"Born Again," the fourth single from LISA's solo album Alter Ego, is a dazzling display of female empowerment and musical fusion. The track, featuring Doja Cat and RAYE, opens with ethereal vocals before launching into a groovy, disco-infused beat. The production is crisp and vibrant, with a notable emphasis on a rich, funky bassline that adds depth and texture to the overall sound. This infectious rhythm creates an irresistible energy that's both danceable and captivating.
Vocal Performance and Collaboration
LISA's vocal performance is dynamic, shifting effortlessly between rapid-fire verses and soaring, sustained notes in the chorus. Her delivery is confident and assertive, perfectly embodying the song's themes of self-discovery and resilience. The collaboration with RAYE adds another layer of soulful richness, their voices blending seamlessly to create a powerful and harmonious blend. This interplay between the artists elevates the track, showcasing the unique strengths of each performer.
Doja Cat's Contribution
Doja Cat's signature rap verse injects a dose of her distinct American style, adding a playful and edgy dimension to the song. Her lyrical prowess and confident delivery complement the overall vibe, further solidifying the track's status as a cross-cultural collaboration. The synergy between the three artists is palpable, creating a dynamic and engaging listening experience.
Lyrical Themes and Empowerment
Lyrically, "Born Again" explores themes of heartbreak and transformation, with each artist reflecting on past relationships and the journey towards self-empowerment. The song's narrative centers around the idea of moving on from adversity and emerging stronger. This message of resilience resonates powerfully, particularly within the context of the music video, which pays homage to influential women throughout history.
Music Video and Conclusion
Directed by Bardia Zeinali, the music video for "Born Again" serves as a visual companion to the song's empowering message. The video's concept, a tribute to powerful women, further emphasizes the themes of strength and independence that are central to the track. "Born Again" is a testament to the power of collaboration and a celebration of female artistry, making it a standout track on Alter Ego.
Listen to LISA Born Again
LISA Born Again Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of "Born Again" by LISA is a complex interplay of romantic disappointment, self-empowerment, and clever use of religious allegory. The song explores the aftermath of a relationship's demise, not with bitterness or regret, but with a sense of liberation and a recognition of the partner's missed opportunity. Through powerful vocals and a driving beat, LISA, alongside collaborators Doja Cat and RAYE, crafts a narrative of moving on and embracing a "born again" state of self-assuredness. The lyrics cleverly weave religious imagery, such as being a "believer" and experiencing a transcendent "light," with the intimate and transformative potential of love, suggesting that the ex-partner missed out on something truly special, both romantically and perhaps even spiritually.
Introduction: The Missed Opportunity
"Born Again" opens with a powerful proposition: "If you tried just a little more times / I would've made you a believer." This immediately establishes the song's central metaphor, intertwining religious faith with romantic potential. The "believer" isn't just someone converted to a religion, but also someone who recognizes the singer's value and the transformative power of their connection. The subsequent lines, "Would've showed you what it's like / Every single night," emphasize the consistent, repeated nature of the missed opportunity, hinting at the sustained bliss that could have been.
Verse 1: Post-Breakup Liberation
Verse 1 paints a picture of post-breakup liberation: "In the car, top down, black shades on, uh / And I just broke up with my man, like mm / One ex in the passenger seat 'cause I'm done." The imagery is cool and detached, reflecting a confident move away from the relationship. Lines like "Down, down, rude boy, get your foot up on my dash" showcase a playful assertiveness. The verse also hints at the emotional aftermath: "Little bit of heartbreak / A little bit of 'How could you do that?' / Little bit of talkin' out your ass." However, this emotional vulnerability is quickly overshadowed by a sense of empowerment: "Got all the receipts, I'm a businesswoman / Little bit of 'Look at what you had but could not hold' / And that's on you, baby, too bad."
Chorus: The Religious Metaphor
The chorus reinforces the religious metaphor: "If you tried just a little more times / I would've made you a believer / Would've showed you what it's like / Every single night / To be born again, baby, to be born again." "Born again" carries the weight of spiritual rebirth, but here it's tied to the transformative potential of love and intimacy. The lines "If you stayed just another few nights / I could've made you pray to Jesus / Would've showed you to the light / Every single night" amplify this connection, suggesting an almost transcendent experience.
Verse 2: Doja Cat's Perspective
Doja Cat's verse adds another layer to the narrative: "Non-believer / You've bitten from the fruit but can't give back." This alludes to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, implying the partner gained knowledge or experience but failed to reciprocate. Lines like "Do your words seem gospel to ya now?" question the ex's self-righteousness. Doja Cat's verse also highlights resilience and moving on: "Keeping me strong / Choosing to carry on after one / Too many lies would be wrong, so wrong." She also calls out the ex for not being a provider and for trying to live off of her: "Said, he popped tags on my shoppin' spree / Stayed mad when I showed him all the long receipts / They laugh, but you crash out like a comedy / I can't be your sugar mom, get a job for me, shit." The verse concludes with a sense of finality: "(Ah, so) Boy, let go / Or let me live happily forever after more / I hope you learned somethin' from a lil' fiasco / You played the game smart lettin' lil' me pass go 'cause."
Bridge: RAYE's Metaphors
RAYE's bridge uses a different set of metaphors: "Seasoned like the cinnamon the way I'm gettin' rid of him / I'm only gonna make you need religion at the minimum." The cooking analogy ("seasoned like cinnamon") represents the ease with which she's moving on. The "religion" line again connects romantic experience to something sacred. The bridge also expresses a desire for reciprocated love and the importance of self-preservation: "Don't ever let me be deficient in / Wish that you could wake up and then take me like a vitamin / I learned the hard way to let go now to save my soul (Oh)."
Chorus & Outro: Reinforcing the Themes
The repeated choruses and outro reinforce the song's central themes, emphasizing the missed opportunity and the singer's empowered perspective: "Baby, to be born, oh, baby, baby, to be born again / To be born again, baby, to be born again." "Born Again" uses religious imagery to explore the complex emotions of heartbreak, self-discovery, and ultimately, moving on to a "born again" state of self-assuredness.
LISA Born Again Lyrics
[Intro: LISA & RAYE]
(Ooh) If you tried just a little more times
I would've made you a believer
Would've showed you what it's like (I would've showed you)
Every single night (Night)
[Verse 1: LISA & RAYE]
In the car, top down, black shades on, uh (Lookin' so good, can I add?)
And I just broke up with my man, like mm (A very, very silly, silly man)
One ex in the passenger seat 'cause I'm done (Done, yeah, never, ever goin' back)
Down, down, rude boy, get your foot up on my dash
Got all the receipts, I'm a businesswoman
Little bit of heartbreak
A little bit of "How could you do that?"
A little bit of talkin' out your ass
A little bit of "Look at what you had but could not hold"
And that's on you, baby, too bad
I'm about to make it heard as I vroom-vroom
Ice-cold how I leave you 'lone, but please
Tell your mother I'ma miss her so
[Chorus: RAYE & LISA]
If you tried just a little more times
I would've made you a believer
Would've showed you what it's like (Like)
Every single night
To be born again, baby, to be born again
If you stayed just another few nights
I could've made you pray to Jesus
Would've showed you to the light (To the light)
Every single night (Every night)
To be born again, baby, to be born again
[Verse 2: Doja Cat]
Non-believer
You've bitten from the fruit but can't give back
Nice to leave ya
But I would be a fool not to ask
Do your words seem gospel to ya now? (Your words seem gospel to you now?)
Keepin' me strong
Choosin' to carry on after one
Too many lies would be wrong, so wrong
Said, he popped tags on my shoppin' spree
Stayed mad when I showed him all the long receipts
They laugh, but you crash out like a comedy
I can't be your sugar mom, get a job for me, shit
(Ah, so) Boy, let go
Or let me live happily forever after more
I hope you learned somethin' from a lil' fiasco
You played the game smart lettin' lil' me pass go 'cause
[Chorus: LISA & RAYE]
If you tried just a little more times
I would've made you a believer
Would've showed you what it's like (Like)
Every single night
To be born again, baby, to be born again
If you stayed just another few nights
I could've made you pray to Jesus
Would've showed you to the light (To the light)
Every single night (Every night)
To be born again, baby, to be born again
[Bridge: RAYE]
Seasoned like the cinnamon the way I'm gettin' rid of him
I'm only gonna make you need religion at the minimum
And I'ma do it diligent, I'm lookin' for a synonym
I'm tryna find the words to tell him I ain't even feelin' him (I pray)
Don't ever let me be deficient in
Wish that you could wake up and then take me like a vitamin
I learned the hard way to let go now to save my soul (Oh)
[Chorus: RAYE & LISA, LISA, RAYE]
If you tried just a little more times
I would've made you a believer
Would've showed you what it's like (Like)
Every single night
To be born again, baby, to be born again
If you stayed just another few nights
I could've made you pray to Jesus
Would've showed you to the light (To the light)
Every single night (Every night)
To be born again, baby, to be born again
[Outro: LISA, LISA & RAYE]
Baby, to be born, oh, baby, baby, to be born again
To be born again, baby, to be born again
Baby, to be born, oh, baby, baby, to be born again (Yeah)
To be born again, baby, to be born again
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