Album: Greatest Hits (1973)

Charted: 7

License This Song 

• She was black as the night
  Louie was whiter than white
  Danger, danger when you taste brown sugar
  Louie fell in love over night
  Hey man, what's wrong with that?
  Nothing bad, it was good
  Louie had the best girl he could
  When she took him home to meet her mama and papa
  Louie knew just where he stood
  
  Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie Louie
  Louie Louie Louie, Louie you're gonna cry
  
  All right, what's all this about?
  I love her, man
  Oh yeah, man, let me tell you
  I don't want no honky in my family, you dig?
  No honky in my family
  
  See what I mean
  Louie really caused a scene
  He did, I tell you
  Ain't no diff'rence 'tween black or white
  Brothers, you know what I mean
  
  Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie Louie
  Louie Louie Louie, Louie you're gonna cry
  
  There he stood in the night
  Knowing what's wrong from what's right
  He took her home to his mama and papa
  Louie had a terrible fright
  
  What's goin' on?
  Well, we're in love
  Now listen, let me tell you
  I don't want no spook in my family
  Get it, no spook in my family
  
  See what I mean
  Louie really caused a scene
  He did, I tell you
  Ain't no diff'rence 'tween black or white
  Brothers, you know what I mean
  
  Louie Louie Louie Writer/s: A. WILSON, E. BROWN
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenSort of a companion piece to Janis Ian's "Society's Child."
• Don from Sevierville, TnAndy, you can hear Hot Chocolate's version on YouTube. And John, after this song, Hot Chocolate did have 3 hits in the USA - You Sexy Thing, So You Win Again and Every One's a Winner.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyMichael Brown, keyboardist with the Left Banke and Stories, died March 19th, 2015 of unknown causes. He was 65.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 6th 1973, the Stories performed "Brother Louie" on the NBC-TV program 'The Midnight Special'...
  One month earlier on June 17th, 1973 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on August 19th, 1973 it peaked at #1 (for 2 weeks) and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 8 of those 18 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
  The week it reached #1 it had jumped over "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney & Wings, which had been at #2 and never did make #1...
  The Stories had three Top 100 records; "I'm Coming Home" (#42 in 1972), "Mammy Blue" (#50 in 1973), and "If It Feels good, Do It" (#88 in 1974).
• Nick from Grand Prairie,There is a significant difference between Hot Chocolate's version and the Stories' version. The "View Lyrics" link on this page takes you to the Stories version. In the Hot Chocolate version, in the second verse, SHE takes Louie home to meet her parents. That's why in the spoken part, you hear her father saying "...I don't want no honky in my family". Then later, in the Hot Chocolate version, Louie takers her home to meet his parents. That's when you hear the spoken part of his father saying "I don't want no spook in my family." Of course, the Stories version does not have any of the spoken parts, but also, in both verse 2 and in verse 4, Louie is taking her home to his parents and there is not a verse about her taking Louie home.
• Andy from B'ham, AlI've never heard the Hot Chocolate version period. If anyone has a recording of it, please let me know.
• John from Brisbane, United StatesI cant understand why I never hear this classic song on a radio .Why did Hot Chocolate fail to perform better after this masterpiece.This is hot Chocolate at their unblemished and true self-best.Before the oh no no nitpicking people came along.The Stories had a one hit wonder and I say shame shame on the Americans for letting Hot chocolates masterpiece go to waste.

More Songfacts:

TodaySmashing Pumpkins

"Today" by Smashing Pumpkins is sarcastic in the line "today is the greatest day." Lead singer Billy Corgan wrote it about the crippling depression he was battling following the band's first big tour.

God Only KnowsThe Beach Boys

The most famous song to prominently feature a French horn is "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys.

Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)The Stranglers

"Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)" by The Stranglers was written about the then Premier of Queensland, Joh Bjelke-Petersen. His political shenanigans were observed by the band during their first tour of Australia.

MickeyToni Basil

"Mickey" by Toni Basil was originally a song called "Kitty" by a male group. She picked the new name after Micky Dolenz of The Monkees.

Big LoveFleetwood Mac

"Big Love" is a showcase song for Lindsey Buckingham and the first single from Fleetwood Mac's 1987 album Tango In The Night, but he left the group soon after the album was released and the band didn't perform it live until he returned 10 years later.

Don't SpeakNo Doubt

No Doubt's hit "Don't Speak" is about Gwen Stefani's breakup with the band's bass player, Tony Kanal, after seven years together.

Editor's Picks

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.