Love and Power
The new album available now
What if one day I decided to shatter the glass of my own reflection and find the strength to change my way of being, as an act of love for myself? This is what I’m trying to get at with ‘Love and Power.’ Each song is a reflection of myself coming to terms with my weaknesses, taking agency over my life, love, and relationships, and recognizing where power ignites within myself.
Written and recorded between Lola’s Laurel Canyon home studio and Studio 3 at EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, Love and Power is a cinematic exploration of self-discovery, tracing the emotional terrain of relationships, identity, and transformation. Across the album, Bates blends elements of rock, pop, and Americana with lush vocal arrangements and meticulous production, creating a world that is both intimate and immersive. Entirely self-driven, the album showcases Bates’ depth as a composer, producer, engineer, and songwriter, with her fingerprints on nearly every element of the project. ‘Love and Power’ was co-produced with Maxwell Joseph, mixed by Grammy Award-winning engineer Robert Carranza, mastered by Howie Weinberg, and executive produced by acclaimed composer Tyler Bates. The album’s sonic world is matched by a striking visual identity shaped in collaboration with photographer Caroline Brodt, director Zev Deans, and designer Ryan Dunn, among others.
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Lyrics
AVERAGE GIRLFRIEND
I’m taking back all the things I said
When I was your girl
I left it up to God to decide
If you were my world
I love all the things you do
So hung up my lips turning blue
The spider crawls out of the corner
And into my view
Not your average girlfriend
I’m saying goodbye to the times
Of letting you in
I never meant to hurt you that much
Or maybe I did
Others may say I'm a fiend for pain
But really I find myself insane
The roaches crawl out of the gutter
And into the rain
Not your average girlfriend
Not your average girlfriend
Not your average girlfriend baby
Not your average girlfriend baby
I’ll be leaving your house
Cause I think it’s time
Don’t be coming around
Cause you ain’t acting right
Not your average girlfriend baby
Not your average girlfriend baby
Walking out of your mind
And out of your life
You had me this once
But you won’t get me twice, no
MADONNA GOLD
Times are changing for the young
And the old ones take the check
I let death walk beside me
His cold lips on my neck
I don’t have to sell my soul
Cause I know he loves me back
Just bring flowers to my bed
I’ll do anything you ask
You like sex, you like girls
You cross the line
You like bones
You like crushing all of mine
Just when time
Starts to slow down the load
I feel sin
Echoing in my soul
Someday I’ll walk that road
Now I’m your Madonna Gold
Used to look for dirty flicks
In my father’s hidden books
When I was just a kid
It brought me closer to you
Now I feel that it’s real
With every rule that I break
Toying with my innocence
In a world of give and take
You like sex, you like girls
You cross the line
You like bones
You like crushing all of mine
Just when time
Starts to slow down the load
I feel sin
Echoing in my soul
Someday I’ll walk that road
Now I’m your Madonna Gold
GIRL INSIDE
In the evening
When things are quiet
And fear, floods my mind
I’ll be missing you
Forever I’m lonely
But I take it, one day at a time
Ooh, take me away it’s dark inside
Ooh, I’m coming to terms with the girl inside
When the rain drops
Cover my eyelids
And I let you, flow over me
Seems the wood chips
And pieces of debris
Fall neatly, right in front of me
Ooh, take me away it’s dark inside
Ooh, I’m coming to terms with the girl inside
I’m coming to terms with the girl inside
Girl inside, the girl inside, I’m coming to terms with the girl inside
Girl inside, the girl inside, I’m coming to terms with the girl inside
Ooh, take me away it’s dark inside
Ooh, I’m coming to terms with the girl inside
THREE LITTLE WORDS
Lost in the moment not sure what to say
If I said anything it wouldn’t make it or break it
Last time I fell in love it fizzled away
So I wanna give it to you, can you take it?
Every day people pulled round by the strings
Take me for a puppet I’m played by you
Best thing I can do is leave it all up to fate
Think it’s something more when you say
I love your shoes
Nothing more than a word or two
Three little words spell I love you
Lost in your love with a burning desire
I was hoping you could take me just a little higher
I guess I’ll love a fantasy of you in my head
But my heart skipped a beat when you said
I love the blues
Nothing more than a word or two
Three little words spell I love you
I can’t believe, I think you love me
I can’t believe, I think you love me
I can’t believe, I think you love me
I can’t believe, I think you love me
EVERY TIME
I hate the way I make myself feel
When you go
Reflection of the time my heart
Sank so low
And water runs down my naked back
To the tub
Yeah life aint so dull when you
Accept that you’re in love
Say it’s alright
I fall in love with you every night
Say it’s alright
I fall in love with you every time
Take this piece and tear it apart
Revealing you
I love to look inside your heart
When you feel blue
And candlelight always warms us up
Uh huh
Yeah life aint so dull when you
Admit that you’re in love
Say it’s alright
I fall in love with you every night
Say it’s alright
I fall in love with you every night
Say it’s alright
I fall in love with you every night
Say it’s alright
I fall in love with you every time
GIRL’S GIRL
He’ll come running back to me
In the heat of escaping
She only wanted to dream
Got caught up in misbehaving
Take me down, take me down to the river bend
Time will tell when the keeper releases
The dog in its cage
And I will be gone, away from the scene
Keeping my body clean
Take me down, take me down to the river bend
Push me down, push me down til I feel no shame
(Thought I was a girl’s girl, thought I was a girl’s girl, thought I was a girl’s girl, I was a, I was a)
He said
Take off your clothes
Little girl
How will she ever know?
He said
Let me save you
Little girl
We are forbidden fruit
Speak to me in a gentle tone
No one will know
Freak with me, leave your troubles behind
I’m just too blind to see
Take me down, take me down to the river bend
Push me down, push me down til I feel no shame
(Thought I was a girl’s girl, thought I was a girl’s girl, thought I was a girl’s girl, I was a, I was a)
POWER
What if I told you a lie?
That I’m living in a house that’s not mine
I’m changing my name to Clementine
Would you still think I’m pretty or still worth the chase?
I’m talking to the mirror on the wall
The one who shows me all of the tricks
My body changing sizes and fits
I’ll hammer you and watch the glass
Shatter round
I’ll never look at myself again
I know I got the power
To go it alone
To be on my own for a while
I’m sorry this is goodbye
I just need to know
What life looks like on the other side
Never have I been unsure
I’m fine all by myself I’m mature
An introspective war in my head
A balance between the good and the
Healthy bad
And when will it ever end?
I know I got the power
To go it alone
To be on my own for a while
I’m sorry this is goodbye
I just need to know
What life looks like on the other side
I know, I can go it alone
I know, I can go it alone
I don’t need no saving
I don’t need your saving
I know
I know I got the power
To go it alone
To be on my own for a while
I’m sorry this is goodbye
I just need to know
What life looks like on the other side
YOUNG IN LOVE IN HOLLYWOOD
I used to walk down these streets, I saw it all
The walking zombies, artists of the winding roads
And even though I love this city like my home
Well Sunset never shined this bright before
Cruising down La Brea in your Kia Sol
I think I like you better than the drag bar show
They told me I should stay away from love for good
We’re young in love in Hollywood
Now all the whores of Venice Beach could shoot their shot
But nothing turns me on more than getting caught
Smoking O’s inside the Westfield shopping mall
But baby you and I know the thrill of chasing cars
Is it all I could want?
Let my guard down in the pool bar on Magnolia
Tell me why
Why I should stay for good
We’re young in love in Hollywood
Is it all I could want?
Let my guard down in the pool bar on Magnolia
Tell me why
Why I should stay for good
We’re young in love in Hollywood
We’re young in love in Hollywood
MOMENTARY LOVE
Let’s fall in love today
And write about it tomorrow
There’s beauty in the way
Emotion seems to flow
And I’m not trying to say
That I changed my life for you
I gave my heart away
So I could feel brand new
Promises, no promises
You’re pushing away
Promises, no promises
You’re making me stay
Mistakes are only made by fools
This time you could say I’m one
Momentary love is so complicated
How could I have said you’re the one?
I jumped into the sea
And left my bags at home
As far as I can see
There’s no where left to go
And I’m not trying to say
That I gave it up for you
I left my soul at bay
Cause my body told me to
Promises, no promises
You’re pushing away
Promises, no promises
You’re making me stay
Promises, no promises
(Just say you want me)
Mistakes are only made by fools
This time you could say I’m one
Momentary love is so complicated
How could I have said you’re the one?
Mistakes are only made by fools
Only when they want to change
I try not to get down on myself about it
Cause I know I’ll see you again
Cause I know I’ll see you again
Cause this fool will see you again
TWO PRETTY DOLLS
Was it two more years together,
Or was I just lying to myself?
Could you see us standing up there,
At the wedding altar still?
Like two pretty dolls
Like two pretty dolls
Do you miss the way that I feel,
When your hand cups my cheek?
When we drive on through the mountains,
And wind up down by the beach
Like two pretty dolls
Like two pretty dolls
When all is said and done
You don’t have to hide yourself from me
Black clouds bellowing, clear the skies
And I come back to me
Yes I come back, I come back, ooh
And I hope that this song finds you
In a current state of joy
Cause I couldn’t live believing
That I broke your heart like a toy
Like one lonely doll
Like one lonely doll
Like one lonely doll