Love Potion Number 9
Searchers 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 down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
I told her that I was a flop with chics
I've been this way since 1956
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 make it up right here in the sink"
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian 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

Overall Meaning

The Searchers' song "Love Potion No. 9" tells the story of a man who has been unsuccessful in love and is seeking the help of a gypsy woman, Madame Ruth. He visits her at her pad on Thirty-Fourth and Vine and explains his situation to her. Madame Ruth takes a look at his palm and tells him that what he needs is love potion number nine. She then proceeds to make the potion herself and gives it to the man to drink.


After taking the potion, the man becomes intoxicated and begins kissing everything in sight. When he tries to kiss a police officer on Thirty-Fourth and Vine, the officer breaks the man's little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine, snapping him out of his trance. The lyrics tell a humorous story of the consequences of seeking a magical solution to one's problems and the unpredictable outcomes that can result.


The song was released in 1962 and became a hit for The Searchers. The catchy melody and humorous lyrics resonated with audiences, and the song remains a classic love song to this day. It has been covered by numerous artists over the years, and its popularity was renewed when it was featured prominently in the 1992 film "Love Potion No. 9", starring Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan.


Line by Line Meaning

I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth
I visited a fortune teller named Madame Ruth to seek help for my problems


You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She is a well-known fortune teller with a golden cap on her tooth


She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
She has a place to live at the intersection of Thirty-Fourth and Vine


Selling little bottles of love potion number nine
She sells small bottles containing a love potion called number nine


I told her that I was a flop with chics
I explained to her that I was unlucky with women


I've been this way since 1956
I have been this way since 1956, indicating a lengthy period of unlucky encounters with women


She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She analyzed my palm and performed a magical gesture


She said "What you need is love potion number nine"
She suggested that I could use love potion number nine to solve my problems


She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She leaned in closely then gave me a coy expression


She said "I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink"
She told me that she would create the potion in the sink


It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink
The potion had the smell of turpentine and the appearance of Indian ink


I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
Took the potion despite its unpleasant smell, closed my eyes and held my nose


I didn't know if it was day or night
It was unclear whether it was daytime or nighttime


I started kissing everything in sight
I began kissing anything and everything that was nearby


But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
I kissed a policeman stationed at the intersection of Thirty-Fourth and Vine


He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine
The policeman destroyed my small bottle of Love Potion Number Nine


Love Potion number nine
Refers to the Love Potion Number Nine mentioned previously and serves as a chorus




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Riyana_shah

Lyrics are here👇👇


I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Selling little bottles of love potion number nine

I told her that I was a flop with chics
I've been this way since 1956
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 make it up right here in the sink"
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian 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 kissing 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 kissing 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



All comments from YouTube:

@peterblack1639

People this song is only two minutes and seven seconds long.......but lasts a lifetime in your mind.......

@wxtsxtwxg9941

Ok. But even if just for a minute. It's a beautiful song, I can remember listening to it with the volume up and singing along to it. I can do this song over an over...

@JiveDadson

Yeah, but listen to the real thing, not this lame ass cover. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/qTjs7a9l0hM

@bobpierce115

@terry waller I agree with you Terry completely, for the very reasons you mention!

@mafiamoscoloni2332

IN 'OR mind, 'cause in mines ionly reapet "Little indians "

@edwinfox1475

2+7=9

22 More Replies...

@bossgirl2023

Love this song. There's nothing like the 60s, 70s music. That was talent.

@jerrygil1965

80s too

@nevergivein4084

I've still got a 45 of this song..

@marielhuegel5021

My first "concert".
The Searchers played at the officers club on the NATO base in Naples, Italy.
I don't remember any other tune they did besides this!

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