From the 1960s to the 1980s, Diamond was one of the more successful pop music performers, scoring a number of hits. As critic William Ruhlmann writes, "as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart."[1] As of May 2005 he has sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.[2]
Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.
Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and then in 2000 was given its Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early part of 2011.
In 2008 Neil Diamond scored his first ever Billboard number one album with "Home Before Dark", the album also became his first studio album to get to number one in the UK.
Love Potion Number 9
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad down 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 1956
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said "I'm gonna make 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 if it was day or night
I started kissin' everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop down on 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 if it was day or night
I started kissin' everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop down on thirty-fourth and vine
He broke my little bottle of love potion number nine
Love potion number nine
Love potion number nine
Love potion number nine
Neil Diamond's "Love Potion Number 9" tells the story of a man who is unsuccessful in finding love and decides to visit a gypsy woman named Madame Rue who sells love potion number nine. He tells her about his struggles with women, and Madame Rue decides to give him the love potion. The man takes a drink and starts to kiss everything in sight, including a cop on thirty-fourth and vine, who promptly breaks the little bottle.
The lyrics of "Love Potion Number 9" explore the idea of love as a magical solution to life's problems. The singer is desperate for love and is willing to try anything to find it, even a mysterious love potion. The gypsy woman acts as a vehicle for the potion, although it is unclear whether she truly has magical powers or is simply a fraud. The use of vivid imagery, such as the scent of turpentine and the look of India ink, paints a picture of a bizarre and surreal experience. Ultimately, the song touches on themes of the mystical, the unknown, and the power of love as a transformative force.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my troubles down to madame rue
I went to see Madame Rue to cure my romantic problems
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
Madame Rue is a gypsy with a gold tooth
She's got a pad down on thirty-fourth and vine
Madame Rue operates from her building located at 34th and Vine Street
Sellin' little bottles of love potion number nine
She sells small bottles of a magical love potion called Love Potion No. 9
I told her that I was a flop with chicks
I informed Madame Rue that I lacked game when it comes to women
I've been this way since 1956
I've had a tough time with women since 1956
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
Madame Rue analyzed my palm and performed a magic sign
She said 'what you need is love potion number nine'
Madame Rue prescribed the magical Love Potion No. 9 for me
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
Madame Rue leaned and winked while making the potion
She said 'I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink'
Madame Rue created the potion in the nearby sink
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like India ink
The potion had an unpleasant smell and appearance
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I held my breath, closed my eyes, and drank the potion
I didn't know if it was day or night
I was so affected by the potion that I was confused about the time of day
I started kissin' everything in sight
Under the influence of the potion, I began to kiss anything in my path
But when I kissed a cop down on thirty-fourth and vine
While under the influence of the potion, I unintentionally kissed a police officer
He broke my little bottle of love potion number nine
The police officer broke the small bottle containing Love Potion No. 9
Love potion number nine
Love Potion No. 9, the magical potion I drank
Love potion number nine
Love Potion No. 9, the magical potion I drank
Love potion number nine
Love Potion No. 9, the magical potion I drank
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JED LEIBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind