School board bans band from performing 'Louie Louie'

AP ^ | 5-5-05 | The Associated Press

[Dan from Michigan]

School board bans band from performing 'Louie Louie'
5/5/2005, 7:20 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A pop culture controversy that has simmered for decades came to a head when a middle school marching band was told not to perform "Louie Louie."

Benton Harbor Superintendent Paula Dawning cited the song's allegedly raunchy lyrics in ordering the McCord Middle School band not to perform it in Saturday's Grand Floral Parade, held as part of the Blossomtime Festival.

In a letter sent home with McCord students, Dawning said "Louie Louie" was not appropriate for Benton Harbor students to play while representing the district — even though the marching band wasn't going to sing it.

Band members and parents complained to the Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting that it was too late to learn another song, The Herald-Palladium of St. Joseph reported.

"It's very stressful for us to try to come up with new songs for the band," eighth-grader Laurice Martin told the board. "We're trying to learn the songs from last year, but some of us weren't in the band last year."

Dawning said that if a majority of parents supports their children playing the song, she will reconsider her decision.

"It was not that I knew at the beginning and said nothing," Dawning said. "I normally count on the staff to make reliable decisions. I found out because a parent called, concerned about the song being played."

"Louie Louie," written by Richard Berry in 1956, is one of the most recorded songs in history. The best-known, most notorious version was a hit in 1963 for the Kingsmen; the FBI spent two years investigating the lyrics before declaring they not only were not obscene but also were "unintelligible at any speed."

[Xenalyte]

Oh, well, that settles it. That's pure depravity if ever I saw it.

Frankly, all my homies in the County in Cell Block Six could do better than that in their sleep.

[Always Right]

As long as the band did not plan it backwards, I am not sure there is a problem.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

And from The Smoking Gun:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/louie/louie.html

[zook]

Oh yeah, I mean, I can remember in 5th grade kids talking about "I felt my b***r in her hair," etc. (see "Animal House"). But even then I knew the real lyrics.

[ahayes]

"Louie Louie," written by Richard Berry in 1956, is one of the most recorded songs in history. The best-known, most notorious version was a hit in 1963 for the Kingsmen; the FBI spent two years investigating the lyrics before declaring they not only were not obscene but also were "unintelligible at any speed."

Hah! Now I finally understand the Bloom County cartoon in which several of the characters try to come up with their own lyrics for the song. I was just a kid at the time so I missed out on this controversy.

[Graycliff]

Thats exactly what i was thinking, i thought we solved this in the 60's, and yes I'm that old also.

[general_re]

Does anyone even ~know~ the lyrics to Louie Louie? Beyond "Louie Louie, oh oh, we gotta go"....

Well, there's a part that goes "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah," but other than that... ;)

[HEY4QDEMS]

What's so "raunchy" about the lyrics to Louie Louie?

Nothing really, when you listen to the song, it is quite unintelligible.

Because of that the song has been parodied with many variations of suggestive and explicit lyrics.

A member of the Kingsmen said the song was about a sailor who misses his sweetheart.

I can't believe the song is being banned.

[JCEccles]

You're right, it isn't the point. But here they are anyway:

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
Catch a ship across the sea
Sail that ship about, all alone
Never know if I make it home

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.

Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!

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

Let's take it on outa here now
Let's go!!

[martin_fierro]

The only things I recall hearing about BH back when I lived in MI in the mid-80s were that:

1. there was an Indian reservation there (?);
2. the only industry there was Whirlpool; and
3. it was a dump, even back then.

I can only imagine where the place has gone since Whirlpool reduced its presence there.

[Semper Paratus]

the FBI spent two years investigating the lyrics

J. Edgar Hoover: "Agent Smith you've been working on the Louie-Louie obscenity case for a year. What've you got?"

Well Chief, haven't nailed it yet but give me another year.

[m87339]

Scandalous!!!

"me think of girl constantly."

"Me see Jamaica moon above;"

It is clear to all why this is being banned.

*Jeeze* Given the complete ignorance and stupidity of Publik Skool administrators (and Teechers) it is no wonder that today's kids are accurately tagged "America's Dumbest Generation."

[the invisib1e hand]

It's very stressful for us to try to come up with new songs for the band,"

Man, everybody's whining about something.

[sushiman]

What The Kingsmen sang :

Oh, Louie Louie, oh no
Get her way down low
Oh, Louie Louie, oh baby
Get her down low
A fine little girl a-waiting for me
She's just a girl across the way
We'll take her and park all alone
She's never a girl I lay at home

At night at ten I lay her again
F--k you girl, oh all the way
Oh my bed and I lay her there
I meet a rose in her hair


Okay, let's give it to them right now!
She's got a rag on I'll move above
It won't be long she'll slip it off
I'll take her in my arms again
I'll tell her I'll never leave again


Get that broad out of here!

[finallyatexan]

I thought this was a "this day in history" article !!! And you are soooo right about Benton Harbor!

[Chi-townChief]

Yeah but those of us who were kids back then know the "real" lyrics!

[blackdog]

In a related story, it was discovered that a certain school principal is the sole owner of the music rights to "Louie-Louie" and has found a way to boost the sales of recordings while reducing free access to unauthorized use.

[peacebaby]

HUGELY AMUSING, ya'll. Thanks for a good start on the day.

[grania]

CHORUS: (Kingsman version)

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
Catch a ship across the sea
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!!