On A Lighter Note: FBI Investigated ‘Louie Louie’ For 2 Yrs

[Tennesseer]

It was a citizen’s complaint that first called the FBI’s attention to “Louie Louie,” the rock 'n' roll staple that was a hit for The Kingsmen back in 1963.

In a letter of Feb. 7, 1964, addressed to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, an outraged parent (name withheld) exclaims, “My daughter brought home a record of ‘Louie Louie’ and I, after reading that the record had been banned from being played on the air because it was obscene, proceeded to try to decipher the jumble of words. The lyrics are so filthy that I can-not enclose them in this letter.”

So began a two-year investigation by the FBI, which to this day is involved in fighting obscenity. According to the FBI case file, The Kingmen’s record was sent to the FBI Laboratory for analysis to “determine its obscene character,” in part by playing the 45 rpm single at the slower speed of 33 1/3 rpm.

The parent’s letter to AG Kennedy rants on: “This land of ours is headed for an extreme state of moral degradation what with this record, the biggest hit movies and the sex and violence exploited on T.V. How can we stamp out this menace?”

Ultimately, the FBI couldn’t determine what the lyrics were, but the agency never charged nor exonerated “Louie Louie” for obscenity.

Check the actual song lyrics here, and let us know who really had the dirty mind:

Louie, Louie,
me gotta go.
Louie, Louie,
me gotta go.
A fine little girl, she wait for me;
me catch a ship across the sea.
I sailed the ship all alone;
I never think I’ll make it home
Three nights and days we sailed the sea;
me think of girl constantly.
On the ship, I dream she there;
I smell the rose, in her hair.
Me see Jamaica moon above;
It won’t be long me see me love.
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I never leave again.

Complete story here.

[cme1201]

www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-fbi-laboratory-weighs-in-on-the-quotdirtyquot-lyrics-of-quotlouie-louiequot

[djAdvocate]

John Denver's RMH got banned too.  there is no amount of stupidity that is too great for the thought police.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Louie Louie obscene? I couldn't even understand (decipher) the lyrics when it was a hit. But reading your lyrics you posted, it's the farthest thing from obscene - compared to music of today. Seriously?

[thyme4change]

The parent’s letter to AG Kennedy rants on: “This land of ours is headed for an extreme state of moral degradation what with this record, the biggest hit movies and the sex and violence exploited on T.V. How can we stamp out this menace

I wonder what this person would think of television today.  She would probably say something like "Can you play me that Louie, Louie song?  I like that one."

[jkapp]

This is the first time I've known what the lyrics were...you can't decipher them when listening to the song

[Deleted]

If you follow along with these lyrics it really does sound like this is what he is saying.

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

There is a fine girl waiting for me
She is just a girl across the way
Then I take her all alone
She's never the girl I lay at home.

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

Tonight at ten I'll lay her again
We'll fuck your girl and by the way
And.. on that chair I'll lay her there
I felt my bone, ah, in her hair

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

She had a rag on I moved above
It won't be long, she'll slip it off
I held her in my arms and then
And I told her I'd rather lay her again

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

[djAdvocate]

May 30, 2013 10:19:50 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

If you follow along with these lyrics it really does sound like this is what he is saying.

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

There is a fine girl waiting for me
She is just a girl across the way
Then I take her all alone
She's never the girl I lay at home.

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

Tonight at ten I'll lay her again
We'll fuck your girl and by the way
And.. on that chair I'll lay her there
I felt my bone, ah, in her hair

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

She had a rag on I moved above
It won't be long, she'll slip it off
I held her in my arms and then
And I told her I'd rather lay her again

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

sounds like this, too:

Louie, Louie,
me gotta go.
Louie, Louie,
me gotta go.
A fine little girl, she wait for me;
me catch a ship across the sea.
I sailed the ship all alone;
I never think I’ll make it home
Three nights and days we sailed the sea;
me think of girl constantly.
On the ship, I dream she there;
I smell the rose, in her hair.
Me see Jamaica moon above;
It won’t be long me see me love.
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I never leave again.

[Tennesseer]

Garble the words in a studio recording and your song will live on forever.

[djAdvocate]

May 30, 2013 20:45:44 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Garble the words in a studio recording and your song will live on forever.

totally.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I am totally offended......by the horrid grammar.  "Me gotta go"??

[Tennesseer]

May 30, 2013 20:57:20 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I am totally offended......by the horrid grammar.  "Me gotta go"??

It was written as a Jamaican ballad.  Jamaican reggae and its unique grammar was introduced to the world shortly thereafter.  

[Deleted]

May 30, 2013 20:37:35 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 30, 2013 10:19:50 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

If you follow along with these lyrics it really does sound like this is what he is saying.

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

There is a fine girl waiting for me
She is just a girl across the way
Then I take her all alone
She's never the girl I lay at home.

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

Tonight at ten I'll lay her again
We'll fuck your girl and by the way
And.. on that chair I'll lay her there
I felt my bone, ah, in her hair

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

She had a rag on I moved above
It won't be long, she'll slip it off
I held her in my arms and then
And I told her I'd rather lay her again

Louis, Louis
Oh, No.
Grab her way down low

sounds like this, too:

Louie, Louie,
me gotta go.
Louie, Louie,
me gotta go.
A fine little girl, she wait for me;
me catch a ship across the sea.
I sailed the ship all alone;
I never think I’ll make it home
Three nights and days we sailed the sea;
me think of girl constantly.
On the ship, I dream she there;
I smell the rose, in her hair.
Me see Jamaica moon above;
It won’t be long me see me love.
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I never leave again.

Those are the actual words.   It better sound like that....

[Deleted]

May 30, 2013 5:58:04 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

Woolly bully

[zibazinski]

It had words?

[thyme4change]

May 30, 2013 20:57:20 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I am totally offended......by the horrid grammar.  "Me gotta go"??

LOL - I have the same problem with Nicki Minaj - she says "Please tell me who the eff I is"  It should be "who the eff I am."  Seriously - curse all you want, but please help my kids know proper grammar.

[Deleted]

[Green Eyed Lady]

May 31, 2013 11:33:01 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

May 30, 2013 20:57:20 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

I am totally offended......by the horrid grammar.  "Me gotta go"??

LOL - I have the same problem with Nicki Minaj - she says "Please tell me who the eff I is"  It should be "who the eff I am."  Seriously - curse all you want, but please help my kids know proper grammar.

LOL!  I'm with you.  Except I hear "Please tell me whoda eff I is".  Evidently, the younger population is of the opinion it sounds "dope" to speak as if you are.....stupid.

[thyme4change]

Probably - I give a lot of leeway for pronunciations during pop songs.  You have to fit ridiculous lyrics into a catchy tune, so slurring things together is okay with me - but to be so blatant about using "I is" - booo!  

[Green Eyed Lady]

Of course, I listen to country.  Chew tobacca, chew tobacca, chew tobacca...spit.  I should probably just shut up.

[thyme4change]

Country is a form of pop music - I give it the same leeway.