Song of the Day #5,531: ‘Brother Louie’ – Stories

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.

She was black as the night;
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

One thought on “Song of the Day #5,531: ‘Brother Louie’ – Stories

  1. Dana Gallup says:

    I had never heard the British version before, but it would likely be banned in Florida, though only for the white parents’ spoken verse.

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