Sorry, but I have to redux again tonight, for I am just not up to digging around for a song and related trivia tonight. I last played this one in August 2018, two years ago, and I found that most people preferred the Kingsmen version.
Tonight’s song, Louie Louie, has a bit of an interesting history. It was recorded in 1963 by The Kingsmen, and in the same year by Paul Revere and the Raiders. After the release of the song by The Kingsmen in May 1963, the governor of Indiana, Matthew Welsh, banned the song. Yes, you heard me right … he banned it! Why? He found the lyrics to be ‘pornographic’.
Matthew Welsh
In response, the FBI did an investigation, culminating in a 118-page report that essentially concluded that …
“The recording was hurriedly produced and the technique was poor but the record definitely was not obscene.”
Since both versions are just over 2 minutes and since I wasn’t sure which one you would like best, I include both here … pick one or listen to both …
The Kingsmen:
Paul Revere and the Raiders:
Louie Louie
The Kingsmen
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 the ship all alone
Me never think I’ll make it home
Louie Louie, oh no no no, me gotta go, oh no
Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go
Three nights and days I sailed the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On the 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, me 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, me gotta go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go
I said me gotta go now
Let’s hustle on out of here
Let’s go
Songwriters: Richard Berry
Louie Louie lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
One of my all-time favourites, Jill! Thanks for the redux. By the way, Paul Revere butchered the song as far as I’m concerned…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it, John! I agree with you about Paul Revere! They did some things very well, but this wasn’t one of them.
LikeLike
A mainstay song of my junior high days. Thanks for the memories. And banning was common. It even made the song more popular!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad to have brought back fun memories! Ah … the good ol’ days! Yes, that ‘forbidden fruit’ concept! And that hasn’t really changed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jill! And I think the ‘forbidden fruit’ will never change. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jill, when I hear this song, it seems like one one of those garage recordings with the cardboard egg cartons taped to the wall to keep the sound in the room. The song is fun, but not the best of quality which adds to its charm. Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, and the quality of this one is even worse than the one I used in 2018, but that one is no longer available. Still, the song is, as you said, fun. It gets the toes tapping, if nothing else!
LikeLike
I never could understand this song, but everyone knows it! Or ate least the first line…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure it was meant to be understood … just remembered!
LikeLike
Back then Governers didn’t have a lot to do. Super tune, Jill.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Apparently not! Glad you liked the tune!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I heard the Kingsmen first and liked it.and yet that was the badiy produced one,. I admit to not understanding every word they said but the beat was good. I’m afraid Paul Revere and his Raiders missed the boat back to Jamaica..
Cwtch
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Kingsmen video I played in the original post in 2018 was far superior quality to this one, but it is no longer available, unfortunately, so I had to find another. Most agree with you about the Paul Revere version, as do I.
Cwtch
LikeLiked by 1 person