Van Halen

Released: July 20, 2004

Songwriter: Eddie Van Halen Alex Van Halen Sammy Hagar

Producer: Van Halen

Time after time we
Walk past the window
And never see the ashes on the ground

Night after night
Watching the sky move
Never feel the earth spinning 'round

I didn't see you fallin'
I couldn't hear you callin'
Born with eyes wide open, never learn to see

I never meant to hurt you
Was right there cryin' with you
Why do we harm the only thing we want to be

Trying to follow
Every footstep
I feel so lost along the way

Reading the scripture
Straight from the gospel
Never understanding what they say, yeah

I didn't see you fallin'
I never heard you callin'
I got my eyes wide open, but haven't learned to see, yeah

I never meant to hurt you
Was right there crying with you
Why do we harm the only thing we want to be

I just gotta be
Me
I just gotta be
Me

Yeah

I didn't see you fallin'
I never heard you callin'
Got my eyes wide open, never learned to see, yeah

I never meant to hurt you
Was right there cryin' with you
We only cage the very thing we want to free

I just wanna be
I just wanna be
Gotta gotta be
I just wanna be
I gotta be
I wanna be
Gotta gotta
Gotta gotta be me
I just wanna be
I wanna be
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah

Van Halen is one of the most iconic American rock bands of all time. Formed in Pasadena, California in 1972, the group’s primary line-up consisted of Eddie Van Halen on guitar, Alex Van Halen on drums, David Lee Roth providing lead vocals, and Michael Anthony providing bass duties and significant harmonies.

Their first six albums, recorded and released between 1977–1984, are considered to be classics and pioneering efforts in the field of hard rock. Eddie Van Halen’s groundbreaking guitar sound and techniques completely changed the landscape of music and radio culture in the 1980s. His and brother Alex’s virtuosity, along with David Lee Roth’s charisma and bassist Michael Anthony’s foundational contributions garnered the band early comparisons to their predecessors—Led Zeppelin—a group who had a profound influence on them. Though, even more so than Jimmy Page, Eddie cites Eric Clapton as having the biggest impact on his playing.

In 1977, after recording a demo with Gene Simmons (who wanted the band to change their name to “Daddy Longlegs”) they were introduced to KISS‘ management, who told Simmons they wouldn’t sign them

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