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Love Potion No. 9
The Clovers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine

I told her that I was a flop with chicks
I've been this way since ninteen-fifty-six
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She said "what you need is Love Potion Number Nine"




She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said "I'm gonna mix it up right here in the sink"
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like India ink
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink

I didn't know it was day or night
I started kissin' everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine

I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink

I didn't know it was day or night
I started kissin' everything in sight
I had so much fun that I'm going back again
I wonder what happen with love potion number ten?
Love Potion Number Nine
Love Potion Number Nine
Love Potion Number Nine

Overall Meaning

The Clovers' song Love Potion No. 9 is a fun, upbeat tune that tells the story of a man who turns to a gypsy in search of a solution to his lack of success with women. He visits Madame Rue, who sells bottles of Love Potion Number Nine, and after drinking it, he starts kissing everything in sight without being able to control himself. The humorous lyrics and catchy rhythm of the song have made it a classic of the rock and roll genre.


The song plays on the idea of a magical elixir that can solve all romantic problems, while at the same time highlighting the often-hilarious consequences of trying to manipulate love through artificial means. The singer's desperate attempt to find a solution to his lack of success with women is ultimately futile, as the Love Potion Number Nine only leads to chaos and trouble.


Line by Line Meaning

I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
I went to see Madame Rue to get some help with my love problems


You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
I went to see a particular gypsy who has a gold tooth


She's got a pad on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Madame Rue has her house on Thirty-Fourth and Vine


Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
Madame Rue sells small jars of a concoction she calls Love Potion Number Nine


I told her that I was a flop with chicks
I explained to Madame Rue that I was bad with women


I've been this way since nineteen-fifty-six
For some reason, I've been like this since 1956


She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
Madame Rue examined my palm and did some sort of magical gesture


She said "what you need is Love Potion Number Nine"
Madame Rue told me that Love Potion Number Nine was the solution to my problems


She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
Madame Rue leaned over and winked at me


She said "I'm gonna mix it up right here in the sink"
She told me she was going to prepare the potion in the sink


It smelled like turpentine, it looked like India ink
The potion had a strong smell and looked like black ink


I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I tried to block out the smell and took a sip of the potion


I didn't know it was day or night
I wasn't sure if it was day or night because the potion affected my senses


I started kissin' everything in sight
I became uncontrollably amorous and started kissing whatever was nearby


But when I kissed a cop at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Unfortunately, I kissed a police officer on Thirty-Fourth and Vine


He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine
The cop destroyed the jar of Love Potion Number Nine


I had so much fun that I'm going back again
Despite my disappointing encounter with the cop, I enjoyed the potion so much that I plan to return to Madame Rue's


I wonder what happen with love potion number ten?
I'm curious about what Love Potion Number Ten could do


Love Potion Number Nine
A repeated reminder of the song's title




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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