Love Potion #9
Searchers (The) Lyrics


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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 #9" is a humorous story about a man who visits a gypsy, Madame Rue, to help him find love. The man expresses his desperation to Madame Rue, stating that he's been a failure with women since 1956. Madame Rue gives him a potion, Love Potion Number Nine, to drink, which he describes as smelling like turpentine and looking like Indian ink. The man drinks it and begins kissing everything in sight, including a cop, who breaks the bottle of potion. The song ends with the chorus repeating the potion's name, Love Potion Number Nine.


The song's lyrics are a lighthearted and comical take on the idea of love potions and the absurd lengths people will go to in order to find love. The potion's effects are portrayed as overwhelming and uncontrollable, leading the singer to engage in a series of misadventures. The setting of the song, Thirty-Fourth and Vine, is a real intersection in Kansas City, Missouri, known for its nightlife, lending a sense of authenticity to the storytelling.


Line by Line Meaning

I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
I went to Madame Rue to find a solution to my love life problems


You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's a well-known gypsy who has a gold-capped tooth


She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Madame Rue has a place on Thirty-Fourth and Vine


Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
Madame Rue sells small bottles of Love Potion Number Nine


I told her that I was a flop with chics
I told Madame Rue that I was unsuccessful with love


I've been this way since 1956
I've been struggling with my love life since 1956


She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
Madame Rue examined the lines on my palm and performed a magical gesture


She said 'What you need is Love Potion Number Nine'
Madame Rue suggested that I try Love Potion Number Nine to improve my luck in love


She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
Madame Rue bent down and turned around while winking at me


She said 'I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink'
Madame Rue said she would create the Love Potion in the sink


It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink
The Love Potion had a strong smell of turpentine and looked like Indian ink


I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I held my nose, closed my eyes, and drank the Love Potion


I didn't know if it was day or night
I was disoriented and unsure of the time after drinking the Love Potion


I started kissin' everything in sight
I began kissing anything and everything I saw


But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
When I kissed a police officer on Thirty-Fourth and Vine


He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine
The police officer broke the bottle of Love Potion Number Nine that I was carrying


Love Potion Number Nine
The Love Potion Number Nine that I consumed


Love Potion Number Nine
The Love Potion Number Nine that Madame Rue sells


Love Potion Number Nine
The Love Potion Number Nine that I was seeking to improve my love life




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JED LEIBER

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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