Louie Louie
Harrison Wilbert Lyrics

Harrison Wilbert's "Louie Louie" portrays the angst of a man who is presented with the opportunity to be with a woman he's been longing for but has to leave his home and take a ship across the sea to meet her. The chorus of "Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go, Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go" depicts the man's conflicted emotions as he has to leave but doesn't want to. The urgency in Wilbert's voice conveys a sense of longing and yearning as he croons about a "fine little girl waits for me" and the possibility of "never know[ing] if I make it home."

The second verse of "Louie Louie" continues the theme of uncertainty and anxiety as Wilbert sings about sailing the seas for "three nights and days" and constantly thinking about the girl who waits for him. In the third verse, Wilbert imagines being reunited with his love in Jamaica and promises to never leave her again. The song ends with a rousing guitar solo and a call to action to "take it on outa here now."

Overall, "Louie Louie" is a song that captures the timeless struggle between desire and responsibility. Wilbert's emotive vocals and the simple yet effective instrumentation create a sense of urgency and passion that make the song a classic.