1. … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists who recorded as The Sandpipers.
1. The Sandpipers were a U.S. pop/folk-rock group.
Founding members Jim Brady, Mike Piano, and Richard Shoff first performed together in the Mitchell Boys Choir, before deciding to go it alone as 'The Four Seasons'. It was quickly pointed out to them that a group of that name already existed in New York, and they changed their name to The Grads. Although they didn't set the charts on fire with their early recordings, they performed well enough to secure a residency in a Lake Tahoe nightclub, where a friend brought them to the attention of trumpet playing A&M Records boss, Herb Alpert. Alpert was impressed enough to give The Grads a shot, but after a couple of singles without success the group agreed upon a name change to The Sandpipers, apparently unaware that a girl trio in Florida was already using that name. After the name change, their producer, Tommy LiPuma, recommended they record the Cuban song "Guantanamera", and the group finally had their first hit.
Although sidelined by the original trio for reasons which may never become clear, Pamela Ramcier had now become an integral part of The Sandpipers' sound. Her lyricless vocals were used much like a second string section, adding what several reviewers described as an "ethereal" quality to The Sandpipers' sound.
"Guantanamera" charted in the U.S. in September 1966, and in the U.K. the following month, and remains the group's biggest hit. They had many lesser chart entries, including a 'Guantanamera-ised' cover version of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", and songs from the films The Sterile Cuckoo and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
Having not had a hit in the previous five years, The Sandpipers finally broke up in 1975.
2. The Sandpipers was a quartet (sometimes The Golden Sandpipers) - Mike Stewart, Ralph Nyland, Dick Byron and Bob Miller - who sang a lot of material for children with Golden Records. This included recording the Mighty Mouse theme - perhaps the original (though on at least some 78 vinyl it's credited to The Terrytooners, Mitch Miller and Orchestra), but in any case likely the version that is now well known.
3. A female trio that recorded in the 1960s. They are most famous for having the Allman Joys as a backing band before their own success.
Louie Louie
The Sandpipers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go
Fine little girl waits for me
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home
CHORUS
Three nights and days I sail the sea
Think of girl, constantly
On that ship, I dream she's there
I smell the rose in her hair.
CHORUS
Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!
GUITAR SOLO
See Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long, me see me love
Take her in my arms again
Tell her I'll never leave again
CHORUS
Let's take it on outa here now
Let's go!!
The Sandpipers' song "Louie Louie" is a catchy tune about a man who has to leave his lover and catch a ship across the sea. The chorus is a repeated phrase, which effectively conveys the main message of the song, and the verses tell the story of the man's journey. The chorus goes:
"Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go"
In the first verse, the man sings about a "fine little girl" who is waiting for him. He catches a ship across the sea, and he's sailing all alone, never knowing if he'll make it home. The second verse talks about how he thinks of the girl constantly while he's sailing. He dreams that she's there with him on the ship, and he can smell the rose in her hair.
The guitar solo adds a nice touch to the song, and in the final verse, the man sees Jamaica and the moon above, and he knows it won't be long before he's reunited with his lover. He plans to take her in his arms again and tell her he'll never leave again. The song ends with a repeated chorus and a call to action to take it on out of there.
Overall, the song is a simple yet effective telling of a man's journey across the sea, his longing for his lover back home, and his eventual return to her.
Line by Line Meaning
Louie Louie, oh no
The situation I'm in is not good.
Me gotta go
I have to leave.
Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said
I'm feeling overwhelmed.
Louie Louie, oh baby
Oh darling.
Me gotta go
I have to leave.
Fine little girl waits for me
There's an attractive woman waiting for me.
Catch a ship across the sea
I'm going to take a ship across the ocean.
Sail that ship about, all alone
I'll be sailing alone.
Never know if I make it home
I might not make it back home.
Three nights and days I sail the sea
I spend three days and nights sailing.
Think of girl, constantly
I spend the time thinking about the girl who's waiting for me.
On that ship, I dream she's there
I dream about her being with me on the ship.
I smell the rose in her hair
I remember her smell.
See Jamaica, the moon above
I see Jamaica in the moonlight.
It won't be long, me see me love
I'll see my love soon.
Take her in my arms again
I'll hold her in my arms again.
Tell her I'll never leave again
I'll promise her that I'll never leave her again.
Let's take it on outa here now
Let's get out of here.
Let's go!!
Let's get moving!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@captainkeyboard1007
This song is soft and smooth. 🎼
@muffs55mercury61
The fact that it's sung in Spanish is a non factor. This song is so beautiful and very high power. I love it to no end! Makes my eyes wet all the time.
@jannlewandowski5540
Muffs 55mercury,
I agree!
@annabellecork5791
I always played this song when I felt really sad. It just brought back so many memories. Que siempre me encanta .
@jannlewandowski5540
Beautiful!
@jannlewandowski5540
I heard this version many years ago and always loved it! ⚘️💙❤️
@jmrodas9
I first heard this song in the LP shown in the picture. I had it so long ago really and it makes me remember those days when I was twenty. I had not heard it in many years and it is nice to hear it again.
@jamesbrent1809
The Sandpipers took a rough stone of a garage band song and polished it into a bright soothing diamond.
@EnoVarma
But sometimes you want the stone instead of a diamond.
@yahoo3811
Played this at least 1000 times!