Formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961, the original group comprised singer-musician-composer and bandleader Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Wilson neighbor David Marks appeared on their first four albums and was a member from 1962 to 1963 as a temporary replacement for Jardine, who had left the group to pursue a career in dentistry.
On their first few studio albums, the group primarily played surf music, but this changed after 1964 as their songs became more sophisticated and autobiographical. The 1965 album Today! particularly represented this shift in sound. Bruce Johnston joined the group that same year. Session drummer Hal Blaine is quoted: "We all studied in conservatories; we were trained musicians. We thought it was a fluke at first, but then we realized Brian was writing these incredible songs. This was not just a young kid writing about high school and surfing."
Following their most esteemed work, Pet Sounds (1966), the band became symbols of psychedelic counterculture. The highly anticipated follow-up, Smile, was left unfinished, and Brian soon relinquished his creative hold on the group. A trilogy of lo-fi releases followed: Smiley Smile (1967), Wild Honey (1967), and Friends (1968). Brian would not be credited as a primary composer for any Beach Boys album until 1977's Love You, an album on the fringe of synth-pop, new wave, and punk.
In Brian's absence, the Beach Boys still managed to release music that was regarded favorably by fans and critics despite poor sales: Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971). South African musicians Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar played and sang with the band on the next two albums: Carl & the Passions - So Tough (1972), and Holland (1973).
Many changes in both musical style and personnel have occurred in their sometimes-stormy career: Brian Wilson's mental illness and drug addiction; the deaths of Dennis Wilson in 1983 and Carl Wilson in 1998; and continuing legal battles among surviving members of the group. With the release of 1974's Endless Summer they became a more popular touring act, playing their greatest hits. They have recorded 36 Billboard Top 40 hits (including four number-one singles), have had over 100 million sales, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Official site: http://www.thebeachboys.com
Louie Louie
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Duh duh
Duh duh duh
Duh Duh
Duh duh duh
Duh duh
Duh duh duh
Duh Duh
Louie Louie
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Me gotta go
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Louie Louie
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Well me gotta go
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Fine little girl
(Duh duh)
She waits for me
(Duh duh)
I catch a ship
(Duh duh)
And cross the sea
(Duh duh)
Sail that ship
(Duh duh)
Well all alone
(Duh duh)
And never think
(Duh duh)
IÃ??ll make it home
(Duh duh)
Louie Louie
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Well me gotta go
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Louie Louie
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Well me gotta go
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Me think of girls a-constantly
IÃ??m on the ship me dream she there
Me smell the rose a-in her hair
I said Louie Louie
Oh baby now me gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Louie Louie
Oh baby now me gotta go
Word
I see Jamaica
(Duh duh)
Beautiful
(Duh duh)
It wonÃ??t be long
(Duh duh)
Til I see my love
(Duh duh)
IÃ??ll take her in
(Duh duh)
My arms again
(Duh duh)
IÃ??ll tell her I
(Duh duh)
Will never leave again
I said Louie Louie
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Well me gotta go
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Louie Louie
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Yeah me gotta go
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
I say me gotta go now
(Duh duh)
(Duh duh duh)
(Duh duh)
Me gotta go
The lyrics to The Beach Boys's song "Louie Louie" are a repetitive and nonsensical series of sounds that make up a fun and infectious melody. The verses describe a man who has fallen in love with a "fine little girl" who waits for him while he sails the sea. He dreams of her and smells the rose in her hair while he is at sea. The chorus is simply "Louie Louie" repeated over and over again, along with the statement "me gotta go," which suggests that the man is eager to return home to his love.
It's unclear whether the "Louie Louie" in the chorus refers to a person, a place, or simply a nonsense word that fits the melody. Some theories suggest that it may be a reference to a popular Jamaican song of the time, while others suggest it may be a reference to a bartender or dance hall owner. Regardless of its meaning, the song has become a beloved classic of rock and roll that continues to be enjoyed by fans of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Duh duh duh
Instrumental intro
Duh duh
Instrumental transition
Duh duh duh
Instrumental transition
Duh Duh
Instrumental transition
Duh duh duh
Instrumental transition
Duh duh
Instrumental transition
Duh duh duh
Instrumental transition
Duh Duh
Instrumental transition
Louie Louie
The name of the song, sung by the band
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Me gotta go
The singer has to leave
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Louie Louie
The name of the song, sung by the band
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Well me gotta go
The singer has to leave
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh duh)
Instrumental transition
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Fine little girl
The singer is talking about his love interest
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
She waits for me
The singer's love interest is waiting for him
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
I catch a ship
The singer is boarding a ship
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
And cross the sea
The singer is crossing the sea
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Sail that ship
The singer is sailing the ship
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Well all alone
The singer is alone on the ship
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
And never think
The singer is lost in thought
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
I'll make it home
The singer is determined to make it back home
Three nights and days I sail the sea
The singer has been sailing for three days and nights
Me think of girls a-constantly
The singer is thinking about girls all the time
I'm on the ship me dream she there
The singer dreams about his love interest while on the ship
Me smell the rose a-in her hair
The singer imagines the scent of a rose in his love interest's hair
Oh baby now me gotta go
The singer has to leave again
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Vocals to accentuate the rhythm
Word
Vocal interjection
I see Jamaica
The singer sees Jamaica
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Beautiful
The singer thinks Jamaica is beautiful
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
It won't be long
The singer is almost back home
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Til I see my love
The singer is excited to see his love interest
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
I'll take her in
The singer will embrace his love interest
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
My arms again
The singer will hold his love interest again
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
I'll tell her I
The singer will tell his love interest
(Duh duh)
Instrumental transition
Will never leave again
The singer promises to never leave again
Me gotta go now
The singer has to leave for real this time
I say me gotta go
The singer emphasizes that he has to go
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Kokomo
This song is an absolute classic and I love the way that it lists all the major destinations in the Caribbean.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfin' U.S.A.
A great song by The Beach Boys hit all the major surfing destinations.
Philip Kassabian
on Catch a Wave
This song really gets you in the mood for surfing.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfer Girl
What a splendid song by The Beach Boys. They really were a great band.
Philip Kassabian
on Wouldn't It Be Nice
One of the greatest Beach Boys songs.
Les lumb
on Surf's Up
Love Good Vibrations ,God Only Knows however this is my fav Beach Boys song
Les lumb
on San Miguel
It captures the mood of the place, very atmospheric
Les lumb
on Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) [Single Version]
Great version by the Beach Boys it flows
Les lumb
on Break Away
Soothing
Leslie Lumb
on Break Away
Love the opening verses beautiful words