Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down In Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
Love Potion # 9
The Coasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(And drink it down) you know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth?
She's got a storefront at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Selling little bottles of
Love potion number nine (serve it up)
Love potion number nine (and drink it down)
(And drink it down) I've been that way since 1966
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She said, what you need is
Love potion number nine (serve it up)
Love potion number nine (and drink it down)
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said, "I'm gonna mix it up right here in the sink"
It smelled like turpentine and looked like India ink
I held my nose, I closed my eyes
I took a drink
(Serve it up) I didn't know if it was day or night
(And drink it down) I started kissing everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop down at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
He broke my little bottles of
Love potion number nine (serve it up)
Love potion number nine (and drink it down)
Yeah
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Love Potion Number Nine is a witty song by The Coasters that tells the story of a charming stranger who visits a gypsy to purchase a love potion. The lyrics describe the singer’s desperate search for love and his encounter with Madame Ruth, a gypsy with a gold-capped tooth, who offers him a magical solution to his romantic woes. The song tells the familiar tale of a lost and lonely character who turns to magic to fulfill his desires.
Throughout the song, the singer laments his lack of attraction to women and his unlucky streak with romantic pursuits. After visiting Madame Ruth for a solution, he finds himself drinking the concoction of Love Potion Number Nine. In a state of heightened passion and desire, the singer begins kissing everything in sight, including a police officer who ultimately puts an end to his excitement by smashing his bottle of love potion. The song is a creative expression of love, longing, and human desperation that is both fun and meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
(Serve it up) I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth
I brought my problems to a fortune teller, Madame Ruth
(And drink it down) you know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth?
That fortune teller was the famous gypsy with a gold tooth
She's got a storefront at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Madame Ruth's store is located at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Selling little bottles of
Love potion number nine (serve it up)
She sells small containers of a potion called Love Potion Number Nine
Love potion number nine (and drink it down)
You're supposed to drink this Love Potion Number Nine
(Serve it up) I told her that I was a flop with chicks
I confessed that I'm not good with women
(And drink it down) I've been that way since 1966
I've had this problem since the year 1966
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
Madame Ruth examined my hand and made a mystical gesture
She said, what you need is
Love potion number nine (serve it up)
Madame Ruth suggested that Love Potion Number Nine was the solution to my problem
Love potion number nine (and drink it down)
Again, I was instructed to drink this Love Potion Number Nine
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
Madame Ruth leaned in, gave a flirtatious wink, and proceeded to mix the potion
She said, "I'm gonna mix it up right here in the sink"
She promised to prepare the potion on the spot in her sink
It smelled like turpentine and looked like India ink
The potion had a scent similar to turpentine and the appearance of India ink
I held my nose, I closed my eyes
I took a drink
Despite the unpleasant appearance and scent, I plugged my nose and drank it anyway
(Serve it up) I didn't know if it was day or night
After consuming the potion, I lost my sense of time and couldn't distinguish day from night
(And drink it down) I started kissing everything in sight
The potion had a powerful effect, causing me to kiss anyone or anything in close proximity
But when I kissed a cop down at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
As I was kissing random people, I unwittingly kissed a police officer at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
He broke my little bottles of
Love potion number nine (serve it up)
The police officer destroyed my remaining Love Potion Number Nine bottles
Love potion number nine (and drink it down)
Yeah
The chorus repeats the instructions to drink the Love Potion Number Nine
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
The song ends by repeating the refrain to serve up and drink down the potent potion
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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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
David Wright
This version has persuaded my band members to learn the song. So funky!
A. Warren Duvall
I had never heard this version until today, and it is by far my favorite of all the many different recordings of this song that have been released by so many performers over the years.
Acerodon
@The Super Z Family Vlog Same, my grandpa played this one a lot. I love it.
Hard Times & Family Pride
This is tied with the Clovers version for me. Both have their own grooves that really give the song energy!
Kyle Carlson
the coasters simply cant dissapoint
David Maslow
Isn't it Great?!
The Super Z Family Vlog
I grew up on this version with my grandpa! Love it!
Kerrgal
I love the flutes, & the back-up singers "serve it up" "and drink it down". This is one of the best versions.
Steven Stewardson
Absolutely AWESOME N/S forever and remember keeping the faith is a real must ! ! !
hackdown3
This version is so cool. Adding a latin rhythm really works for me.