jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Talk about a tempest in a teapot! Did you know that the Kingsmen's song "Louie, Louie" caused a major controversy when it became popular? They FBI spent over two years and countless hours investigating the song. Parents rose up in protest over this "filthy, obscene" song. Some radio stations refused to play it.

The lyrics -

The F-word was in response to someone missing a chord, but it wasn't removed.

[Intro chords]

Louie Louie, oh no, you take me where ya gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, take me where ya gotta go

A fine little girl, she waits for me
Me catch the ship across the sea
Me sailed that ship all alone
Me never think I'll make it home

Louie Louie, oh no no no, we gotta go
Oh no
Said Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go

F...!

Three nights and days I sailed the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On that ship, I dream she there
I smell the rose in her hair

Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, said we gotta go
Okay, let's give it to 'em right now

Me see

Me see Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long me see me love
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I'll never leave again

Louie Louie, oh no, we gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, said we gotta go
I said we gotta go now
Let's hustle on out of here
Let's go

https://genius.com/The-kingsmen-louie-louie-lyrics

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Excellent song to know! It's never taken very much to get the campers restless and cranky.

Dannj

I remember all the flack…most kids in my circle thought it was just a dumb song and we had our own interpretation of the lyrics. But there was one “conspiracy theorist” among us who tried to slow it down on the record player to reveal the “message”😳

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I have played that song in cover bands since it was on the radio. I still enjoy it simply because of its ease and notoriety.

RolandDieter

Gaham Wilson had a great cartoon. An elephant was sitting at a piano with its piano teacher to the side. The teacher said "Just slam you feet three times right about there. That's Louie, Louie."

boomermet Loc: Edmond, OK

Great tune. Everyone trying to put all kinds of words to it. Every wedding or reunion we go to went the DJ plays it me and all the Boomers hit the floor!

boomermet Loc: Edmond, OK

Kinda like Ina Gadda Da Vida by Iron Butterfly

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't remember any flack. To me, it was just another rock song with words I couldn't understand. It certainly has proven popular over the years.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Here's some background history for you.

Richard Berry

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's unfortunate that the author didn't have as much success with his song as so many others.

andesbill

It was number 2 when the Beatles showed up. Bobby Vinson had the last number 1 song before I want to Hold Your Hand.
I always felt that Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen was the first Rock (as opposed to rock and roll) song. It was the first garage band song.

Finn Man Loc: wisconsin

I grew up in that era where that was a popular song...K.A.N.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I always confused him with Bobby Vee.

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

In SoCal, at the time as the Kingsmen's hit, Ray Barretto's El Watusi was big as well. Both tunes are good bits dance music that will always connected for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uZx9KnlTyg

andesbill

I remember the song. Thanks to you, I added it to my playlist.