Louie Louie
The King's Men Lyrics

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Louie, Louie, oh, oh, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go

Fine little girl she waits for me
Me catch the ship for cross the sea
Me sail the ship all alone
Me never think me make it home

Louie, Louie, oh, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go

Three nights and days me sail the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On the ship I dream she there
I smell the rose in her hair

Louie, Louie, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go

Me see Jamaica moon above
It won't be long, me see my love
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I never leave again

Louie, Louie, oh, me gotta go
Louie, Louie, me gotta go

I say, me gotta go
I say, me gotta go

Overall Meaning

The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" is a classic rock song that has stirred up quite a bit of controversy since its debut in 1963. The song has a simple structure with catchy lyrics that tell the story of a man who has to leave his fine little girl to catch a ship and cross the sea. He spends the entirety of the voyage thinking about his love and how he can't wait to see her again. The lyrics are simple and easy to follow but have caused controversy due to their mumbled and often-indecipherable delivery.

The lyrics of the song, however, are not the cause of the controversy. The controversy stems from allegations that the lyrics of the song contain obscene and vulgar language. The FBI launched an investigation in 1963 into the alleged obscene lyrics contained in the song. The investigation lasted two years and involved studying the recording at different speeds and angles, but in the end, it was concluded that the lyrics were indecipherable and no charges were filed.

The song has since become a classic rock anthem and is known for its catchy melody and simple lyrics. It has been covered by numerous artists and has appeared in many movies and TV shows. Despite the controversy surrounding the lyrics, "Louie Louie" remains a beloved classic rock song that has stood the test of time.

Line by Line Meaning

Louie, Louie, oh, oh, me gotta go
I must leave quickly, Louie, Louie

Louie, Louie, me gotta go
I have to leave, Louie, Louie

Fine little girl she waits for me
There's a lovely girl waiting for me

Me catch the ship for cross the sea
I'm boarding a ship to sail across the sea

Me sail the ship all alone
I'm sailing the ship by myself

Me never think me make it home
I don't know if I'll make it home

Three nights and days me sail the sea
I've been sailing for three nights and days

Me think of girl constantly
I constantly think of the girl

On the ship I dream she there
I dream of her being on the ship with me

I smell the rose in her hair
I can almost smell the fragrance of the rose in her hair

Louie, Louie, me gotta go
I have to leave, Louie, Louie