Let’s go on a trip way down memory lane: All the way back to the 1960s, when concerned parents couldn’t figure out the words to “Louie Louie” but were convinced there were hidden f-bombs and other nefarious content. They asked the government to investigate and censor where necessary.
The obliging federal government proceeded to launch a two-year investigation into whether “Louie Louie” really was destroying the youths of America with its presence on the airwaves, listening intently at different speeds.
They just forgot one tiny detail–they actually had access to the lyrics the whole time, at the Copyright Office.
The story has been told before–but the recent death of singer Jack Ely led Techdirt to do some digging into the FBI’s file on their investigation. They found that the government in fact involved the FCC, the FBI, and the Post Office in their quest to decipher the lyrics for the concerned moms of the country.
Here’s where it greats really great:
Oh, and one other thing–it was a cover, and there were plenty of other versions where the lyrics were clearer.
Rare also notes that, while there is in fact one faint curse word in the song, the FBI never found it. After two years.
See how your cipher skills match up to the FBI, and listen to “Louie Louie” yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1p1dM3snQ
