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Released in 1995

Searchin'

Written by Jerry LeiberMike Stoller

Last updated on April 26, 2020


Album This song officially appears on the Anthology 1 Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1995

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other Leiber & Stoller songs

From Wikipedia:

Searchin’” is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller specifically for The Coasters. It was released as a single on Atco Records in March 1957, and topped the Rhythm and Blues Chart for twelve weeks. It reached #3 on the national pop singles chart.

Although the Coasters had previously done well on the R&B charts, it was “Searchin’” (along with “Young Blood” on the flip side) that sparked the group’s rock and roll fame.

Singer/songwriter Paul McCartney chose “Searchin’” as one of his Desert Island Discs in 1982. McCartney performed the song with The Beatles during their audition for Decca Records on 1 January 1962 (with somewhat mangled lyrics that included a mention of Peter Gunn). […]

The song

The lyrics, written by Leiber, use vernacular phrasing. The plot revolves around the singer’s determination to find his love wherever she may be, even if he must resort to detective work. The song’s notable gimmick was in citing specific law-enforcement figures from popular culture, such as Sherlock Holmes, Charlie Chan, Joe Friday, Sam Spade, Boston Blackie, Bulldog Drummond, and the Northwest Mounted Police (The Mounties). The vocals of the Coasters’ lead singer Billy Guy are raw and insistent. Driving the song is a pounding piano rhythm of two bass notes alternating on every second beat. […]

Paul McCartney, in “Beatles Anthology“:

A rumour reached town one day that there was a man over the hills who had the record Searchin’ by The Coasters. Colin [Hanton], the drummer with John’s skiffle group, knew him and so there was a great trek to find the man, and indeed we found him. And relieved him of it. It was too big a responsibility for him to keep. We couldn’t return it. We just had to have it; it was like gold dust. Searchin’ became a big number with The Beatles; we always used to do it at the Cavern.

Now this is one we used to do at the Cavern.There were two girls called Cris and Val and they used to say, ‘Sing Searchin’ Paul’. That used to be the big request from Cris and Val so we always used to do this one. It was a big favourite with the group.

Paul McCartney, in Desert Island Discs, 1982

Lyrics

Gonna find her

Gonna find her


Well searchin', mama

Yeah, honey searchin'

Searchin' every which a-way, yeah yeah

Oh lord I've gone searchin'

My good lord, searchin'

You know honey

Searchin' every which a-way, yeah yeah

But like that northwest Mountie, yeah

You know I'll bring her in some day


Gonna find her

Gonna find her


Well Charlie Chan, Simon Smith

Got nothin', child, on a-me

Sergeant Friday and a-Peter Gunn

And, ooh, let 'em be

No matter where she's hiding

She's gonna see me coming

Gonna walk right down that street

Like a Bulldog Drummond


Yeah 'cause I'm searchin'

Whoa, honey, searchin'

Oh my goodness

Searchin' every which a-way, yeah yeah

But like a northwest Mountie

You know I'll bring her in some day


Gonna find her

Gonna find her


Well now Charlie Chan, Simon Smith

Got nothin', child, on a-me

Sergeant Friday and a-Peter Gunn

And ooh let 'em be

Yeah, 'cause no matter where she's a-hidin'

She's gonna see me comin'

I'm gonna walk right down that street

Like a Bulldog Drummond


Ah searchin', yeah

Searchin', oh my my goodness

Searchin' every which a-way, yeah yeah

But like a northwest Mountie

You know I'll bring her in some day


Gonna find her

Gonna find her

Yeah yeah lord, gonna find her

I'm gonna find her

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

Searchin'” has been played in 2 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Searchin'” has been played

Paul McCartney writing

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Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Jes Gonzalez • 1 year ago

In the lyrics, "Simon Smith" should be changed to "Sam Spade".


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