The original lyrics written and recorded by Richard Berry:
Louie Louie, me gotta go
Louie Louie, me gotta go
Fine little girl she waits for me
Me catch the ship for cross the sea
I sail the ship all alone
I never think I'll make it home
(chorus)
Three nights and days me sail the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On the ship I dream she there
I smell the rose in her hair
(chorus)
Me see Jamaica moon above
It won't be long, me see my love
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I never leave again
(chorus)
Lyrics from the Rockin' Robin Roberts & the Wailers 1961 version (introduced the "yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah" to the chorus and the "Let's give it to 'em right now" after the second verse)
Lyrics from Paul Revere and the Raiders 1963 version (added in the "oh baby" during the chorus, and introduced the "Stomp, shout, and work it on out")
Lyrics from the Kingsmen 1963 version (combined the "oh baby" with the "yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah" in the chorus. And then there is the famous mistake in which Jack Ely started singing the third verse too soon after the guitar solo, resulting in the extra "me see."):
Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby.
Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go.
A fine little girl, she waits for me.
Me catch the ship across the sea.
Me sailed the ship all alone.
Me never think I'll make it home.
Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby.
Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go.
Three nights and days I sailed the sea.
Me think of girl constantly.
On the ship, I dream she there.
I smell the rose in her hair.
Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby.
Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go.
OK, let's give it to 'em right now
(guitar solo)
Me see . . .
Me see Jamaica, the moon above.
It won't be long me see me love.
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I'll never leave again.
Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby.
Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go
I said we gotta go now
Let's step on out of here
Let's go!