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 chicks
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


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Love Potion No. 9 Lyrics as written by Mike Stoller Jerry Leiber

Lyrics © Kanjian Music

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Love Potion No. 9 (The Clovers cover) song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    This is a cleverly disguised drug song.

    The guy gets nervous when he is around women, so the drug dealer on Thirty-Fourth and Vine suggests he get intoxicated to calm his nerves. It seems to work at first, but eventually he gets busted by the cops.

    Moral of the story, cops don't like acid eaters.

    SeaThingChildon February 15, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Could it be that they just wrote goofy little songs in the 50's and 60's that didn't need to be read into? I, personally, think it's just a quirky little song. Although, if it really IS a song with a hidden meaning, SeaThing really hit the nail on the head. Makes sense.

    WhiteMarkeron October 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I CANT BELIEVE PPL HAVNT WRITTEN IN ON THIS!!! ok this is an awsome song hey im only 15 n i have a taste for good 60s rock n roll :)

    friscleon April 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    aww, i

    xxGRAB-thy-handon February 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A great song of a great band. I love Merseybeat.

    searcherfor tonyon April 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It worked so well that I'm going back again I wonder what'll happen with love potion no. tennn. YEAH!!!

    jackwinabox57on July 11, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song is about a guy down on his luck finding love. He turns to a gypsy that has an aphrodisiac that drives him to fall in love and kiss everyone he sees, including a cop, that breaks the bottle in anger.
    The NYC Doo-wop song predates the drug use of the 60's as others wrote.

    xGmanon April 01, 2023   Link

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