Born Again (feat. Doja Cat & RAYE)

"Born Again" is a powerful post-breakup empowerment anthem. The core meaning revolves around the theme of rebirth and finding a stronger, more enlightened version of oneself after the end of a relationship. The song serves as a meta-reference to LISA's own career, declaring her rebirth as a solo artist after departing from her previous record label. Lyrically, the song is a direct address to an ex-lover, with LISA, Doja Cat, and RAYE taunting their former partners by detailing exactly what they lost. They boast about their subsequent "glow-ups" and frame the failed relationship as the ex's loss of a near-divine, transformative experience. The recurring phrase "to be born again" is used as a metaphor for the intense clarity, empowerment, and peak emotional experience the ex could have had but foolishly gave up. The track heavily incorporates religious themes and iconography—such as being a "believer," praying to Jesus, and references to the Garden of Eden—to emphasize the sacred and profound nature of the love and connection that was on offer. Ultimately, the song is not about mourning the loss of love, but celebrating the freedom and self-worth discovered in its absence.

The narrative of "Born Again" is a triumphant declaration of self-renewal and empowerment following a painful breakup. The song opens with LISA's perspective, painting a picture of moving on decisively. She’s in a convertible, top-down, signifying freedom and a clear path forward. She references breaking up with her "silly, silly man" and having an ex in the passenger seat only metaphorically, as she is completely done with the past. There’s a palpable sense of finality and a touch of sass as she reflects on the heartbreak, the empty words, and her ex's inability to appreciate what he had. She even sends a playful, yet final, message to her ex's mother, whom she'll miss, adding a layer of personal history to the departure. The chorus, a collaborative effort, serves as the song's central thesis. It taunts the former lover with what could have been. The artists suggest that with just a little more effort, the ex could have experienced a transcendent, almost spiritual, love that would have felt like being "born again." This metaphor elevates the lost relationship to a near-divine experience he foolishly let go.

Doja Cat's verse introduces a sharp, witty critique of her past partner. She calls him a "non-believer" who has "bitten from the fruit but can't give back," a clear biblical allusion to the Garden of Eden, suggesting he took from the relationship without contributing, ultimately leading to his own downfall. She questions the validity of his words, asking if they still seem like "gospel" to him now that he's alone. She details her post-breakup glow-up, shopping freely while he stays mad, and how his dramatic downfall is a source of amusement for others. She firmly rejects any notion of supporting him, telling him to "get a job." Her verse concludes with a sense of karmic justice; she hopes he learned a lesson from the "fiasco" and acknowledges that his letting her go was a smart move in a way, as it set her free to ascend.

RAYE's bridge deepens the song's religious and spiritual metaphors. She sings about making her ex "need religion at the minimum," implying the intensity of what he's lost is enough to make a person seek spiritual solace. She frames the act of leaving the relationship as an act of self-preservation, something she had to do to "save my soul." This part of the song transforms the breakup from a simple romantic split into a profound act of spiritual and personal salvation. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the central theme: the exes missed out on a transformative love, and the artists have emerged from the experience reborn, stronger, and more aware of their own worth. The song closes on this high note of self-assuredness and glorious rebirth, leaving no doubt that the breakup was the best thing that could have happened to them.

"Born Again" was officially announced on January 24, 2025, when LISA, Doja Cat, and RAYE all shared a photo of themselves together on social media. The song was released on February 6, 2025, through Lloud Co. and RCA Records, marking LISA's first new release of the year. It serves as the fourth single from her debut studio album, "Alter Ego," which was released on February 28, 2025. The track was written by a team including the artists themselves—Amala Zandile Dlamini (Doja Cat) and Rachel Keen (RAYE)—along with Anthony Rossomando and one of the producers, Andrew Wells. RAYE also served as a producer on the track. Interestingly, a demo version of the song by RAYE had previously leaked online after she left her former label, Polydor Records, in 2021. To promote the single, LISA posted several TikTok videos with snippets of the song's hook. The official music video was directed by Bardia Zeinali and premiered on MTV and on the Paramount Times Square billboards.

The song's rhyme and rhythm are crafted to be catchy and drive the energetic, danceable feel of the track. The rhythm is rooted in a disco and electropop beat, characterized by a strong, consistent four-on-the-floor drum pattern and a prominent, pulsing bassline that encourages movement. The tempo is upbeat and steady, creating a sense of forward momentum that mirrors the lyrical theme of moving on. Lyrically, the rhythm of the verses is conversational and syncopated, especially in Doja Cat's section, which fluidly moves between singing and rapping. The rhyme scheme is generally straightforward but effective. For example, in the chorus, 'times' rhymes with 'like', and 'Jesus' is paired with 'believer' in a slant rhyme, creating a satisfying and memorable hook. Internal rhymes are used as well, such as in Doja Cat's verse: "Stayed mad when I showed him all the long receipts / They laugh at your crash out like a comedy." This interplay between lyrical and musical rhythm makes the song an infectious and anthemic track.

"Born Again" employs a variety of musical and literary techniques to create its energetic and empowering feel.

• Musical Style: The song is a high-energy pop track that blends elements of disco and electropop. The production features a "springy, amped-up bassline" that evokes '80s disco, incorporating layers of synths, claps, drum pads, and bongo samples for a rich, continuous soundscape. The arrangement is dynamic, with no gaps in the instrumentation, maintaining a constant forward momentum.
• Vocal Delivery: The song showcases a collaborative and varied vocal approach. LISA and RAYE alternate lines during the first verse and chorus, creating a conversational and unified front. Doja Cat delivers her verse in her signature half-sung, half-rapped style, adding a different texture and a sharp, rhythmic edge to the track.
• Narrative Structure: The lyrics unfold as a three-act narrative of post-breakup triumph. LISA sets the scene of moving on, Doja Cat delivers a witty and blistering takedown, and RAYE provides a moment of deeper, spiritual reflection. This structure allows each artist to bring their unique personality to the shared theme.
• Metaphor and Allusion: As detailed previously, the song heavily relies on extended religious metaphors (being "born again," praying to Jesus) and biblical allusions (the Garden of Eden) to convey its message of empowerment and the ex's significant loss.
• Music Video Aesthetics: The accompanying music video, directed by Bardia Zeinali, pays tribute to powerful women. It depicts the three artists initially in black mourning gowns before they are symbolically reborn, emerging in white outfits with silver armor, visually reinforcing the song's central theme.

As a single from LISA's highly anticipated debut solo album, "Alter Ego," "Born Again" was positioned for significant cultural impact upon its release. The collaboration itself, bringing together global superstars from different corners of the music world—K-pop icon LISA, American rap sensation Doja Cat, and British singer-songwriter RAYE—generated considerable buzz. The song was released under Lloud Co. and RCA Records, part of LISA's new direction as a solo artist with full ownership of her recordings, a significant move in the K-pop industry. The track was promoted heavily, with a premiere on MTV and on billboards in Times Square. It served as the fourth single from "Alter Ego," an album that also featured collaborations with other major artists like Rosalía and Future, placing it within a larger, ambitious global project. The song's themes of female empowerment and self-worth resonate with contemporary cultural conversations. While specific chart data is futuristic, as a track from a member of BLACKPINK, it was expected to perform strongly on global charts, following the success of her previous singles like "Rockstar."

The song is rich with symbolism and metaphors, primarily centered around religious and spiritual concepts to articulate feelings of empowerment and lost opportunities.

• Rebirth (Born Again): The central metaphor of the song, the phrase "to be born again" symbolizes a profound transformation and renewal. It refers to the clarity and empowerment felt after a breakup, framing it as a spiritual awakening. It also suggests the peak, almost heavenly experience the ex-lover missed out on.
• Religious Iconography: The lyrics are replete with religious imagery. The artists talk about making their ex a "believer" and making him "pray to Jesus," which equates the experience of their love to a divine revelation. This elevates their own value and highlights the magnitude of the ex's loss.
• Garden of Eden: In her verse, Doja Cat uses the metaphor of biting "from the fruit but can't give back," alluding to the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. This suggests her ex took the pleasures of the relationship without reciprocating, leading to his own expulsion from paradise.
• Gospel: Doja Cat questions if her ex's words still "seem gospel" to him, using the term to question the truth and authority of his past statements, which are now proven false.
• Saving One's Soul: RAYE's line about ending the relationship to "save my soul" frames the breakup as a necessary act of spiritual self-preservation, implying the relationship was toxic and spiritually draining.

The most significant recurring motif in "Born Again" is the title phrase itself, which acts as the song's central hook and thematic core. Its repetition in the chorus—”To be born again, baby, to be born again”—drills home the message of transformation and renewal. This phrase signifies not only the artists' personal rebirth after a breakup but also the quasi-spiritual, ecstatic experience their ex-partners have lost. Another recurring motif is the idea of making the ex a "believer" or making them "pray to Jesus." This religious framing is repeated in the chorus and reinforced in the verses, consistently elevating the artists' worth to a divine level and emphasizing the gravity of the ex's mistake. The contrast between what the artists offered (a chance to be "born again") and what the exes did (failed to try, lied) is a recurring structural element that builds the song's empowering narrative.