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 No 9
The Coasters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took my troubles
Down to Madame Ruth
(And drink it down)
You know that gypsy
With the gold-capped tooth
She's got a storefront
Selling little bottles of
Love potion number nine
(Serve it up)
Love potion number nine
(And drink it down)
(Serve it up)
I told her that I
Was a flop with chicks
(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 Indian 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)
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
Serve it up
And drink it down
In The Coasters' 1959 song Love Potion No.9, the singer visits Madame Ruth, a gypsy with a gold-capped tooth, at her storefront on Thirty-Fourth and Vine. He confesses to her that he is unable to attract women, and Madame Ruth takes a look at his palm and tells him that he needs Love Potion No.9. She proceeds to mix up a concoction that smells like turpentine and looks like Indian ink. The singer holds his nose, closes his eyes, and drinks it. Suddenly, he begins kissing everything in sight, including a cop who promptly breaks his little bottle of Love Potion No.9.
Love Potion No.9 is a humorous song that touches on themes of love and attraction, as well as the idea of a magic cure for one's romantic problems. The lyrics are playful and witty, and the chorus, which repeats the phrase "serve it up and drink it down," is catchy and memorable. Overall, Love Potion No.9 is a fun and lighthearted take on the idea of love spells and remedies.
Line by Line Meaning
I took my troubles
The singer went to Madame Ruth to ask for help in his love life.
Down to Madame Ruth
Madam Ruth is the fortune teller the singer went to.
You know that gypsy
The singer is familiar with Madame Ruth.
With the gold-capped tooth
Madame Ruth has a distinctive characteristic of a gold-capped tooth.
She's got a storefront
Madam Ruth owns a store where she sells her concoctions.
At Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Madame Ruth's store location.
Selling little bottles of
Madame Ruth sells the love potion in small bottles.
Love potion number nine
The name of the love potion being sold.
I told her that I
The singer admitted to Madam Ruth his difficulty with women.
Was a flop with chicks
The singer was unsuccessful in courting women.
Since 1966
The singer has had this problem for a long time.
She looked at my palm
Madame Ruth divines the future by looking at a person's palm.
And she made a magic sign
Madam Ruth performed a magic ritual to assist the singer.
She said, what you need is
Madame Ruth knows what the singer needs.
Love potion number nine
Madame Ruth prescribes the love potion.
She bent down and turned
Madame Ruth mixed the love potion.
Around and gave me a wink
Madame Ruth flirtatiously looks at the singer.
She said, I'm gonna mix it up
Madame Ruth is preparing the love potion.
Right here in the sink
Madame Ruth's makeshift laboratory.
It smelled like turpentine
The love potion smells like paint thinner.
And looked like Indian ink
The love potion has a dark appearance.
I held my nose, I closed my eyes
The singer wasn't sure if he wanted to drink the concoction.
I took a drink
The singer drank the love potion.
I didn't know if
The love potion had a strange effect on the singer.
It was day or night
The singer is disoriented and can't tell the time of day.
I started kissing
The love potion made the singer feel aroused and amorous.
Everything in sight
The singer kissed indiscriminately because of the love potion.
But when I kissed a cop
The singer kisses a police officer while under the potion's effect.
Down at Thirty-Fourth and Vine
The location of Madame Ruth's store where the singer bought the love potion.
He broke my little bottles of
The cop broke the bottles of love potion.
Love potion number nine
The police officer destroyed the love potion.
Serve it up
Instruction to serve the love potion.
And drink it down
Instruction to take the love potion.
Serve it up
Instruction to serve the love potion.
And drink it down
Instruction to take the love potion.
Serve it up
Instruction to serve the love potion.
And drink it down
Instruction to take the love potion.
Lyrics © 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.