The Meaning Behind Lisa’s Empowerment Anthem “Born Again” With Doja Cat and Raye
“Born Again” features a high-profile collaboration with Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye. The uplifting track is about freedom from a bad relationship. And it uses religious language to describe how a bad partner can destroy one’s soul. However, the empowerment anthem also marks a real-life reinvention for Lisa as she navigates a career outside Blackpink—the K-pop girl group that made her famous.
“Born Again” features a high-profile collaboration with Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye.
The uplifting track is about freedom from a bad relationship. And it uses religious language to describe how a bad partner can destroy one’s soul.
However, the empowerment anthem also marks a real-life reinvention for Lisa as she navigates a career outside Blackpink, the K-pop girl group that made her famous.
Her debut solo album, Alter Ego, emphasizes this new identity.
On “Born Again”—produced by Raye and Andrew Wells—Lisa sings about a romantic drama she must escape and uses the breakup as a transformation. It’s a kind of baptism that requires sacrifice.
In the car, top down, black shades on, uh (Looking so good, can I add?)And I just broke up with my man, like mmm (A very, very silly, silly man)One ex in the passenger seat, cause I’m done (Done, yeah, never ever going back)
And the disco hook also reminds the ex of what he could have had.
If you tried just a little more timesI would’ve made you a believerWould’ve showed you what it’s likeEvery single nightTo be born again, baby, to be born again
If you stayed just another few nightsI could’ve made you pray to JesusWould’ve showed you to the lightEvery single nightTo be born again, baby, to be born again
Lisa keeps it earthy, with the scene in a car, and her ex in the rearview. But Doja Cat goes biblical and raps about the fruit you can’t give back—a nod to the Garden of Eden.
Meanwhile, Raye’s bridge threatens to leave the boy in need of religion by the time she’s finished with him. Whatever this poor sap did, he’s probably sorry now.
Seasoned like the cinnamon the way I’m getting rid of himI’m only gonna make you need religion at the minimumAnd I’ma do it diligent, I’m looking for a synonymI’m tryna find the words to tell him I ain’t even feeling him
Lisa’s pop star collaboration with Doja Cat and Raye uses epic language to explain something very tangible. People can lose themselves inside a relationship. The sense of who you are or what you deserve becomes erased inside the “us’s” and “we’s” of romantic entanglements.
Though new chapters can be scary, “Born Again” adds strength, fun, and excitement to a long history of inspirational anthems. If you need something new to crank while you speed away from a bum ex, get “Born Again.”
Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images