Today In History - May 17 | Rock band's cover causes so much outrage FBI investigates lyrics
On May 17, 1965, the FBI concluded its investigation into a record that caused so much outrage in America, parents were writing letters about it to the federal government.
Two years before, American rock band the Kingsmen released a cover of Richard Berry's 1955 song Louie, Louie.
The song's popularity exploded with the rising popularity and influence of rock and roll.
That was until a rumour about the song's lyrics caused outcry from American parents.
The song is about a sailor from the Caribbean telling a bartender named Louie about his far-away love.
The tape was recorded in bad condition in one single take by the Kingsmen, and the lyrics turned out so unclear that the words, "A fine little girl, she wait for me…", sounded more like unintelligible mumbling.
It sparked a rumour that the lyrics were of a pornographic nature, which was a federal offence at the time.
The story spread like wildfire, with parents writing to the US Department of Justice.
One letter addressed to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy read, "Who do you turn to when your teenage daughter buys and brings home pornographic or obscene materials being sold… in every City, Village and Record shop in this Nation?"
The letter continued, saying the lyrics were "so filthy that I cannot enclose them in this letter".
And so the investigation began.
Over the course of two years, the FBI heavily investigated the record.
Officers interrogated the original writer of the song, Richard Berry, and they also interviewed the officials who released the Kingsmen's version.
The FBI laboratory even re-played Louie Louie at 78 rpm, 45 rpm, 33 1/3 rpm and at even slower speeds in an effort to determine what the lyrics were saying, and if it was pornographic.
On May 17, 1965, the FBI determined that the lyrics were "unintelligible at any speed".
The song wasn't exonerated but the FBI also couldn't press any charges, nor could they determine that the lyrics were of a "filthy" nature.
The song would go on to become one of the most covered songs in rock and roll history.
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