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Van Halen - 5150

Van Halen - 5150 Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: 5150
Released: 1986

5150 Lyrics

The love line is never straight and narrow
Unless your love is tried and true
We take a chance with new beginnings
Still we try win or lose
Take the highs with the blues

Always one more
You're never satisfied
Share one for all with you
It's only one for me
Ah, why draw the line
And meet you half the way
And you don't know
What the means, oh yeah!

I feel like a runnning politician, oh!
Just trying to please you all the time
I've given you myself with no conditions
Going wide, running long
Feeling lost but not for long...

Always one more
You're never satisfied
Share one for all with you
It's only one for me
So why draw the line
And meet you half the way
When you don't know
What that means, oh yeah!

Solo
Always one more
You're never satisfied
Share one for all with you
It's only one for me
So why draw the line
And meet you half the way
When you don't know
What that means.

I'll meet you half the way
Whoa yeah.
I'll meet you half the way
Whoa yeah.

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, ALEX/VAN HALEN, EDWARD/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/HAGAR, SAMMY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

5150

5150 is police code for an escaped psychiatric patient. It is also the name of Eddie Van Halen's studio. In 1983 the 5150 Studio was built; it begins as a forty-foot-long room with an adjustable ceiling height of up to 18 feet.

Van Halen - Why Can't This Be Love?

Van Halen - Why Can't This Be Love? Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: 5150
Released: 1986

Why Can't This Be Love? Lyrics

Oh here it comes
That funny feeling again winding me up inside
Every time we touch
Hey I don't know
Oh, tell me where to begin cause I never ever
Felt so much

And I can't recall any love at all
Baby this blows 'em all away

It's got what it takes
So tell me Why Can't This Be Love?
Straight from my heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love?

I tell myself
Hey only fools rush in and only time will tell
If we stand the test of time
All I know
You've got to run to win and I'll be damned if
I'll get hung up on the line

Hey

No I can't recall anything at all
Oh baby this blows them all away

Woo

It's got what it takes
So tell me why can't this be love?
You want it straight from the heart
Oh tell me why can't this be love?

It's got what it takes
So tell me why can't this be love?
Straight from my heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love?

Woo!

It's got what it takes
So tell me why can't this be love
Straight from the heart
Oh, tell me why can't this be love

Tell me why can't this be love
Got to know why can't this be love
I wanna know why can't this be love

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/HAGAR, SAMMY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Why Can't This Be Love?

Eddie Van Halen wrote this song on an Oberheim OB-8 keyboard. It was one of his first songs where Sammy Hagar said, "You don't mind if I follow your keyboard melody do you?" And Eddie said, "No, not at all," though he really didn't like the vocals to follow his instrumental parts. Eddie would rather the vocal line act as a counterpoint.

When Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, only Hagar and bass player Michael Anthony attended the ceremony. Hagar performed this song with Paul Shaffer's band backing him up.

5150 was the first Van Halen album without David Lee Roth. His replacement, Sammy Hagar, pushed to get Bachman–Turner Overdrive as the opening act, since the Canadian rockers could play a set of hits that would keep the crowd enthralled. BTO agreed, and dutifully delivered their hits. At the conclusion of their set, Van Halen wasted no time taking the stage; the short changeover was designed to minimize the inevitable "Where's Dave" calls from the audience.

The ploy worked, as fans had no time for catcalls. Randy Bachman remembers jokingly referring to this song as "Why Can't This Be Lunch," with the BTO hit thus "Takin' Care of Breakfast."

Van Halen - It's About Time

Van Halen - It's About Time Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Best Of Both Worlds
Released: 2004

It's About Time Lyrics

Turn! (turn! turn! turn! turn!)
Last time, wrong time
Outside, out of line!
But this time's our time
Right on! we'll let it shine! (get up!)
Turn your clock back
Paint it red on black
Bring it all right back
Oh hell yeah!
Come on!
Alright!
Hey hey hey!
You can spend my money
Don't you waste my time (my time, my time)
Well right now makin' up for lost time, yeah!
Alright! alright!
I think it's high time we lay it out there on the line
Now It's About Time
It's about time
It's about time
Yeah!
Bright lights, old fights
This time we got it right! (yeah)
It's been a long time, overtime
Second flash, you're out of sight (yeah, so get up!)
Turn your clock back
Paint it red on black
Get it all right back
Oh hell yeah yeah!
Come on!
It's alright!
Hey hey hey!
You can spend my money
Don't you waste my time (my time, my time)
Well right now makin' it up to you big time!
Big, big, big, big time!
It's about time we lay it out there on the line
It's about time!
It's about time!
It's a just about time
Just about time yeah!
Re-turn! (re-turn re-turn)
Turn! (turn turn)

It's alright!
Spend my money
Don't you waste my time (my time, my time)
Well we're gonna make it up to you big time!
Big, time! big time!
Cause it's about time we lay it out on the line
It's about time!
It's about time!
It's about time!
It's just about time!
It's about time
It's about time
It's all about
Talk about
Want to know
There ain't no doubt!
It's about time!
Yeah yeah yeah
(something)
Turn your clocks back!

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/HAGAR, SAMMY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

It's About Time

This was the first of 3 new Van Halen songs the be featured on their second attempt at a Greatest Hits Collection (and the second attempt with Sammy Hagar).

For the first time in Van Halen history, the song was recorded entirely with ProTools and not in a traditional studio.

Mike Anthony did not play bass on this - Eddie Van Halen did. Anthony didn't get any writing credits for the song.

Van Halen - I'm The One

Van Halen - I'm The One Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Van Halen
Released: 1978

I'm The One Lyrics

We came here to entertain you
Leaving here we aggravate you
Don't you know it means the same to me, honey
I'm The One the one you love
Come on baby, show your love
Hey, give it to me
I see a glow that fills this room
I see it rolling out of you
Feed her your message from above
I'm tellin' you, ow
Show, come on and show your love, ah, yeah
(Show your love)
Ow, woo, oh, show (show) show your love babe, ah, yeah
(Show your...) Show it, ow
Look at all these little kids
Takin' care of the music biz
Don't their bus'ness take good care of me, honey
I'm the one the one you love
Come on baby, show your love
Hey, give it to me
I see a glow that fills this room
I see it rolling out of you
Feed her your message from above
I'm telling you, ow
Show, show your love babe, ah, yeah
(Show your love)
Ow, whoo, woo, show (show) show your love babe, ah, yeah
(Show your...) Show me
Whoo, Bop bada, shoobe doo wah, bop bada, shoobe doo wah, (ba da whum)
Bop bada, shoobe doo wah ( bop bada, shoobe doobe doobe doo whum)
Bop bada, shoobe doobe doobe doo wah
Bop bada, shoobe doo wah ( bop bada, shoobe doobe doobe doo whum)
Bop bada, shoobe doobe doobe doo wah
Bop bada, shoobe doo wah ( bop bada, shoobe doobe doobe doo whum)
Bop bada, shoobe doo wah, whoo
Ow (Show your love)
Ow, ow, come on and show me
(Show your love)
Better show, better show your love, now, uh
(Show your love)
Ah, yeah, wow
(Show your...) Ow

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/ROTH, DAVID LEE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I'm The One

A track from Van Halen's first album, a version by 4 Non Blondes appeared in the 1994 movie Airheads in a scene where they take over a radio station.

Alex Van Halen used a double-kick drum on this - something he also did on "Hot For Teacher." When 4 Non Blondes recorded it, their drummer, Dawn Richardson, learned how to use a double-kick 3 days before they recorded it.

Linda Perry, who has gone on to write songs for Pink and Christina Aguilera, was lead singer of 4 Non Blondes. She is very good at singing like male rock singers, and a lot of people had no idea the version in Airheads wasn't Van Halen. Perry did a convincing Robert Plant when 4 Non Blondes recorded "Misty Mountain Hop" for the Led Zeppelin tribute album Encomium. (Thanks to Christa Hillhouse, who was the bass player for 4 Non Blondes, for speaking with us about this song)

Van Halen - Humans Being

Van Halen - Humans Being Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Best Of Van Halen, Vol. 1
Released: 1996

Humans Being Lyrics

There is just enough Christ in me
To make me feel almost guilty
Is that why God made us breed
To make us see we're Humans Being
You break this, I'll break all that
You break my balls with all your crap
Spread your disease like lemmings breeding
That's what makes us humans being
Shine on, shine on
Shine on, shine on
Some low life flat head scum infects
The sickness in his eyes reflects
You wonder why your life is screaming
Wonder why your Humans Being
Shine on, shine on
Shine on, shine on
Humans
Humans being
We're just humans, humans being
That's what makes us
Humans being

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/HAGAR, SAMMY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Humans Being

This song (a rocker) was contracted for the soundtrack for the movie Twister by Van Halen. The band was supposed to have the first half of 1996 off. In that time, Eddie was going to have hip surgery, Alex was supposed to get his neck fixed and Sammy's wife was preparing to have their first child. They were convinced by Ray Danniels that this movie was huge and the money would carry them for he remainder of 1996.

Hagar had written a song called "The Silent Extreme," which Alex later renamed "Humans Being." There was a lot of friction between Sammy and the band because Sammy was in Maui with his pregnant wife and the others wanted him to fly to the studio and finish the song. Eddie pleaded with Sammy and said they needed only a minute and a half of lyrics added and he suggested "Bah, bah, bah. I hate this, I hate that, you dirty rat." Sammy said "that sucked." Sammy finally said okay, and came up with this line: "There is just enough Christ in me/To make me feel almost guilty/Is that why God made us breed/To make us see we're humans being." Sammy sang the song in three parts in about an hour and a half and split. This played a key roll in the end of the relationship between Hagar and Van Halen.

The phrase "Shine-on Shine-on" in the lyrics is similar to "We all Shine on" from John Lennons "Instant Karma." This phrase, according to Steven King, inspired his term for "to shine" in the film The Shining. In the film Twister, The Shining is being played in the drive in when a twister hits. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for all above)

Van Halen - Right Now

Van Halen - Right Now Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Released: 1991

Right Now Lyrics

Don't want to wait til tomorrow
Why put it off another day
One more walk through problems
Built up, and stand in our way ,ah
One step ahead, one step behind me
Now you gotta run to get even
Make future plans, don't dream about yesterday, hey
C'mon turn, turn this thing around
Right Now, hey
It's your tomorrow
Right now,
C'mon,it's everything
Right now,
Catch a magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything
Miss the beat, you lose the rhythm
And nothing falls into place, no
Only missed by a fraction
Slipped a little off your pace, oh
The more things you get, the more you want
Just trade in one for the other
Workin so hard, to make it easier, whoa
Got to turn, c'mon turn this thing around
Right now, hey
It's your tomorrow
Right now
C'mon, it's everything
Right now
Catch that magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything
It's enlightened me, right now
What are you waitin for
Oh, yeah, right now

Right now, hey
It's your tomorrow
Right now
C'mon, it's everything
Right now
Catch that magic moment, and do it right
Right now
Right now, oh, Right now
It's what's happening?
Right here and now
Right now
It's right now
Oh,
Tell me, what are you waiting for
Turn this thing around

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/HAGAR, SAMMY
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Right Now Song Chart

The song is a message about living in the moment. It came at a time of worldwide political change, especially in Eastern Europe and The Soviet Union.

In 1993, this was used in commercials for Crystal Pepsi, a clear cola. The commercials were good, but the product was a huge flop as consumers decided they would rather not see through their soft drink. The group was criticized for "selling out" when the ads came out, but they did it because Pepsi was going to use the song with or without them. Pepsi got the rights to the song, and would have had a sound-alike group record it. Van Halen figured it was best to let them use their version and at least get paid for it.

See a photo and learn more about Crystal Pepsi in Song Images .

The writers of a song called "The Right Now Collection" sued the band, claiming the title was too similar to theirs.

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was out for 8 months before this was released as a single. It did not chart well, but the album went to #1.

In 1993, Van Halen released their first live album. It was called Live: Right Here, Right Now.

The first letters of the album title spell out a naughty word. This was intentional.

The old phone number of a friend of the band was written on the album cover. It belonged to a family in Tulsa, who got besieged by phone calls and sued the band.

The video won for Best Video, Best Editing, and Best Direction at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards.

Carolyn Mayer Beug, who also worked with Rod Stewart and Dwight Yoakam, directed the video. She was on board flight 11, which was hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

During the 2008 presidential campaign this was played at a Republican Party rally following Sarah Palin's introductory speech, after she'd been chosen as John McCain's running mate. A statement was made regarding its use by an unnamed member of Van Halen's management, which said: "Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given [to use the song]." However Sammy Hagar, who co-wrote and sang the song, was more positive. He said in a statement: "When I wrote the lyrics to 'Right Now' I intended them to inspire people to not sit around and wait for something they believed in but to go out and get it - to make a change however they needed to. Whether it was McCain who used the song or if Obama had chosen to use the song, with the current political climate, the lyrics still have the same meaning, and we all need to do something to make a difference, every action counts."

As the closing credits roll on the 1984 movie The Wild Life, starring Eric Stoltz and Chris Penn, an instrumental version of "Right Now" is playing, and sure enough the music credits include Eddie Van Halen. All of this eight years before the song is released, this time with lyrics, on For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. (thanks, Bill - Clinton, IL)

Van Halen - Jump

Van Halen - Jump Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: 1984
Released: 1984

Jump Lyrics

I get up, and nothin' gets me down
You got it tough, I've seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You got to roll with the punches and get to what's real

Ah, can't you see me standin' here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Ah, can't you see what I mean?

Ah
Might as well Jump
(Jump)
Might as well jump
Go ahead an' jump
(Jump)
Go ahead and jump

Ow oh
Hey you
Who said that?
Baby, how you been?
You say you don't know
You won't know until you begin

So can't ya see me standing here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Ah, can't you see what I mean?

Ah
Might as well jump
(Jump)
Go ahead and jump
Might as well jump
(Jump)
Go ahead and jump
Jump

Might as well jump
(Jump)
Go ahead and jump
Get it in, jump
(Jump)
Go ahead and jump

Jump
Jump
Jump
Jump

Writer/s: DUPRI, JERMAINE/WEBSTER, GREGORY ALLEN/PIERCE, MARVIN R
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Jump Song Chart

David Lee Roth has given various accounts of the meaning behind the lyrics, but he usually says they are about a TV news story he saw where a man was about to kill himself by jumping off a building (Roth thought, "Might as well jump"). He's also said the song is about a stripper.

This was Van Halen's first #1 hit, and their only #1 with David Lee Roth as lead singer.

Eddie Van Halen played this on an Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer (Oberheim was a large synth manufacturer during the '80s). He was classically trained on piano growing up, and didn't start playing guitar until he was a teenager. (thanks, William - Brentwood, TN)

The synthesizer was a point of contention in the band. Eddie wanted to use it, but Roth thought it would look like they were selling out to get more radio play. Using a synthesizer instead of a guitar as the lead instrument was a huge departure for Van Halen, but most of their fans didn't hold it against them.

As early as 1981, Eddie Van Halen had written the keyboard part that would eventually become this song. David Lee Roth didn't like the idea of Eddie playing keyboards, and it wasn't until Eddie had built his own recording studio (5150) that he recorded the song with Ted Templeman during a late night recording session. When hearing the song, the band decided to include it on the 1984 album - something that is rumored to have contributed to Roth's departure a year later. (thanks, Eric - Atlanta, GA)

The album was released on January 9, 1984, ending (by nine days) Van Halen's streak of releasing one album every year since 1978.

The video was low-budget but highly successful. Directed by Pete Angelus and the band, it was simply 8-millimeter film footage of Van Halen performing, highlighted by Roth's slow motion spread-eagle jump (first seen on MTV in Def Leppard's "Photograph" video).

While it looks kind of ridiculous today, the video was groundbreaking and set the standard for cheap performance videos that hapless directors still try to emulate. To produce such a video, the band is recorded performing the song several times from beginning to end. Then, the band members are shot doing random stage moves without the pretense of actually playing the song (note that Eddie is seen playing the guitar at times when no guitar can be heard). Some candid footage is shot with the band goofing around, and it's off to the edit room where the footage is chopped up into a video.

While most bands lack the charisma to pull off moves like the "bass player duck under the lead singer's leg" and "point guitar directly into the camera," they try lame versions of it anyway, using such tactics as "run to the camera and stop" and "blow a kiss." In an age when anyone can make a video but most bands lack the money and talent to make a good one, these videos have proliferated, and none has lived up to the standard set by Van Halen with "Jump." For a good example of a low budget performance video gone horribly wrong, check out this clip from The Forgotten Rebels.

The video won Best Stage Performance Video at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. MTV quickly discontinued the category as music videos became more creative and relied less on footage of bands performing the song.

The B-side of the US single is "House Of Pain." In 1991, a group called House Of Pain had a hit with a song called "Jump Around."

1984 was David Lee Roth's last album with Van Halen, and the video for "Jump" conflated the tensions that led to his departure. The video was produced by Robert Lombard, who wanted to show the personal side of the band on stage. Roth, however, wanted the performance intercut with footage of him in various hedonistic pursuits, so they shot him doing things like riding a motorcycle and getting arrested while wearing nothing but a towel. Lombard edited the video and used none of the extra Roth footage, taking it to Eddie and Alex for approval. Two days later, the band's manager fired him for bypassing Roth; Lombard says he never received the award the video won from MTV.

Even the performance scenes were delicate. Lombard said in the book I Want My MTV: "I didn't shoot them together until the end of the day. I was trying to keep the peace, because I felt tension amongst them. David thought he was bigger than the rest of them."

Some of the David Lee Roth specialty footage ended up in their video for "Panama." Roth was replaced in the band by Sammy Hagar in 1986.

This was the first album recorded at Eddie Van Halen's 5150 studio. In California, 5150 is police code for a mental case.

Eddie used the outro guitar solo at the very end of this song to come up with the idea for the intro guitar riff to Van Halen's later hit, "Standing On Top (Of The World)." (thanks, Dave - Marieta, GA)

Aztec Camera recorded a mellow, acoustic cover in 1984.

Although "Jump" is fairly light-hearted for a rock single, in January 2010 a DJ who played it at an "inappropriate time" found himself in hot water. The song was requested by a driver stuck in traffic on the M60, and played by Steve Penk, who came underfire because the delay had been caused by police closing several lanes of the motorway while attempting to talk down a woman who was threatening to jump from a bridge. After nearly nine hours, she leapt, shortly after the song was played. Amazingly she survived, albeit with serious leg injuries. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England)

In an interview with Mix magazine, Daryl Hall said that the Hall & Oates song "Kiss On My List" was an influence on this one. Said Hall: "[Eddie] Van Halen told me that he copied the synth part from 'Kiss on My List' and used it in 'Jump.' I don't have a problem with that at all."

Music rights body PRS For Music held a vote among its members to find out the most popular sporting song in the run up to the 2012 London Olympics. "Jump" came top of the poll, with The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" in second place and Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher" in third.

Van Halen - Dancing in the Street

Van Halen - Dancing in the Street Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Diver Down
Released: 1982

Dancing in the Street Lyrics

Woo!
Ah, yeah!
Callin' out, around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here, and the time is right
For dancin' in the street
They're dancin' in Chicago (They'll be dancin')
Down in New Orleans (Dancin' in the streets)
Up in New York City (Dancing in the Streets)
All we need is music (Sweet sweet)
Sweet music (sweet sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (sweet music everywhere)
(Ooh-oo-ooh) There'll be swingin', swayin', records playin'
Dancin' in the street
(Ah) Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
So come on (Ah) every guy, grab a girl, everywhere, 'round the world
There'll be dancin', dancin' in the street
(Ooh-oo-ooh) It's just an invitation, 'cross the nation
A chance for the folks to meet
There'll be laughin', singin', music swingin'
Dancin' in the street
Philadelphia, PA (Dancin' in the street)
Baltimore, in D.C. now (Dancin' in the streets)
Can't forget the Motor City (Dancin' in the streets)
All we need is music (Sweet sweet)
Sweet music (sweet sweet music)
There'll be music everywhere (sweet music everywhere)
(Oooh-oo-ooh) There'll be swingin', swayin', records playin'
Dancin' in the street, oh!
(Ah) Doesn't matter what you wear
Just as long as you are there
Come on, (Ah) every guy, grab your girl, everywhere, 'round the world
Wow!
Hey hey hey!
Ow yeah, ow!
(Guitar Solo)
Dancin', they're dancin' in the street
(Dancin' in the streets)
Way down in L.A. everyday
(Dancin' in the streets)
Dancin' in the street
(Dancin' in the streets)
San Francisco way (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Dancin' in the streets)
They do it everyday now
(Dancin' in the streets)
Across the ocean blue, )Ooh-ooh-ooh) me an' you
(Dancin' in the streets)
Dancin' in the street
(Dancin' in the streets)

Writer/s: GAYE, MARVIN / STEVENSON, WILLIAM / HUNTER, IVY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Dancing in the Street Song Chart

This was originally recorded by Motown group Martha & the Vandellas in 1965. It was written by Marvin Gaye along with songwriters Ivy Hunter and William Stevenson.

Van Halen was looking for a cover song to release as a single following their 1981 "Invasion" tour to fill the gap before their next album. Eddie Van Halen couldn't come up with a guitar riff for this in time, so they did "Pretty Woman" instead. They recorded this with the album and released it at the same time.

This is one of the few songs that Eddie overdubbed his guitar on. Most Van Halen songs at the time were recorded live, with very little overdubbing, but it was the only way Eddie could get the textured sound he wanted.

Diver Down contained 4 other cover songs. The band needed a break from songwriting and chose to fill the album with other people's songs.

Eddie played the synthesizer intro at the beginning. The synthesizer became a big part of the Van Halen sound 2 years later on their album 1984.

The tour to support the album was called the "Hide Your Sheep Tour."

The video was only the second Van Halen made. The first was for "Pretty Woman."

Van Halen - (Oh) Pretty Woman

Van Halen - (Oh) Pretty Woman Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Diver Down
Released: 1982

(Oh) Pretty Woman Lyrics

Who!

Pretty woman, walking down the street!
Pretty woman, the kind I'd like to meet!
Pretty woman, I don't believe you, you must be true
No one can look as good as youuu

Mercy!!

Pretty woman, won't you pardon me??
Pretty woman, I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman. Oh you look lovely as you can be
Are you lonely just like me!!???

Ahhrrrr!

Pretty woman, stop awhile
Pretty woman, talk awhile
Pretty woman, give your smile to me

Pretty woman, yeah yeah yeah!!
Pretty woman, look my way!!
Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me!

Cause I need you,
I'll treat you right!
Come with me baby
Be mine tonight!

Pretty woman, don't walk on by!!
Pretty woman, don't make me cry!!
Pretty woman. Don't walk away-yay. Okay.

If that's the way it must be, okay
I guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow night, but wait, what do I see?
Is she walking back to me?
Yeah she is walking back to me

Whoa, whoa, pretty woman

Writer/s: DEES, BILL / ORBISON, ROY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Barbara Orbison Music Company, Orbi-Lee Music, R-Key Darkus, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

(Oh) Pretty Woman Song Chart

Roy Orbison first recorded this in 1964. Along with "Where Have All The Good Times Gone," "Dancing in the Street," "Big Bad Bill," and "Happy Trails," this was one of 5 covers on the album. Van Halen made an album a year from 1978-1983, and their constant touring made it difficult to write new songs.

The promo clip from this song was the first concept video Van Halen made. With MTV launching on August 1, 1981 and desperate for new rock videos, the network convinced the band's label to make a clip for "Unchained." The band had no interest in videos, but when the producer Robert Lombard put together concert footage to make the "Unchained" clip, the band loved the results and had Lombard to the video for "(Oh) Pretty Woman," which was a tawdry affair. It was very costume intensive, with David Lee Roth dressed as Napoleon, Eddie Van Halen as a cowboy, Alex Van Halen as Tarzan, and Michael Anthony a Samurai Warrior. The band wanted to be as outrageous as possible, and Lombard obliged, enlisting two midgets and a drag queen to appear in the video, and making sure the band had access to their drugs and alcohol of choice. At the end of the video, the midgets are seen fondling the "woman," who flips her wig to reveal that she is a he. MTV aired the video sparingly, as they didn't want to scare cable companies away with anything too lascivious.

Van Halen recorded this after completing their 1981 "Invasion" tour. They put it out as a single a few months before the album was released.

This was released at a time when the band was not touring or recording. It was the first break they took since hitting the road in 1978 to support their first album, and they put this out so people wouldn't forget them.

After this came out, Sasson jeans (it was the '80s, designer jeans were cool) used the original Roy Orbison version in a TV commercial.

An a cappella version of the Dale Evans classic "Happy Trails" was released as the B-side. Van Halen wanted something easy to record so they could start their vacations.

Van Halen - And The Cradle Will Rock

Van Halen - And The Cradle Will Rock Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Women And Children First
Released: 1980

And The Cradle Will Rock Lyrics

Ow
Oh yeah, get up
Ow! (Yeah)
Ow! Ow!
Well, they say it's kinda frightnin'
How this younger generation swings
You know it's more than just some new sensation
Well, the kid is into losin' sleep
And he don't come home for half the week
You know it's more than just an aggravation

And The Cradle Will Rock
Yes the cradle, cradle will rock
And I say rock on. Uh! Rock on

And when some local kid gets down
They try an' drum him outta town
They say, "Ya coulda least faked it, boy"
Fake it, boy (Ooh, stranger, boy)
At an early age he hits the street
Winds up tired with who he meets
An' he's unemployed (Unemployed?) Ow!

And the cradle will rock. Ow!
And the cradle, the cradle will rock
An' I say rock on. Oh, say, rock on

Have you seen Junior's grades?
Ooh

Ow!
And when some local kid gets down
They try an' drum him outta town
They say, "Ya could've least faked it, boy. Faked it, boy"
And so an early age he hits the street
'N winds up tired with who he meets
An' he's unemployed. His folks are overjoyed

And the cradle will rock
Yes the cradle, cradle will rock
I say rock on. Hey! Rock on

Rock on. Rock on. Rock on
This ain't never been new, babe, child. Ow!
Rock on, wow! I said...
Rock on. Rock on. Oh, oh, oh
Rock on. Oh, ow, ah, ah, ah
Rock on. Rock on. Rock on

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/ROTH, DAVID LEE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

And The Cradle Will Rock Song Chart

Eddie Van Halen made the sound at the beginning of the song by playing a Wurlitzer electric piano with a MXR flanger into a Marshall amp.

Eddie also played the keyboard on this. He and Alex took piano lessons throughout their youth.

They called the tour to support this album the "Invasion Tour." It was the first time they brought lots of equipment with them, including a monster sound system and huge lighting grid. They would soon become known for their loud concerts.

Van Halen - Beautiful Girls

Van Halen - Beautiful Girls Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Van Halen II
Released: 1979

Beautiful Girls Lyrics

She was seaside sittin', just a smokin' and a drinkin' on ringside,
On top of the world, oh, yeah.
She had her drink in her hand; she had her toes in the sand and whoa,
What a beautiful girl, ah, yeah.
What a sweet talkin' honey with a little bit of money can
Turn your head around.
Creatures from the sea with the look to me like she'd like to fool around.
What a snappy little mammy. Gonna keep her pappy happy
And accompany me to the ends of the earth, ah, yeah.
Here I am, ain't no man of the world, no.
All I need is a beautiful girl.
Ah, yeah! Beautiful Girls.
Well, I'm a bum in the sun and I'm having fun.
And I know you know I got no special plans.
All the bills are paid. I got it made in the shade,
And all I nee, nee, need is the woman.
What a sweet talkin' honey with a little bit of money can
Turn your head around.
Creatures from the sea with the looks to me like she'd like to fool around.
Here I am, ain't no man of the world, no.
All I need is a beautiful girl.
Ah, yeah! Beautiful girls.
Now, I'm a seaside sittin', just a smokin' and a drinkin';
I'm ringside, on top of the world.
I got a drink in my hand; I got my toes in the sand.
All I need is a beautiful girl.
Here I am, ain't no man of the world, no.
All I need is a beautiful girl.
Ah, yeah! Beautiful girls.
Ah, yeah! Beautiful girls.
(repeat and fade)

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD / VAN HALEN, ALEX / ANTHONY, MICHAEL / ROTH, DAVID LEE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Beautiful Girls Song Chart

This was the second single from the album, after "Dance The Night Away." Their singles did not sell well, but their albums did. Many people bought the first Van Halen album after hearing this one.

The group wrote this in David Lee Roth's basement. They had just finished a tour and were under tight deadline pressure to record their second album. They released an album every year until 1984.

Roth fractured his foot doing a jump for the album's photo shoot. Since there was no way Roth could stay still on stage, they postponed their tour so he could heal.

The album took 6 days to record. Van Halen was quick in the studio because they laid down most of the tracks live, with very little overdubbing.

Van Halen - You Really Got Me

Van Halen - You Really Got Me Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Van Halen
Released: 1978

You Really Got Me Lyrics

Girl, You Really Got Me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Please, don't ever let me be
I only want to be by your side
Please, don't ever let me be
I only want to be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh no, no, ah
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Ah girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh oh oh

Writer/s: DAVIES, RAY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

You Really Got Me Song Chart

This is a cover of the 1964 song by The Kinks. It was the first hit for The Kinks, and became famous for its distorted guitar sound, which many bands began to copy.

This was Van Halen's first single.

There is a track before this on the album called "Eruption," which is an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo that leads into it. Disc jockeys often played the 2 songs together, but as computerized playlists and corporate programmers took control of radio stations, "Eruption" is rarely played.

This was used in an animated ad for a Nissan sports car. It featured G.I. Joe stealing Barbie away from Ken and driving off with her.

The Kinks got the dirty guitar sound on their version by slashing their speaker with a razor blade.

The album was cheap and easy to record. The band used very little overdubbing, and simply played in the studio as if they were live.

Van Halen's producer, Ted Templeman, recorded this as soon as he could because he was worried that a rival band called Angel would try to release their version of this ahead of Van Halen.

After releasing this album, they toured as the opening band for Journey, and then Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne thought Van Halen blew away Sabbath every night.

Eddie was 21 when this was released.

The album has sold over 5 million copies. Most were bought a few years after it was released as Van Halen picked up fans through constant touring and increased radio play.

On their 1982 "Hide Your Sheep" tour, they played this as their second encore, stopping in the middle to sing some of "Happy Trails" before finishing the song.

Contrary to popular belief, Eddie used an Ibanez Destroyer for most of this album, as well as several songs on their next 2 albums. This guitar is featured on the cover of Woman and Children First. Ed later took a large chunk out of the guitar, which ruined the tone. (thanks, Jay - Carlisle, PA)

Ray Davies once said the he liked the Van Halen version better than the Kinks' own, saying that their original version (the Kinks) was like a prop plane and Van Halen's was like a jet fighter. Eddie later responded by saying he was flattered but that the original was better. His version was just more modern. "Ray, that prop stuff is the real sh-t," he said. (thanks, Stephen - Durango, CO)

Van Halen - Ice Cream Man

Van Halen - Ice Cream Man Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Van Halen
Released: 1978

Ice Cream Man Lyrics

(Dedicate one to the ladies...)
Now summertime's here babe, need somethin' to keep you cool
Ah now summertime's here babe, need somethin' to keep you cool
Better look out now though, Dave's got somethin' for you
Tell ya what it is
I'm your Ice Cream Man, stop me when I'm passin' by
Oh my my, I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on a second baby
I got good lemonade, ah, dixie cups
All flavors and push ups too
I'm your ice cream man, baby, stop me when I'm passin' by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on, one more
Well, I'm usually passin' by just about eleven o'clock

H huh, I never stop, I'm usually passin' by, just around eleven o'clock
And if you let me cool you one time, you'll be my regular stop
All right boys
I got good lemonade, ah, Dixie cups

I'll flavors and push ups too
I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Yes I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Ah, one time
I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
One time, boys
I'm your ice cream man
I'm your ice cream man
Be-be-be-be-be-be-be-baby
Ah my, my, my
All my flavors are guaranteed to satis-uh-fy
Ow

Writer/s: JOHN BRIM
Publisher: BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Ice Cream Man Song Chart

This was written and originally recorded by the Chicago blues musician John Brim. Born in 1922, Brim recorded this at Chess Records in 1953. In 1994, he released a compilation album called The Ice Cream Man.

This is one of David Lee Roth's favorites. He pushed to get it on Van Halen's first album as a tribute to the blues.

The first verse is just Roth singing and playing acoustic guitar. The full band joins in after that.

Like many American blues songs, the lyrics are loaded with double entendres, making it a perfect song for David Lee Roth to sing. At the beginning of the song, Roth says, "Dedicate one to the ladies," making it clear that when he brags that his "flavors are guaranteed to satisfy," he's not talking about the frozen treat.

This was one of two covers on Van Halen's first album. The other, "You Really Got Me," was their first single.

Van Halen included this on a cassette they gave Gene Simmons before they had a record deal. Simmons didn't like this song, but let them record it anyway when he flew them to New York to make a demo. They didn't get a deal out of it, but when Warner Brothers finally signed them, the songs on the demo, including this, made up much of their first two albums.

In 1659 the Sicilian chef Francesco Procopia dei Coltelli perfected the making of ice cream. Twenty seven years later dei Coltelli opened Le Procope, the first cafe in Paris. Here after being considered a dessert for royalty alone, ice cream was made available to the general public for the first time. (From the book Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World by Ed Pearce)

Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil

Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Van Halen
Released: 1978

Runnin' With The Devil Lyrics

I live my life like there's no tomorrow
And all I've got I had to steal
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes I'm living at a pace that kills
Runnin' With The Devil
Runnin' with the devil
I found the simple life ain't so simple
When I jumped out on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody waiting at home
Runnin' with the devil
Runnin' with the devil
You know I, I found the simple life, weren't so simple, no
When I jumped out on that road
Got no love, no love you'd call real
Got nobody waiting at home
Runnin' with the devil
Runnin' with the devil
Runnin' with the devil
Runnin' with the devil
[repeat and fade]

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ANTHONY, MICHAEL/ROTH, DAVID LEE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Runnin' With The Devil Song Chart

This is the first song on the first Van Halen album. It starts with a backwards blare of car horns, which was made by a contraption Eddie Van Halen put together using a bunch of horns, a car battery, and a footswitch. They used to use it when they played at clubs.

Van Halen included this song on a demo Gene Simmons produced for them in 1977. After seeing them in concert, Simmons flew the band to New York, bought them clothes, and set up a recording session. They didn't get a record deal out of it, but gained valuable experience.

Gene Simmons had the idea for the car horns at the beginning. He had the band do this on the 1977 "House Of Pain" demo he produced for them.

At one point, David Lee Roth says, "Goddamn it lady, you know I ain't lyin' too ya, I'm gonna tell you one time." Roth was never eloquent, but he was occasionally introspective (see "Hang 'Em High"), and even poetic (see "Secrets"). (thanks, Doug - Appleton, WI, for above 2)

The song contains many of the things Van Halen became famous for: David Lee Roth's squeal, Eddie's guitar solo, and Michael Anthony's backup vocals.

Eddie's guitar is on the cover of the album. He pieced it together using parts of different guitars until he got the sound and feel he wanted. It is striped black and white on the album, but Eddie later painted it red.

This was easy for the band to record because they did not use many studio tricks. They pretty much recorded what they had been playing live for years. Later Van Halen albums became much more complicated.

Van Halen opened concerts for Journey and Black Sabbath after releasing this album, helping it sell over 5 million copies as more people found out about them.

This gets constant play on classic rock radio. It was not played a lot when it first came out because nobody had heard of Van Halen, so it was never burned out.

Adam Sandler pretends to play this with a devil-horned blade he uses as a guitar at the beginning of the 2001 movie Little Nicky. The song also appears in the pilot for the 1999 TV series Freaks and Geeks, and in the movies Lost & Found (1999) and Ready To Rumble (2000).

This bears a strong resemblance to Pink Floyd's similarly titled song "Run Like Hell," particularly in the intro (one note on the bass played over and over interrupted by a guitar with echo). Both songs were released within a year of each other, so it is probably just a coincidence. (thanks, Eric - Suffern, NY)

This was featured in a 2016 commercial for the Acura NSX that first aired during the Super Bowl.

Van Halen - Panama

Van Halen - Panama Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: 1984
Released: 1984

Panama Lyrics

Jump back, what's that sound
Here she comes, full blast and top down
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Model citizen zero discipline

Don't you know she's coming home with me?
You'l lose her in the turn
I'll get her!

[Chorus:]
Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama

Ain't nothin' like it, her shiny machine
Got the feel for the wheel, keep the moving parts clean
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Got an on-ramp comin' through my bedroom

Don't you know she's coming home with me?
You'll lose her in the turn
I'll get her!

[Chorus]

Yeah, we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight
I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off of it
Ah, you reach down, between my legs
Ease the seat back

She's blinding, I'm flying
Right behind the rear-view mirror now
Got the feeling, power steering
Pistons popping, ain't no stopping now!

[Chorus]

Writer/s: VAN HALEN, EDWARD/VAN HALEN, ALEX/ROTH, DAVID LEE
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Panama Song Chart

Panama is a country in Central America famous for its canal, but it has nothing to do with the song. The lyrics are about a stripper David Lee Roth met in Arizona. As he explained on The Howard Stern Show, the song came about after an interview Roth gave in the early '80s; the interviewer accused him of only writing lyrics about sex, drugs, and fast cars. Sometime either during or after the interview, Diamond Dave realized he'd never actually written a song about fast cars, so he started working on the lyrics to "Panama," which he later admitted in another interview that, as it turns out, he had been writing about a stripper he knew without realizing it. The finished lyrics were inspired by both the stripper and the car. (thanks, Ryan - Eaton, IN)

There is a Top Fuel car called "Panama" that appears in the video. (thanks, john - New York, NY)

In the video, Michael Anthony played a bass shaped like a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, which the company custom made for him. This was a product placement coup, since MTV had a strict policy against advertising within videos - they made ZZ Top remove a shot of Schlitz beer from one of their clips before they would air it. By integrating the product into Anthony's bass, there was no good way to remove it, and MTV wasn't about to turn down a Van Halen video in 1984.

This was one of the first songs recorded at Eddie Van Halen's 5150 studios. "5150" is California police code for a mentally unstable person causing a disturbance.

The album cover, which showed a baby on the cover smoking a cigarette, caused a bit of controversy. Some UK record stores refused to stock it.

This was one of the last Van Halen songs recorded with David Lee Roth as lead singer. He was replaced by Sammy Hagar in 1986.

Some of the scenes in the video where David Lee Roth is doing fun stuff like riding in a convertible, was footage shot for the "Jump" video but not used. Both videos were co-directed by Pete Angelus, who also did "Hot For Teacher."

This song is used in the intro video for the driving video game Gran Turismo 4. It is also used during gameplay. (thanks, Sean - Round Rock, TX)