Love Potion #9
The Searchers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin' 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 kissin' 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 kissin' 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

Overall Meaning

The Searchers's song, Love Potion Number Nine, is a rather humorous tale about a man who goes to see a gypsy named Madame Rue, hoping to make his luck with women improve. He tells the gypsy that he has been unsuccessful with women since 1956, and she proceeds to give him a love potion to improve his fortunes. The potion smells like turpentine and looks like Indian ink, but he drinks it anyway. After taking the potion, he begins to kiss everything and everyone in sight, but when he kisses a cop on Thirty-Fourth and Vine, the cop breaks his bottle of Love Potion Number Nine, and the effects wear off.


This song is a humorous take on the idea of love potions and the idea that someone can concoct a potion that can magically make someone fall in love with you. The singer is willing to try just about anything to improve his romantic prospects, and the gypsy is willing to sell him a potion, even if it smells terrible and looks undrinkable. The song highlights the desperation that can sometimes overtake someone who is unlucky in love and willing to try anything to improve their chances.


Line by Line Meaning

I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
I went to seek help from Madame Rue to solve my love problems.


You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
Madame Rue is a well-known fortune teller with a gold-capped tooth.


She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Madame Rue's place is located at the intersection of Thirty-Fourth Street and Vine.


Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
Madame Rue sells small bottles of Love Potion Number Nine, a love potion.


I told her that I was a flop with chics
I admitted to Madame Rue that I am not successful with attracting women.


I've been this way since 1956
I have been struggling with my love life since 1956.


She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
Madame Rue examined my palm and performed a magical gesture to determine the solution for my love problems.


She said "What you need is Love Potion Number Nine"
Madame Rue recommended Love Potion Number Nine as the solution to my love problems.


She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
Madame Rue flirted with me by bending down, turning around, and winking at me.


She said "I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink"
Madame Rue offered to make the love potion in her sink right then and there.


It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink
The love potion had an unpleasant smell similar to turpentine and looked like dark Indian ink.


I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I drank the love potion while holding my nose and closing my eyes.


But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
When I kissed a police officer at the intersection of Thirty-Fourth Street and Vine.


He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine
The police officer accidentally broke my bottle of Love Potion Number Nine during our encounter.


Love Potion Number Nine
The repeated chorus emphasizes the importance of Love Potion Number Nine and its supposed efficacy for solving love problems.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Riyana_shah

Lyrics are here👇👇


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



All comments from YouTube:

@peterblack1639

People this song is only two minutes and seven seconds long.......but lasts a lifetime in your mind.......

@wxtsxtwxg9941

Ok. But even if just for a minute. It's a beautiful song, I can remember listening to it with the volume up and singing along to it. I can do this song over an over...

@JiveDadson

Yeah, but listen to the real thing, not this lame ass cover. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/qTjs7a9l0hM

@bobpierce115

@terry waller I agree with you Terry completely, for the very reasons you mention!

@mafiamoscoloni2332

IN 'OR mind, 'cause in mines ionly reapet "Little indians "

@edwinfox1475

2+7=9

22 More Replies...

@bossgirl2023

Love this song. There's nothing like the 60s, 70s music. That was talent.

@jerrygil1965

80s too

@nevergivein4084

I've still got a 45 of this song..

@marielhuegel5021

My first "concert".
The Searchers played at the officers club on the NATO base in Naples, Italy.
I don't remember any other tune they did besides this!

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