola is a transvestite, don't you"? I haven't heard him sing Lola since I told him. He said I ruined the song for him. Ha Ha! Too bad! I still love the song. L-O-L-A....LOLA!!
Luke from Manchester, UkJohn, Brisbane - if you keep up your attitude you'll have no one in your life.
Stop being a bore yourself and enjoy the music.
Luke from Manchester, UkDave, Detroit: It's "I asked her her name and in a DARK BROWN voice" as in a deep bass voice.
Liz from OregonWhat about towards the end of the song when they sing 'Girls will be boys and boys will be girls it's a mixed up...'
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 23rd 1970, "Lola" by the Kinks entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #65; and on October 18th, 1970 it peaked at #9 {for 2 weeks} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
As already stated above it reached #2 in the United Kingdom, it also peaked at #2 in Canada & Germany; plus on the Dutch Singles chart & in New Zealand it reached #1...
In 1980 a 'recorded live' version of "Lola" entered the Top 100 for a 6 week stay, peaking at #81...
Between 1964 and 1984 the English quintet had twenty-four Top 100 records; five made the Top 10 with two reaching #6, "Tired of Waiting for You" for 2 weeks on April 18th, 1965 and "Coming Dancing" for 2 weeks on July 10th, 1983...
Their other two Top 10 records peaked at #7, "You Really Got Me" in 1964 and "All Day and all of the Night" in 1965.
Nancy from Somewhere In Ohio, Oh@ Kristi - I pet sit for a cat named Lola, and I sing this song to her - lol! She probably thinks to herself, "Oh no! Not this again!" I also call her Lola Falana, like the actress/singer of the same name. Yeah, I know, I'm weird - lol!!
Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaIn Ray Davies' (of The Kinks) seminal song Lola, he writes the lyric "I'm glad I'm a man, and so is Lola." This can mean one of four things: "Lola and I are both glad I'm a man," "I'm glad Lola and I are both men," "I'm glad I'm a man, and Lola is also a man," or "I'm glad I'm a man, and Lola is also glad to be a man." Davies opted to use syntactic ambiguity on purpose and has never made it clear which interpretation is the correct one.
David from Detroit , Mi@all
I think it says: "I asked her name and in a bedroom voice she said, Lola". Also, I prefer to hear it as: "but I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man and so does Lola".
Kip from Eastham, MaWait, sorry, I wanted to say "non-transvestites (which are different from *crossdressers*, etc. etc.)". Sorry. Lola is about a transvestite, not a crossdresser (however, obligatory "LONG LIVE EDDIE IZZARD!" here when mentioning crossdressers *grin*).
Kip from Eastham, MaOkay, I don't want to get anyone's panties in a bunch (yes, intended :p) -- but I just wanted to say that some of the comments here about "heteroboors" and whatnot -- COME ON! This is a great song; I first heard it in the sixth or seventh grade, and I knew what it was about right away. Now, sure, it was a little bit later until I fully understood it, but I knew what it meant. And I loved the song. And I'm 100% heterosexual. It's a great song, and you don't need to be ANYTHING except a music fan to appreciate it. Hetero or LBGTS, it doesn't matter, a great song is a great song, and yes, non-crossdressers (which, I know, are different from transvestites and homosexuals, etc. etc.) can appreciate this song AND the meaning. Great music is great music. Okay, okay :-)
Camille from Toronto, OhThe most telling lyrics: "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." This has SOOO much innuendo. This guy is on his knees looking directly at Lola's......what? I mean, the dude is on his knees! That's when the real realization of what's going on really hits. Of course, there's an incredible amount of double meaning throughout the whole song. It is masterfully written and sung. Btw, rock it out if your name is Lola, it's great!
Nicholas from Reston, Vafor almost 3 years i loved this song because the guy sounded a little like me, but he still met a great girl. Thanks a LOT Internet!
Rick from Harrisburg, Pa@lola,queens-
I had the album in 1971. You're wrong.
It's the opposite of what you say.

Also: "and it tastes just like Coca-Cola".
David from Youngstown, OhEssentially the same instrumentation as Apeman, another song on the same album. The lyrics are extremely different, but the same sound.
Ryan from Somewhere In, NjDuane from Tampa you are so right. I couldn't agree more. and, john from bispane, you have a very interesting way of looking at it.
Duane from Tampa, FlI do not care about any of the deeper meanings of the lyrics or social-political statements that the song makes it just F*****g ROCKS and is fun to listen to; dance to; sing and play if you are lucky enough to be in a band!!! Isn't that what Rock and Roll is really about? I am putting anyone down for anything, but too often I feel that people lose the perspective if you over analyze a song, one can some times lose sight of the forest for the trees. This is one of the GREATEST rock songs ever for many reasons, but mostly because it ROCKS!!
Stegokitty from Cumberland, RiSome years ago, I was working in a welding shop, and we had hired some temps to help with a large project. We had the radio playing as we worked, and a song by Elton John was playing. I was singing along, and this temp guy says to me "That's fag music". I said, "Well, I'm not concerned with what the musician does in his private life. I like his music." That was that, until another song came on the radio, "Lola" by The Kinks. The temp speaks up again and says "Now THIS is a great song!". I informed him that the song was about a transvestite. He objected. I pointed out the lyrics "I'm glad I'm a man, and so is Lola", and then reminded him of Lola's "dark brown voice", and of her strength, etc. It was amusing watching the odd expression on that fellas face. I laughed a little, and went back to work. He didn't say very much for the rest of that day.
Zane from Kenosha, WiI stumbled upon this song by accident and I really got to like it.
John from Brisbane, United StatesThis is John again and I just want to say that men and only men in my life is what I want.So all you heterosexuals know where the door is and please F O heteroboors.Anyway I totally love this song and cant understand why it did not get to no 1.
Lola from Home, GaI have always thought the lyrics of the final verse of this song went something like this:

"I'm not the world's most masculine man,
but I know what I am and in bed I'm a man
and so is Lola! la-la-la-la Lola, la-la-la-la Lola"

Perhaps if they actually were, it would clear up any misunderstandings of punctions and such!
Still a great song!
Georgia from London, United KingdomIn regards to William, syracuse, NY comment; maybe Lola is glad that she (Lola) is a man? It's all about punctuation, which you loose with lyrics. But this could still be a way of looking at it, as being a drag queen does not mean you're unhappy about your sexuality.

To Michael, Hong Kong, Hong Kong: The version I have goes 'Cherry Cola' and at the end 'I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola' - so a bit of both versions according to you, but the best version I think :-)
Blake from Tahlequah, OkI love this song everytime I hear it I can't stop laughing if I met a crossdresser I'd probably play this song in my head over and over and just laugh my a$$ off.
Musicmama from New York, NyJohn of Brisbane: What do you mean when you say,"I want to dispel any kind of femininity?"

Having asked that question, I'm glad you made the distinction between cross-dressers and gay men. And I'd like to say that transgenders are different from either.

A trans person is just as likely to have been living as "straight" as "gay" or "bi" or any other sexual orientation. On the other hand, trans people have, in reality, almost nothing in common with cross-dressers.

You see, before our transitions, we might sometimes wear the clothes of the "opposite" gender. But we do so in order to, if only for a moment, experience the sort of lives we want. A crossdresser, on the other hand, has no wish to be the gender whose clothes he/she wears.

OK, back to music....:-)
John from Brisbane, United StatesWhat does homosexuality have to do with transvestitism.Heterosexual men are more like transvestites becauase they love females. Us homosexual men go for and are totally masculine.But this is a great good song!Me I want to dispel any kind of femininity.
Ciara from District Of Columbia, DcI wasn't surprised at the lyrics when the song was released, and the meaning was crystal clear. For the younger folks, things were pretty buttoned down during the administration of Richard Nixon. You had to be here. It was bizarre. (After eight years of W, things are equally bizarre, but much different. The world wasn't online in 1971.)
Musicmama from New York, NySean in Aldergrove, Canada: I'm transgendered, too. (You may have already figured that out from some of my other postings.) I agree that to simply have had a song, back in 1970, about someone who "doesn't fit into traditional norms", as you say, was something. However, in the end, it reinforced the whole gender binary system as much as any other pop song has.

One almost expects the song to take an enlightened turn at "But when I looked in her eyes, I almost fell for my Lola." But, after the "Lola" refrain, we hear, "I pushed her away." From there, the song proceeds (or descends, depending on your opinion) to its culminating "lesson": "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's Lola."

By the way, Sean, I'm not writing this to admonish you. I have no right to do so because, I'm ashamed to admit, I didn't actually listen to the lyrics of this song until my gender transition was underway! Peace.
Sean from Aldergrove, CanadaThis is quite possibly my favorite song ever. I'm transgendered, and it's just really nice to see a popular song about someone who doesn't fit into traditional gender norms.

And just to be totally random, I had a rabbit named Lola once- when I bought her, they told me she was a male, so when I found out she was female, I *had* to call her Lola.
Nathan from Los Angeles, CaI just heard the story about the manager dancing with Lola, not realizing that she was a man. The real Lola (apparently) was Candy Darling, a famous queen that was part of Andy Warhol's entourage. She/He is also referenced in Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Candy Says".
Mixermatt from Bloomington, MnThis one of my fav. song's from the Kinks
and one day I would love to meet a transvestite.
Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI saw a transvestite a few months ago and he was wearing red go-go boots, a red mini skirt and a red blous and hat. The song Lola went through my head like crazy. He looked like the guy from the movie Kinky Boots
Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesHey, is Lola glad you're a man just like you are or is Lola a man just like you? I hope that the first choice is the right one - Lola is glad that you're a man. When this song begins, it doesn't sound much like a classic hit; it sounds like a commercial or an infomercial being introduced. But after you hear it play its length, which is much longer than expected, you'll realize that it is no commercial or infomercial; it's a classic hit. In fact, it's a recording by the Kinks. Wow, what suspense!!
Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI love this song, sure its about a cross-dresser but i mean its a good song. My favorite part is when he says "Ello ello." I love It!
Linda from Ranger, GaThis song is absolutely butchered on an epiisode of futurama.
Sebastian from London, England'lola' is a rare case in which censorship actually led to an improvement on the original lyric: my own experience of that kind of club down in old soho is that the champagne does in fact taste just like cherry cola: sickly sweet and as if it was made with the wrong type of chewing gum flavour. incidentally, the last time i went, about fifteen years ago, i was with a straight friend who promptly got charmed off his socks by one of the transvestites, entirely convinced she was a woman, and quite a bit confused on realising that clearly she wasn't (although of course i could have told him so. but it was much more fun not to...)
Dylan from Port Orange, FlI'm all for gay marriage, but that's just nasty.
Arlene from San Antonio, TxThe song is about a transexual, there is a difference in drag queens and transexuals and transvestites. Drag Queens can be straight men that just dress up as women. A transvestite is usually a man who wants to be a woman, but is still physically a man, without female hormones, and a transexual is usually a man who has had augmentation, and is taking hormones but is still technically a "man" if you get my drift. This song really has this slow cool groove, I live it, even though I don't care too much for the lyric content. But I still sing along.
Lo-lo-lo-lola from Port Lavaca, TxThe other day I had a business meeting, the kind where you make little paper name tags at the registration desk. I wrote Lola on mine. Got a lot of strange looks that day.
Madalyn from Greensburg, PaThis song makes me laugh...i kinda like the live virsion...so funny.favorite lyric..."well im not the world most masculine man but i know what i am and that im a man and so is lola"...LMAO is this is really a true story...all i have to say is wow.
Elie from Londongood song i kind of realised from the first time i heard it that lola was a man
Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI think coca-cola in "Come together" refers more to cocaine, but that shouldn't make I difference
Emlem from Nyc, Ny

Except that the original version is more ambiguous and double-entendre'd: "I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man and so is Lola."

Could be interpreted as she's glad he's a man, too, There is no question with the alternate lyrics.

To help clear up some of the rumours: The Original verse was "Coca-cola". Also in this version, the lyrics at the end are "I know what I am and I'm glad, I'm a man, and so is Lo-la." This was changed in the later (BBC allowed) "cherry cola" version to "I know what I am in the bed, I'm a man, and so is Lo-la." Why? Possibly because British people like innuendos a LOT. (Not being racist, but Britain is the double-entrende capital!)
Paul from Sacramento, CaAt the Kinks' commercial low point in 1969, Davies' father urged him to write another big hit song. "Lola" was the result, and it literally saved the band's foundering career (just as "You Really Got Me" had done five years earlier), allowing them to negotiate a new record contract with RCA and finance their own Konk studio in North London. It was also a dynamite sing-along concert song that helped their return to the America concert market after a long absence.
Laurie from Keene, NhI think the correct term is "drag queen" -- a transvestite is a cross-dressing heterosexual male -- at least according to Eddie Izzard. Regardless, this song came out the year I graduated and my nickname was Lola so I was given the 45 (remember those) as a present by at least 5 people. I always thought the song was sweetly sentimental. All this Kinky talk is gonna drive me to Rhapsody to do some downloading.....
Darren from Warrington, EnglandThis is a great song, just bought it from AllTunes after listening to Yoda by Weird Al. Strange all the times I've heard it up till buying it I never noticed it was about a transvestite, then when I was looking at the lyrics on Winamp with the Leo's Lyrics plugin I realised it was about a transvestite! I got 2 versions from AllTunes, the remastered version which has the original Coca-Cola line in it and the Madness cover of it which has Cherry-Cola in it. Also how come The Beatles could get away with marketing Coca-Cola in Come Together when The Kinks couldn't???
Julian from Anaheim, Cai love the kinks. to be honest they dont get a lot of credit as a rock band. and "COME DANCING" is one hell of a song one of the best. LONG LIVE THE.....KINKS!!!
Novella from Houston, TxI love this song! Not as much the melody, but the lyrics! They put it perfecty together!
Johnny from Los Angeles, CaYeah this song rocks. It is a headphone song* (*When I get out my headphones with my computer turned up^)
So funny. Funniest song. That would suck for the guy, probably midway through High School...first kiss is with a guy....Wow. What's this I hear about Lou Reed? [^Don't worry 'bout my ears folks (unless yur insensetive), I have a laptop]
Stig from Southern Alberta, CanadaThe Kinks song that mentioned Lola was not called Paranoia, it was "Destroyer" from the "Give The People What They Want" album in 1981.
Mike from Warwick, RiI was 8 when I first heard this song - recorded on "One for the Road" in Providence, RI. Yet another song which sealed my fate in listening to Rock, Hard Rock, and Heavy Metal....sure, its about a transvestite, but who cares, its a classic!
John from Darwin, AustraliaIm 16 and ive always liked the song ever since i heard it......i'd never really taken any notice to the lyrics, id just got around to looking it up and finding out what it was about and why Ray Davies wrote about a transvestite! i had a guess that it was about a bad experience tho....unlucky lol....great song!
Sonya from Wagoner, OkI hate to admit but everytime that I hear this song I get a good laugh out of the line "And I'd never ever kissed a woman before," because I always think that he still hasn't.
Michael from Hong Kong, Hong KongTo help clear up some of the rumours:

The Original verse was "Coca-cola". Also in this version, the lyrics at the end are "I know what I am and I'm glad, I'm a man, and so is Lo-la."

This was changed in the later (BBC allowed) "cherry cola" version to "I know what I am in the bed, I'm a man, and so is Lo-la."

Why? Possibly because British people like innuendos a LOT. (Not being racist, but Britain is the double-entrende capital!)
Mike from Winnipeg, CanadaI never listened clsoe to the lyrics. But I kinda thought it was about a transvestite. I minimized the lyrics window and it was. Also I am wondering about The Rocky Horror Picture show. It has the "I'm gonna make you a man." and it was about transvestites.
Roger from Los Angeles, CaKind of an awkward thing to say above: The Kinks' fans were not the type of people who would relate to a transvestite, but they loved this. What type of music do people who relate to transvestites listen to? Who is to say that people who are into transvestites don't like the Kinks? Way to stereotype the entire people who liked the Kinks and to stereotype people who are into transvestites.
Matthew from East Brunswick, NjAwesome song, funny, but I like it. My friend originally said it was about a gay man, but I just heard it 5 minutes ago, and wow, what a difference!
Nathan from Defiance, OhHeard this song a million times, and just this year I actually listened to lyrics and found out what the song is about, lol!
Mercedies from Soldotna, AkMig Ayesa sang this song on Rockstar INXS. He rocked at it. I'd pay big bucks to hear him sing it on the radio. This is such a great song. It used to make me laugh when I was little. I love this song.
Kika from Nyc, NyI dunno, i thought the lyrics were pretty darn clear, not a bad song either...
Elson from Los Angeles, CaIn the Filipino language, "Lola" means "grandmother." So for a long time I couldn't associate this song with any other meaning, heheh.
David from Alexandria, NjThe line "When she sqeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine" kind of gives a hint on what is going on.
Kendall from Thomasville, GaAt first I thought that this song was really about a girl who just acts unlady-like. Just Think more about the lyrics "I pushed her away..." he clearly says her. and then this one And "I'd never ever kissed a woman before.
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand..." and anyways, Who names their son Lola?
Lola from Queens, Nyfor the record everyone, the lyrics go 'i know what i am in the bed im a man and so is lola "listen carefully ok,it is NOT 'i know what i am, im glad im a man'now go listen to the song fools
Craig from Columbia, PaEvery time I hear this song I tease my wife Lola. Other people do also when they find out her name. When we go out to a club someone always gets the DJ to play this song for her. I never knew the lyrics until I looked them up on the internet. I was shocked to realize the real words. I still love the song and have fun with my hot looking wife Lola who is a woman and a very sexy one.
Ross from Independence, MoThis is #422 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs
William from Syracuse, NyThe protagonist sings, "I know what I am, I'm glad I'm a man. And so is Lola".The ambiguity Ray Davies emphasizes adds to the magic of the song. Is Lola glad the protagonist is a man or is Lola a man?Fun stuff from a brillant song crafter.
James from L.a., CaThe changed verse appears on the radio single; the original line appears intact on the album "Lola vs. PowerMan and the Money Go Round"
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScWhen I first heard lola I was pretty shocked, because i didn't know that dj's could get away with playing songs like that. I could also tell that the song was about a transvestite, because of lines like "i'm not dumb but I can't undrestand why she walks like a woman and talks like a man". O by the way, where do they play versons with the cherry cola line? I always heard the versions which has "Where they drink champaign and it tastes just like cocacola". i've never heard the other version. Well... I might have and just didn't realive it.
Emma from Auckland, New ZealandWhen I first heard this song i didn't realise it was about a tranvestite...then one day i was singing it around the house and my dad was like 'you what thats about..right?'...it gave it a whole new meaing lol ;-)
Lola from Clay Center, KsI like the song though I don't appreciate my name being used for a transvestite. Overall though, the song is a good one. My mom named me after my aunt and my grandma who have all had the name Lola.
Erica from Hampstead, NcEvery time i hear this song i think of...well i don't realy think but this song never fails to make me laugh, it Brightens my OH so boreing day
Nathan from Anchorage, AkI love this song. It turned me on to 1960's and 70's rock and Transvestites. Just kidding about the transvestites part.
Mike from San Antonio, Tx"I met her in a club down in old Soho, where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry cola." The first time I actually visited a club in Soho (London), the meaning of this line became suddenly clear. Most of the clubs don't have liquor licenses, so they serve mixtures of soft drinks and fruit juices that look like alcoholic beverages. When I took the first sip of my "beer" and tasted apple juice and mineral water, I cried, "Lola!"
Ronnie from Ft. Meyers, FlOther songs that have mentioned some wild times in Soho are Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" and The Who's "Who are You".
Edward from Virginia Beach, Vathe original lyric is coca cola not cherry it was changed due to threats of a lawsuit
Ken from Dupont, PaActually, the other Kinks' song that mentions Lola is called "Destroyer". The lyrics are "Paranoia, the destroyer." It's considered to be the sequel to "Lola". "Destroyer" is on the album, "Give the People What They Want", from 1981 --- a truly great album from start to finish.
Marlow from Perth, Australiadefinately not banned in australia...... it was a huge hit.. and i had it on 45 myself..
sorry brad you've been mislead!
Bridget from Ridgewood, NjI've known this song forever because a family friend had a male cat named Lola, but I never understood it. A couple of years ago, I actually listened to the lyrics.....it was quite a shock, but I still love the song.
Kristi from New Liskeard, CanadaLove that song so much, I named one of my dogs after it. Sure, she has a hairy face, but she's still a girl!!

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Madonna didn't write "Papa Don't Preach," which deals with abortion. What drew her to the song was the singer standing up to male authority.

St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)John Parr

"St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" was not written for the movie, but for Rick Hanson, a wheelchair athlete whose 1985 "Man In Motion" tour logged 24,856 miles on his wheelchair in 34 countries while raising $26 million for spinal cord research.

Instant KarmaJohn Lennon

"Instant Karma" is one of John Lennon's most hopeful songs, written and recorded in one day at a time when he felt people were pulling together in a positive direction.