Ah, now I don't hardly know her
But I think I could love her
Crimson and clover

Ah when she comes walking over
Now I've been waitin' to show her
Crimson and clover over and over

Yeah, my, my such a sweet thing
I wanna do everything
What a beautiful feeling
Crimson and clover over and over

Crimson and clover over and over
Crimson and clover over and over
Crimson and clover over and over
Crimson and clover over and over

Crimson and clover over and over
Crimson and clover over and over


Lyrics submitted by Wow123

Crimson and Clover Lyrics as written by Tommy James Peter Lucia

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Crimson and Clover song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    Maybe 'crimson' is love, and 'clover' is luck. He thinks he could love her, but you never know, so in the end it's all about luck. Just a guess.

    JYueon July 01, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Just to add to what I wrote above this. I just bought TJ&S anthology earlier today and in the booklet Tommy James explains that when he was young he liked to express himself using colours, and red and green happened to be his 2 favourite colours. Apparently there is no sexual meaning to this song.

    Revolver45on March 12, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    God...I'd forgotten all about this song until I saw the film Monster. What a perfect song for the first/only real love scene of the movie.

    catherinekson January 03, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This explanation occured to me while listening to the local oldies station. I believe this is a song about young love, and the first time. In the clover(romantic setting?), and her loss of virginity, hence the crimson. Maybe I've always misheard the line "my mind's such a sweet thing" as "my my such a sweet thing", but it still makes sense to me .

    bruon September 17, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Here's what I think. I'm not completely sure about the symbolism of "Crimson & Clover", but the meaning of this song isn't about drugs. Read the lyrics people! Although, perhaps the singer is comparing the feeling of love to the feeling of being "high". Crimson and Clover could mean 'complementary', ya know? Because aren't red and green complementary colors (anyone who has taken art classes?)?? I think the singer is trying to say he's fallen in love at first sight ("Now, I don't hardly know her, but I think I could love her."), and if she gave him the chance ("Well if she come walkin' over"), he could show her that they're perfect for each other ("Now I've been waitin' to show her crimson & clover."); they complement each other.

    SMooTHcriminaL11on May 17, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song. Though I do admit, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts have done a bang up job with their cover. It's a hopeful outlook that with a bit of love (crimson) and luck (clover, the clover leaf depicts this), the singer has a good chance of capturing the heart of the girl (that he isn't close to). The cover art for this song says it all :) Thank you Tommy James and the Shondells for coming up with this awesome tune that I can't stop playing!

    facelessinsanityon February 10, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    My, what a beautiful song. It's such a unique song...

    Eatcarpeton March 13, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    my friend who told me to listen to the song said that the line 'crimson & clover' is what's going on inside the guy's head. he's thinking about how his last name would sound so good with his girlfriend's, like 'crimson (dude) and clover (girl)'. hope that helps

    i keep it insideon June 02, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Damn and i thought it was about love........

    My mind's such a sweet thing I wanna do everything What a beautiful feeling ......now i'm thinking it is about weed....and as Reflect4ever wisely noted, 'the Wah and mute effects' almost convince Pt..

    still love is the answer kids.

    pton September 01, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    well crimson is red and clover is green, so i think its like stop and go. i think the guy's nervous in the relationship and its stop and go.

    crimsonandcloveron April 11, 2006   Link

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