About the song
“Poison Ivy” is a classic hit by the renowned American songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Originally recorded by The Coasters in 1959, this lively track quickly gained popularity, climbing to No. 1 on the R&B charts and reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also secured a spot at No. 15 in the UK. This success marked “Poison Ivy” as the third top-ten hit of that year for The Coasters, following their earlier hits “Charlie Brown” and “Along Came Jones.”
The song is notable for its clever and catchy lyrics. It tells the story of a girl named “Poison Ivy,” who is compared to various common illnesses such as measles, mumps, chickenpox, the common cold, and whooping cough. However, Poison Ivy is portrayed as even more troublesome because, as the lyrics suggest, “Poison Ivy, Lord, will make you itch.” According to Jerry Leiber, the song uses Poison Ivy as a metaphor for a sexually transmitted disease. The playful and rhythmic nature of the song contrasts with its deeper meaning, making it both memorable and thought-provoking.
The lyrics also reference other flowers like roses and daisies, further enriching the imagery and adding layers to the song’s metaphor. “Poison Ivy” remains a beloved piece of musical history, showcasing the unique blend of humor and social commentary that defined Leiber and Stoller’s songwriting.
Video
Lyrics
She comes on like a rose,
But everybody knows,
She’ll get you in Dutch,
You can look but you better not touch!Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while you’re sleepin’,
Poison Ivy comes a-creepin’ around.She’s pretty as a daisy,
But look out man, she’s crazy!
She’ll really do you in,
If you let her get under your skin!Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while you’re sleepin’,
Poison Ivy comes a-creepin’ around.Measles make you bumpy and mumps’ll make you lumpy,
And chicken pox’ll make you jump and twitch.
The common cold’ll fool you,
And whoopin’ cough will cool ya,
But Poison Ivy, Lawd, will make you itch!You’re gonna need an ocean,
Of calamine lotion.
You’ll be scratchin’ like a hound,
The minute you start to mess around!Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while your sleepin’,
Poison Ivy comes creepin’ around.Measles’ make you bumpy and mumps’ll make you lumpy,
And chicken pox’ll make you jump and twitch.
A common cold’ll fool ya,
And whoopin’ cough can cool ya,
But Poison Ivy, Lawd, will make you itch!You’re gonna need an ocean,
Of calamine lotion.
You’ll be scratchin’ like a hound,
The minute you start to mess around!Poison Ivy,
Poison Ivy,
Late at night while you’re sleepin’,
Poison Ivy comes a-creepin’ around.Ladadadadada [three times then fade]