Richard Berry & the Pharaohs recorded and released the song on Flip Records in 1957, originally as a B-side. It became a minor regional hit in the US, and, when the group toured the US Pacific Northwest, several local R&B bands began to adopt the song and established its popularity. "Louie Louie" finally became a major hit when The Kingsmen's raucous version – with little trace of its calypso-like origins other than in its lyrics - became a US national, and then international, hit in 1963.
The nearly unintelligible (and innocuous) lyrics were widely misinterpreted as obscene, and the song was banned by radio stations and even investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The song has been recorded over 1,000 times, but, because Berry sold its copyright cheaply in 1959, he received little financial reward for its success for many years. While the title of the song is often rendered with a comma ("Louie, Louie"), in 1988 Berry told Esquire magazine that the correct title of the song was "Louie Louie", with no comma. The song has been ranked as the second most-recorded song of all time, and was ranked at #55 on Rolling Stone magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
Berry continued to record in the late 1950s, but with little commercial success, and also continued as a performer. During the 1980s, "Louie Louie" received a number of unprecedented accolades, with hundreds of cover versions being issued on CD compilations and played on radio marathons. In 1986, and again in 1993, Berry finally received substantial financial benefits for writing the song. In February 1996, he performed for the final time, reuniting with his bands, The Pharaohs, and The Dreamers, for a benefit concert in Long Beach, CA.
Do I Do I Do I
Richard Berry & The Pharaohs Lyrics
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I keep to myself this feud
Isolated in my room
Only way I recoup
Resent in my apology
Frustration getting the best of me
This bitterness overpowers me, we becoming the past
Sick of feeling wrong about this shit
Me, myself and I the exact same shit, that we want so embracing being this misfit, yeah
They waiting for us to call quits, yeah
They fearing us making this risk
That so many in the past they compare us to who ain't flip it
I ain't gone try and lie and say that don't get under our skin
I fear it all the time and pray that we don't get in that trend
Reason for K, period
Asking if we serious on the time we feels appropriate, bet
I'm steady mixing these thoughts
So I can tell you the things you wanna hear and crowd the truth
Tired of obligations and all these rules of relationships that we live in
Tired of the limits, tired of the one inhibitor
Holding us back so I can't get rid of you
This tension in my throat that bubbles up
When I'm alone, air collected sticking to my throat
No cliches ever felt this deep, this deep where I'm coming from
Reason it's so easy
So easy for me to embrace this pain
Cause I'll be able to look back and laugh at my doubts today
They don't understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
The lyrics of Richard Berry & The Pharaohs’ song “Do I Do I Do I” depict the internal struggle of the singer with their personal relationships. The singer expresses their frustration with the inability of others to understand the complexity of their emotions and experiences. The lines “They don't understand like I do / I keep to myself this feud / Isolated in my room / Only way I recoup” convey the singer’s need to withdraw from others and to only rely on themselves to recover from their emotional turmoil.
The next few lines “Resent in my apology / Frustration getting the best of me / This bitterness overpowers me, we becoming the past / Sick of feeling wrong about this shit / I been holding on but it's time I give” express the singer’s resentment at having to apologize for their feelings and the bitterness that has started to overpower them. The line “Me, myself and I the exact same shit, that we want so embracing being this misfit, yeah” shows the singer’s acceptance of their identity as being different from others and not conforming to society’s standards.
The song also touches upon the fear the singer has of following the trends of past relationships and not being taken seriously. The lyrics “Reason for K, period / Asking if we serious on the time we feels appropriate” imply that the singer and their partner are determined to make their relationship work on their own terms, regardless of societal expectations.
Overall, the lyrics in “Do I Do I Do I” by Richard Berry & The Pharaohs convey the emotions and thoughts of an individual struggling with personal relationships and feeling misunderstood by others.
Line by Line Meaning
They don't understand like I do
Others don't comprehend the situation as well as I do
I keep to myself this feud
I remain silent about this conflict
Isolated in my room
I am alone in my space
Only way I recoup
Restoring my energy requires solitude
Resent in my apology
I am not genuinely sorry for my actions
Frustration getting the best of me
I am overwhelmed by my anger
This bitterness overpowers me, we becoming the past
My resentment is causing a rift in our relationship
Sick of feeling wrong about this shit
I am tired of always being the one at fault
I been holding on but it's time I give
I have been stubborn, but it's time to let go
Me, myself and I the exact same shit, that we want so embracing being this misfit, yeah
I am happy being alone rather than conforming to societal expectations
They waiting for us to call quits, yeah
Others are anticipating the end of our relationship
They fearing us making this risk
Others are afraid of us taking a chance
That so many in the past they compare us to who ain't flip it
Others compare us to unsuccessful relationships
I ain't gone try and lie and say that don't get under our skin
I can't deny that it bothers us
I fear it all the time and pray that we don't get in that trend
I worry about falling into the same patterns as previous relationships
Reason for K, period
The reason for our relationship is personal and private
Asking if we serious on the time we feels appropriate, bet
Wondering if the timing of our relationship is right
I'm steady mixing these thoughts
I am constantly pondering my situation
So I can tell you the things you wanna hear and crowd the truth
I sometimes tell you what you want to hear instead of the truth
Tired of obligations and all these rules of relationships that we live in
I am drained by the constraints of traditional relationships
Tired of the limits, tired of the one inhibitor
I am fed up with the restricting nature of my current situation
Holding us back so I can't get rid of you
I can't leave you because we are being held back together
This tension in my throat that bubbles up
Anxiety is affecting me physically
When I'm alone, air collected sticking to my throat
My throat tightens when I am by myself
No cliches ever felt this deep, this deep where I'm coming from
This situation is unique and has affected me deeply
Reason it's so easy
That's why it's simple for me
So easy for me to embrace this pain
It is easy for me to accept the emotional distress
Cause I'll be able to look back and laugh at my doubts today
I will find humor in my current fears when I reflect on them later
They don't understand Like I Do
Others lack my perspective
Understand Like I Do
They can't see it from my point of view
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
I don't expect them to understand
Understand Like I Do
They can't comprehend as well as I do
Understand Like I Do
They don't see it through my eyes
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
It's not reasonable for me to expect them to understand
Understand Like I Do
My perspective is unique
Understand Like I Do
Others don't have my level of understanding
Understand Like I Do, Hey they ain't suppose to
I don't need them to understand
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: ISAIAH PITTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind