Throwing back to the week of August 25, 1973, we find the New York rock band Stories topping the Billboard Hot 100 with their cover of the song ‘Brother Louie,’ a slinky jam about an interracial couple.
This song was originally recorded by a British band called Hot Chocolate. Their funkier version, complete with spoken-word interludes by the racist parents of the song’s protagoinsts, reached #7 on the UK charts.
Stories’ version gave the band its one and only hit. It also, in reworked form, became the theme song to Louis C.K.’s TV show Louie.
Louie was whiter than white
Danger, danger when you taste brown sugar
Louie fell in love overnight
Nothing bad, it was good
Louie had the best girl he could
When he took her home
To meet his mama and papa;
Louie knew just where he stood
Louie Louie Louie louie, Louie Louie Louie Lou I
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 meet his mama and papa
Man, they had a terrible fight
Louie nearly caused a scene
Wishin’ it was a dream
Ain’t no diff’rence if you’re black or white
Brothers, you know what I mean, come on
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie Louie Lou I
Louie Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie you’re gonna cry
{Instrumental}
Louie Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie Louie Lou I
Louie Louie Louie Louie, Louie Louie you’re gonna cry
I had never heard the British version before, but it would likely be banned in Florida, though only for the white parents’ spoken verse.