Richard Berry (no relation to Charles (Chuck) Berry; see photographs at this link) wrote Louie Louie in 1955, inspired by René Touzet's "El Loco Cha Cha" and Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon." He recorded it in 1956, but the most famous recording, however, and the one discussed here, was by the Kingsmen, a group from Portland, Oregon, USA. Their version reached number two in the USA (largely due to its notoriety), although for a time it battled with a concurrent version by Paul Revere and the Raiders. The Kingsmen recorded it in April 1963 and released it on Wand Records (playing time 2:43).
Louie Louie has a controversial history. Although this song contains no profanity, it was originally banned on many radio stations, particularly those in Indiana (where it was banned by Governor Matthew Welch) and in Southern USA, because the lyrics were hard to understand and hence easily misinterpreted.
It is widely accepted that this was not by design, but was the result of a poorly-engineered recording session. Reportedly, there was only one microphone for both the band and the singer. It also did not help that the lead singer, Jack Ely, had a hoarse voice that day, wore braces on his teeth, and could not reach the microphone. The session cost $50.
However, according to the recording engineer's daughter, this explanation is an urban legend. She claims that the studio was state-of-the-art, the problem being with the band itself. See this link for further information about Louie Louie.
In any case, due to public furor the FBI analyzed the recording, and concluded after 31 months that they were "unable to interpret any of the wording in the record".( The supposed "filthy" version of the lyrics were used on the live version by Iggy Pop and The Stooges in 1974.) However, it seems that they never asked Jack Ely. Details about the FBI investigation are available through this link.
Further (but incomplete) details on the history of Louie Louie are available through this link.
Of particular interest are the lyrics of Louie Louie. Two versions are presented here. The first is claimed to be the actual words written by Richard Berry, the second the best attempt available of an exact transcription of the recording, courtesy of David Spector (and in the public domain). It is perhaps in the embellishments added by The Kingsmen that the charm of the song resides.
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2 Transcribed Lyrics 3 External Link |
Fine little girl, she wait for me.
Me catch the ship for across the sea.
Me sail the ship all alone.
Me never thinks me make it home.
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
Three nights and days me sailed the sea.
Me think of girl constantly.
On the ship, I dream she there.
I smell the rose in her hair.
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
Me see Jamaican moon above.
It won't be long, me see me love.
I take her in my arms and then.
Me tell her I never leave again.
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
A fine little girl she waits for me
Me catch a ship for cross the sea.
Me sail that ship all alone
Me never think how I make it home.
Ah, Louie, Louie
No, no, no, no, me gotta go.
Oh, no.
Said, Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, said we gotta go.
(indistinct yell in the background)
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, oh, constantly.
Ah, on that ship I dream she there
I smell the rose, ah, in her hair.
Ah, Louie, Louie
Oh, no, sayin' we gotta go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, but, ah,
Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, said, we gotta go.
[Yelled] Okay, let's give it to 'em
right now! [instrumental portion]
Me see Jamaica, ah, moon above.
It won't be long, me see me love.
Take her in my arms again,
I got her; I'll never leave again.
Ah, Louie, Louie
Oh, no, sayin' me gotta go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
But, ah, Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, said, ah, we gotta go.
I said we gotta go now,
Let's get on outta here.
[Yelled] Let's go.
(Original Article)
Louie Louie was a short EP (almost a single) released by Black Flag in 1981 on SST Records. It features Dez Cadena on vocals and includes the "long" version of Damaged I.
Tracks:
Personnel:Original Lyrics
Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go.
Transcribed Lyrics
Louie, Louie
Oh no, me gotta go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, said, ah
Louie, Louie
Oh, baby, me gotta go.
External Link
1. Louie Louie (Berry) 1:17
2. Damaged I (Cadena/Ginn) 4:07
Dez Cadena - vocals
Greg Ginn - guitar
Chuck Dukowski - bass
ROBO - drums