David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954 in Bloomington, Indiana) is an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954 in Bloomington, Indiana) is an American singer-songwriter, rock climber, adventurer, actor, author, and former radio personality, being best known for his work with the hard rock band Van Halen and for his fast-talking, larger-than-life persona. Though earning critical and commercial success, Roth left Van Halen due to creative differences in 1985, being replaced by Sammy Hagar (of Montrose and HSAS), and Roth went solo. After a short time spent performing tongue-in-cheek jazz music, Roth recruited a rock supergroup of Steve Vai (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Gregg Bissonette (drums). The guys released the wildly successful 'Eat 'em and Smile' album on July 7, 1986.

Roth's follow-up work, called 'Skyscraper', came out on January 26, 1988, dividing his fans due to its synthesizer-heavy, pop-fueled style yet having an iconic hit in the upbeat tune "Just Like Paradise". After his solo group's line-up shifted, guitar prodigy Jason Becker (formerly of Cacophony) came into the fold in 1989. Sadly, Becker contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease, and before too long he could no longer play, having only performed on one album (1991's 'A Little Ain't Enough').

Since then, Roth has employed a revolving line-up of musicians in his band. As the 90s went on, the shuffling of performers around him and changing musical tides, styles such as alternative rock becoming far more popular, found Roth's mainstream commercial fortunes diminishing. Still, he kept on touring to his own wild fan-base, and rumors of a reunion between him and his old Van Halen buddies bubbled up again and again.

In 2007, David Lee Roth rejoined Van Halen for a semi-reunion with the Van Halen brothers, along with Eddie Van Halen's son (Wolfgang Van Halen) on bass (replacing Michael Anthony from the original lineup), which lasted into 2008. On December 26, 2011, Van Halen (again with Roth) announced a tour for 2012. In what felt like no time, the rejuvenated outfit released their first album in fourteen years, titled 'A Different Kind of Truth', on February 7, 2012.

Black Sand
David Lee Roth Lyrics

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Catch a wave
Feel the power
Now you are solar powered

My toes
On the nose
want to be
Where the sun goes

I've heard a story
Many times
It's one that i believe
Of a place that's not on any map
Beyond the seven seas
Black sand

Goin' to the ocean
Why don't you come with me
We'll slide right off

The backside
Of a dream

Overall Meaning

David Lee Roth's song Black Sand is about the power of nature and the sense of escapism it can offer. The lyrics encourage listeners to "catch a wave" and "feel the power," invoking the exhilarating rush that comes with surfing. The line "now you are solar powered" suggests that the experience of riding the waves can be transformative, providing a sense of energy and vitality that comes from connecting with the earth's natural forces.

The second verse evokes a desire for travel and adventure. The singer longs to be "where the sun goes," suggesting a desire to explore new parts of the world and experience different cultures. The reference to a story "of a place that's not on any map / beyond the seven seas" reinforces this idea of exploration, with the final line of the verse - "black sand" - adding an air of mystery and exoticism to this imagined destination.

The final stanza brings these themes together, encouraging the listener to join the singer in a journey to the ocean, where they will "slide right off the backside of a dream." This image reinforces the sense of escape and adventure that pervades the song, while also celebrating the sheer joy of surfing and being in the water.

Overall, Black Sand is a song about the power of nature to inspire and transform. It encourages listeners to embrace the sense of possibility that comes with exploring new places and experiencing the world on its own terms.

Line by Line Meaning

Catch a wave
Take advantage of an opportunity

Feel the power
Feel a sense of control and mastery

Now you are solar powered
You have energy and vitality

My toes
My feet

On the nose
At the front of the surfboard

want to be
Desire to be

Where the sun goes
Wherever it is warm and sunny

I've heard a story
I have been told a tale

Many times
Repeatedly

It's one that i believe
I trust the story to be true

Of a place that's not on any map
A location that cannot be found in any atlas