After the superlative debut and the less bombastic follow-up, Van Halen, also buoyed by the excellent responses they received from their thrilling live performances (which even saw them supporting Black Sabbath who were promoting "Never Say Die"), during the "World Vacation Tour", nothing but accolades could fall upon the four, even as they wandered between Canada, Europe, and Japan as the much-coveted headliners. Considering the importance of numerology, the third album (as a mirror of perfection) represents the ideal culmination of a path already embarked upon, which, for this work, although not reflecting a refined exemplar, nevertheless shows itself to be another step towards exemplariness. The album, recorded at Sunset Sound in less than three weeks under the vigilant eye of Ted Templeman, brilliantly recovers the stylistic vigor of the debut in a perfect cocktail where the desire to experiment and to surprise manage to whet the listener's appetite.
Confirming the craving for change is the introductory "And The Cradle Will Rock…" – also chosen as a single – exuberant and compelling, in which an electric piano makes an appearance, making a perfect pair with the primitive frontal assault of "Everybody Wants Some!!" that takes your breath away from start to finish. The high level of explosiveness rises with "Fools" (originally baptized as "I Live With Fools" and originating from the era when Mark Stone was around) and the intense "Loss Of Control", the video for which, though never made, was supposed to feature band members dressed as surgeons. The atmosphere becomes more intimate listening to the bluesy instrumental prelude of "Take Your Whiskey Home" like the magical air you breathe listening to "Could This Be Magic?", perfect for a summer sing-along around a beach bonfire. The Sabathian "Tora Tora" (originally "Act Like It Hurts"), in its brief minute duration, serves as the only instrumental track on the album, while in the intense "Romeo Delight", adrenaline-pumping moments interpenetrate with more subdued ones, leaving the conclusive and solid "In A Simple Rhyme" to present our Eddie in a delicate arpeggio with a twelve-string electric guitar, opening and closing the track... so to speak, of course, given that the final twenty seconds (almost a true hidden track), were meant to be a standalone track titled "Growth", but that's another story.
The album hits store shelves on March 26, 1980, showcasing that it concentrates, in that half-hour and a little more of music, an excellent quality level, where in addition to driving tracks alternating with others that are intelligently livelier, one can easily discern a greater inclination toward some fun acoustic diversions that, along with the desire for novelty, never appear out of context. An album where what shines is the role of the six-string gymnast of the younger of the Van Halen brothers, guilty of having rewritten the role of the electric guitar in rock music, almost ten years after the death of the one who had wildly changed its positioning and function: Jimi Hendrix! The unimaginable rhythmic and solo acrobatics of the super-fast Eddie blend ad hoc with the wide-ranging vocal prowess of David Lee Roth—who, besides undeniable charisma of a true stage animal—manages to highlight low modulations with penetrating high notes, merging with a personal rhythmic armor that the other Van Halen and Michael Anthony ideally weave together.
Reflecting the squaring of the circle is the artistic cover photo in simple black and white, featuring a gleeful Eddie Van Halen surrounded by his three euphoric companions, expressing the perfect harmony reigning within the band. A synergy more than ever capable of giving birth to an admirable work, whose spirit can be symbolized through the direct lyrics of Dave in "Romeo Delight" which leave very little to the imagination: "I’m takin’ whiskey to the party tonight And I'm lookin' for somebody to squeeze us"...... a fascinating hedonistic declaration to which one cannot help but react as a helpless victim, just as even more so the bewitched female audience will have to contend with the included poster depicting the impudent singer portrayed bare-chested, chained to a net, captured for the occasion in an artistic shot by Helmut Newton.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 And the Cradle Will Rock... (03:33)
Ow!
Oh yeah, get up!
Ow!
Ow! Ow!
Well, they say it's kinda frightenin'
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, ooh!
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
And winds up tired with who he meets
An' he's unemployed
(Unemployed?) Oww!
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, the 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) Rock on. Ooh!
(Rock on)
(Rock on)
(Rock on)
(Rock on)
(Rock on)
02 Everybody Wants Some!! (05:08)
Ow!
(Adlib jungle sounds)
Oww!
Ooh yeah!
Oh yeah-ah!
You can't get romantic on a subway line, ow!
Conductor don't like it, says "You're wastin' your time"
But everybody wants some
I want some too
Everybody wants some
Baby, how 'bout you?
Ohh oh yeah!
I took a mobile light, lookin' for a moonbeam, whoa!
Yeah, ya stand in line, ya got lost in a jet stream
But everybody wants some
I want some too, whoa yeah-ah!
Everybody wants some
How about you?
Ohh yeah
Ooh yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
Everybody wants some
I want some too, whoa!
Everybody wants some, hey hey!
How 'bout you?
Yeah!
(Adlib jungle sounds)
Woo! Where'd you get that shit?
Oh, yeah.
I like... I like the little way the line runs up the back of the stockings.
I've always liked those kind of high heels, too, ya know I...
No, no, no, no don't take 'em off. Don't take... leave 'em on.
Yeah, that's it... a little more to the right.
Ow ow!
Hey, hey, hey!
Everybody wants some
I want some too, whoa!
Everybody wants some
Baby, how 'bout you? Yeah!
Everybody wants some
Everybody needs some
Everybody wants some
Everybody needs some
Ahh yeah!
Ahhhh yeah!
Look, I'll pay ya for it, what the fuck?
03 Fools (05:56)
Hah, yeah
Oh-uh-oh
Ha
Ha-oh, ah-ah-ah
Try one together, one time a sec
Ha-oh, ah-uh-oh
Oooh!
Yeah!
Well, I ain't about to go to school
Ooo, an' I'm sick an' tired of Golden Rules, ah!
Oh! They say I'm crazy, from the wrong side of the tracks
I never see them, but they're always so far back, oh
Yeah, baby. How to say...Well lemme tell ya about this one time
How ya gonna tell me
Lemme put it to music, yeah, I say...
Well, I'm sick an' tired of cleanin' room. Oh!
An' it's the final bell for pushing broom. Oh-oh!
Damned if I do an' then I'm damned if I don't
Won't someone tell me what it is they all want?
It makes me blue
Fools, I live with fools
Blue, (Wow!) it makes me blue
Fools, I live with fools
Whoa! Bbbbbbb
I just can't take it
Ah, my teachers all gave up on me
No matter what they say, I, ha, disagree
An' when I need somp'in to soothe my soul
I listen to too much rock n' roll
Don't want no class reunion, the circus just left town
Why behave in public if you're living on a playground?
It makes me blue
Fools, I live with fools
Blue, it makes me blue
Fools, I live with fools. Wow!
(Guitar Solo)
Woo!
Oh, yeah
Oh! Woo!
Blue, it makes me blue. Makes me blue
Fools, (Oh!) I live with fools. Live with fools
(Wow!) Blue, (Hey hey!) it makes me blue. Makes her blue
Fools, (Oh oh) I live with fools. Whoa! Yeah
Ah, ha ha! Uh, uh!
All right, I said
Mmm, here they goin', my way. Woo! (Woo!)
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
(Vocal ad lib until fade)
04 Romeo Delight (04:19)
Ooh!
I told her "Never in hell, no special reason"
Must've lied 'cause I ain't leavin'
We're in for a very long night
Heard a vicious rumor from your mama's tongue
You a desperate woman, need a man with a gun
High crime zone, in the city o' lights
Baby please, can't take it anymore
Ah, baby please, can't take it anymore
I'm takin' whiskey to the party tonight
And I'm lookin' for somebody to squeeze, uh! Uh!
I hear you're lookin' for somebody to fight
Baby, don't get uptight
Baby, please
Wanna see my ID? Try to clip my wings
Don't have to show you proof o' anything
I know the law, friend
At the 'leventh hour I'm goin' back outside
Mmm, give it a try, I'm your last loose end
Baby please, I can't take it anymore
Oh, baby please, I can't take it anymore
I'm takin' whiskey to the party tonight
An' I'm lookin' for somebody to squeeze, uh! Uh! Uh!
Hear you're lookin' for somebody to fight
Baby, don't get uptight
Baby, please , yeah!
Oww!
Oooh, baby
Oooh, baby
Oooh, baby
Uh feel my heartbeat
Feel my heartbeat
Feel my heartbeat
Oh, yeah
Feel my heartbeat
Feel my heartbeat, ah
Feel my heartbeat
Feel my heartbeat
Feel my heartbeat
Baby please, I can't take it anymore, oww!
Yeah baby, please, ah-ha, I can't uh take it anymore, wow!
Baby please, aah yeah, can't take it anymore
Whoa baby, please, yeah, I can't take it anymore, whoa!
I'm takin' whiskey to the party tonight
An' I'm lookin' for somebody to squeeze, uh! Uh! Ow!
Hear you're lookin' for somebody to fight
Baby, don't get uptight
Baby, please, yeah!
Baby, please
06 Loss of Control (02:39)
Hey!
(Adlib walkie-talkie banter)
Ooh, baby I'm checkin' out, I think you oughta know
I'm only wastin' time I think I better go
You ain't too civilized, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Baby I'm checkin' out, I think you oughta know, yeah
I'm only wastin' time, I think I better go
You ain't too civilized, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
(Guitar solo)
Ah, ha!
Aw, ha!
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
Baby I'm checkin' out, I think you oughta know, yeah
I'm only wastin' time, I think I better go
You ain't too civilized, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Loss of control
Loss of control
Loss of control
(Guitar solo)
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Hhhh!
07 Take Your Whiskey Home (03:11)
(Words by Van Halen)
Uh-uh
Uh-uh-uh-uh-ah!
Well, my baby, she don't want me around
She said she's tired of watchin' me fall down (He-he-he-yuh!)
She wants a good life, ah! An' all the best
But I like that bottle better than the rest
Chorus:
And she said, "I think that you're headed for a whole lot of trouble, ah!
Well, I think that you're headed for a whole lot of trouble
Well, I think that you're headed for a whole lot of trouble
If you take your whiskey (home)"
Ow!
Well, that liquor in the night time leaves strange memories
Seems a lifetime, ooh, since yesterday
Come the daybreak, and come tomorrow
That woman's waited up all night for me again
(Chorus)
(Guitar Solo)
Some goes to women, ooh, some goes to Jesus
That I'm absolutely certain both's all right
Yeah, but it takes me at least halfway to the label
'Fore I can even make it through the night
(Chorus)
(Guitar Solo)
Oh! Ooh baby, take your whiskey home, yeah!
Ooh, a la la la la la la yeah
08 Could This Be Magic? (03:09)
You ready? (Yeah)
One, two, one, two, three, four
Out upon the islands on a cool summer night
Buddy, you don't got to hurry, take your time
What you need is on the menu and you get it tonight
Buddy, you got womens on your mind
Could this be magic? Or could this be love?
Could this turn tragic? You know that magic often does
And I see lonely ships upon the water
Better save the women and children first
Sail away with someone's daughter
Better save the women and children first
I hear music on the landin' an' there's laughter in the air
Just could be your boat is comin' in
Yeah you're leanin' back an' yeah, a-foot tappin'
Ain't got your head right
There's a full moon out tonight
Baby, let's begin
And she said "Could this be magic? Or could this be love?", uh oh
An' I said "Could this turn tragic? You know that magic often does"
And I see lonely ships upon the water
Better save the women and children first
Sail away with someone's daughter
Better save the women and children first
Edward?
Thank you
And she said "Could this be magic? Or, could this be love?"
And I said "Could this turn tragic? You know that magic often does"
An' I see lonely ships upon the water
Better save the women and children first
Sail away with someone's daughter
Better save the women and children first, yes, ah
09 In a Simple Rhyme (04:40)
Well, back in the past when I was, treated so coldly
My love life was a darn disgrace
Needed someone to love n' hold me
That's one of the reasons that I was outta place
So, this is love? Well she finally kissed me
Had me all worked up inside
I wanted love but cupid missed me
She up and left and I almost died
But I was young and I was far from lonely
I been that way for a long, long year
Needed a girl to call my one and only
Is that you?
Ya think ya got the interest?
Come on an' take the time
'Cause you know, I wanna be
Yours in a simple rhyme
Wow!
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Well, ain't life grand when ya finally hit it?
I'm always a sucker for a real good time
Woke up in life, found I almost missed it
Ain't I glad that love is blind?
But I was young an' I was, far too crazy
Been that way for a long, long time
Needed a girl but I was just too lazy
Now that I've found you
Ya think ya got the interest?
Come on an' take the time
I'm gonna be, yours in a simple...
Rhyme. Rhyme
N' she made the mountains sing
Birds against an icy sky
And I heard bells ringin'
I think I heard an angel sigh
And she said, "There'll be times. There will be times."
(Ah ah) You're gonna hear the angels singin'
(Ah ah) You're gonna hear the angels sing, they'll say
(Ah ah. Ah ah. Ah ah ah)
Ow!
(Guitar Solo)
Oh!
Oh, yeah!
Ha! Ah! Yeah
Ya think ya got the interest
Come on an' take the time
I'm gonna be yours in a simple...
Rhyme. Rhyme. Rhyme
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By the green manalishi
Van Halen is synonymous with pure fun, a desire to live, to play, to love, or simply to pick up a woman you met while drunk at the bar.
Just listen to And the Cradle Will Rock... and the cradle will rock.