I would like to start by apologizing to all Baby Boomers for putting this ear worm in your head, especially if you are remembering the X-rated lyrics. And I also am going to apologize for this post because it’s about a song that had no X-rated lyrics.
“Louie Louie” (no comma) was written by Richard Berry in 1955. Louie was the name of Berry’s bartender. He released it in 1957. It was a regional hit, but soon forgotten. Berry sang in the first person about a Jamaican sailor looking forward to returning to his girlfriend. In 1963, the Kingsmen went into a studio and one hour later and for $36, the song was recorded. The song took off after Boston’s most popular DJ played it as his “Worst Song of the Week”. At first, it was the catchy and easy to play music that people reacted to. But soon, the song developed a reputation for naughty lyrics. The scandal did not hurt sales, although The Kingsmen denied there was anything scandalous about the lyrics. The record reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. (It was blocked from the top spot by “Dominique” by the Singing Nun and then “There! I’ve Said It Again” by Bobby Vinton. Some believe Billboard purposely kept it from #1 because of the scandal.)
The song became so notorious that numerous parents feared it was warping children. It was banned on some radio stations. The Governor of Indiana urged radio stations to stop playing it. When asked for proof the song was nasty, he said he knew it because the song made his “ears tingle”! To fight the accusations (or possibly for the publicity), the publisher of the song offered $1,000 to anyone who could prove the lyrics were obscene. The offer was made on Feb. 8, 1964. No one claimed the money. The FBI was tasked with determining if the song was a threat to American society. After a 31-month investigation, the agency determined that the lyrics were unintelligible. The drummer did admit that he said “fuck” when he screwed up at one point in the song. Oddly, the FBI did not talk to the singer, Jack Ely, because he was no longer with the band. Good job, feds.
Teens heard what they wanted to hear. It became a staple at teen parties. After John Belushi sang it in “Animal House”, it became popular at frat and toga parties. The song is estimated to be the most covered rock song in history. Bruce Springsteen plays it at most of his concerts. It influenced the development of grunge and punk rock. We now have an International Louie Louie Day every April 11 (Richard Berry’s birthday). On August 24, 2003, 754 guitarists played it at the “Louie Fest” in Tacoma, Washington.
Below are the lyrics with the one version of the assumed lyrics italicized. (Note that the substituted lyrics are not even close to the actual lyrics. This is a testament to the singing of Jack Ely.)
Chorus: “Louie, Louie, oh no. Me gotta go. Aye-yi-yi, I said. Louie Louie, oh baby. Me gotta go.”
“Fine little girl waits for me. Catch a ship across the sea. Sail that ship about, all alone. Never know if I make it home.”
“Three nights and days, I sail the sea.” Every night and day, I play with my thing.
“Think of girl, constantly.” I f–k you girl, oh, all the way.
“Oh that ship, I dream she’s there. On my bed, I’ll lay her there.
“I smell the rose in her hair.” I feel my bone, ah, in her hair.
“See Jamaica, the moon above.” Hey lovemaker, now hold my thing.
“It won’t be long, me see my love.” It won’t take long, so leave it alone.
“Take her in my arms again.” Hey, senorita, I’m hot as hell.
“Tell her I’ll never leave again.” I told her I’d never lay her again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louie_Louie
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-kingsmen/louie-louie
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-kingsmen-louie-louie-fbi-investigation/
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