From 1974 until 1985, Van Halen consisted of Eddie Van Halen; Eddie's brother, drummer Alex Van Halen; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony. Upon its release in 1978, the band's self-titled debut album reached No. 19 on the Billboard pop music charts and would sell over 10 million copies in the U.S. By 1982, the band released four more albums (Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, and Diver Down), all of which have since been certified multi-platinum. By the early 1980s, Van Halen was one of the most successful rock acts of the day. The album 1984 was a commercial success with U.S. sales of 10 million copies and four hit singles; its lead single, "Jump", was the band's only U.S. number one single.
In 1985, Roth left the band to embark on a solo career and was replaced by former Montrose lead vocalist Sammy Hagar. With Hagar, the group released four U.S. number-one, multi-platinum albums over the course of 11 years (5150 in 1986, OU812 in 1988, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in 1991, and Balance in 1995). Hagar left the band in 1996 shortly before the release of the band's first greatest hits collection, Best of Volume 1. Former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone replaced Hagar and recorded the commercially unsuccessful album Van Halen III with the band in 1998, before parting ways in 1999. Van Halen then went on hiatus until reuniting with Hagar in 2003 for a worldwide tour in 2004 and the double-disc greatest hits collection The Best of Both Worlds. Hagar again left Van Halen in 2005. In 2006 Roth returned, but Anthony was replaced on bass guitar by Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen. In 2012, the band released their final studio album A Different Kind of Truth, which was commercially and critically successful; it was also Van Halen's first album with Roth in 28 years and the only one to feature Wolfgang.
As of March 2019, Van Halen is 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists in the United States; the band has sold 56 million albums in the States and more than 80 million worldwide, making them one of the best-selling groups of all time. As of 2007, Van Halen is one of only five rock bands with two studio albums to sell more than 10 million copies in the United States and is tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American band. Additionally, Van Halen has charted 13 number-one hits on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. VH1 ranked the band seventh on a list of the top 100 Hard Rock artists of all time.
Eddie was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, and died of the disease on October 6, 2020. A month after his father's death, Wolfgang confirmed that Van Halen had disbanded.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen
Studio albums
Van Halen (1978)
Van Halen II (1979)
Women and Children First (1980)
Fair Warning (1981)
Diver Down (1982)
1984 (1984)
5150 (1986)
OU812 (1988)
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
Balance (1995)
Van Halen III (1998)
A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
3
Van Halen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With long legs straight on up to her lunch pail
Sweet little wishbone, oh yeah
Don't wanna break her in half
Lick up one side and down the other
Always makes her laugh
She take me down, down, down to the bottom
Give you everything you need
Still you want that sugar daddy over me
She want a sucker, sucker in a three piece
A sucker all dressed up in a three piece suit
I'm on fire with just one look
Got me a brand new number
In my little black book
But she don't like the way I dress
She don't like the way I wear my hair
But when I roll you over baby, you don't care
Just take me down, down, down, down to the bottom
Give me everything I want
Give me everything I need
You don't want that sugar daddy, not over me
She want a sucker (sucker) uh sucker in a three piece
(Sucker) sucker all dressed up in a three piece suit
Oh say it isn't so, baby
You wanna sucker
He's just a sucker
He's just a sucker
Look at all that money, baby
Ya know your sugar daddy
You're a sugar mama
You're both a bunch of suckers
Oh how he got a big ole belly
A stone bald head (sucker)
Now, listen here, honey
That ain't down your alley, no
He's just a (sucker) sucker in a three piece
Sucker (sucker) in a three piece suit
S-s-sucker
Stone cold, sugar daddy
Sucker, sucker all dressed up in a three piece suit
I said, go ahead and suck it all up
Right down to the last drop
The lyrics to Van Halen's song "Sucker in a Three Piece" details a man's love for a woman who is beautiful, but is only interested in men who can give her material possessions. The opening verse describes her physical beauty, rating her a nine out of ten and highlighting her long legs. The chorus reveals her desire for a "sucker in a three piece," a man who wears a three-piece suit and has money to spare. The second verse tells of the singer's own pursuit of the woman, and how he has added her to his little black book. However, she does not like his appearance and prefers men with money. The song ends with the singer lamenting both the woman's and the sugar daddy's qualities as suckers.
The song is an anthem for men who feel rejected because of their appearance and finances. It portrays a woman who values money and status above all else, but is also a "sucker" in the singer's eyes. The lyrics are humorous but also express frustration and disappointment. The singer acknowledges that he can never be the sugar daddy that the woman desires, but continues to pursue her nevertheless. Overall, "Sucker in a Three Piece" is a commentary on the materialistic culture of the 1980s and the lengths people will go to attract a partner.
Line by Line Meaning
She's so fine, how about a nine on a ten scale
She is very attractive, almost perfect
With long legs straight on up to her lunch pail
She has long, beautiful legs
Sweet little wishbone, oh yeah
She is petite and cute
Don't wanna break her in half
He doesn't want to hurt her
Lick up one side and down the other
Always makes her laugh
He pleasures her and makes her happy
She take me down, down, down to the bottom
She brings him to a deep level of desire
I got everything you wanted
Give you everything you need
He has what she desires and takes care of her
Still you want that sugar daddy over me
She still prefers a richer, older man over him
She want a sucker, sucker in a three piece
A sucker all dressed up in a three piece suit
She wants a rich man who looks good in a suit
I'm on fire with just one look
He is filled with desire for her
Got me a brand new number
In my little black book
He has a new phone number for her
But she don't like the way I dress
She don't like the way I wear my hair
She doesn't find him attractive
But when I roll you over baby, you don't care
She enjoys being intimate with him regardless of his appearance
Give me everything I want
Give me everything I need
You don't want that sugar daddy, not over me
He can satisfy all of her desires and she doesn't need a sugar daddy
Oh say it isn't so, baby
You wanna sucker
He's just a sucker
He is disappointed that she wants a rich man
Look at all that money, baby
Ya know your sugar daddy
You're a sugar mama
You're both a bunch of suckers
He thinks they are foolish for being obsessed with money
Oh how he got a big ole belly
A stone bald head (sucker)
Now, listen here, honey
That ain't down your alley, no
He points out that the sugar daddy is old and unattractive
Sucker (sucker) in a three piece suit
S-s-sucker
Stone cold, sugar daddy
Sucker, sucker all dressed up in a three piece suit
He mocks the sugar daddy for being old and foolish
I said, go ahead and suck it all up
Right down to the last drop
He dares her to take everything he can give her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX VAN HALEN, EDWARD VAN HALEN, SAMMY HAGAR, MICHAEL ANTHONY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GUITAR ARQ
Neworld 0:00
Without You 1:46
One I Want 8:15
From Afar 13:49
Dirty Water Dog 19:10
Once 24:37
Fire in the Hole 32:20
Josephina 37:52
A Year to the Day 43:34
Primary 52:09
Ballot or the Bullet 53:37
How Many Say I 59:18
Dan Price
If anyone wants to time stamp these, that would be kooool. Sorry, I don't know this album and don't have the time to try and figure it out. Every other VH album I know like the back of my hand. All I can say about this one is "meh". RIP professor Eddie.
1. "Neworld" (Instrumental)
2. "Without You"
3. "One I Want"
4. "From Afar"
5. "Dirty Water Dog"
6. "Once"
7. "Fire in the Hole"
8. "Josephina"
9. "Year to the Day"
10. "Primary" (Instrumental)
11. "Ballot or the Bullet"
12. "How Many Say I"
Soulcraft79
It took me 25 years to get around to finally listening to this album. Van Halen in the late 90's had so much going against the grain of the time, it never really had a chance commercially or with an already vastly divided fanbase. Funny enough listening to Extreme make a brilliant comeback album themselves (Six) led me to actually "want" to give VHIII a listen. This has more of a timeless quality than any other VH album imo. If only they had one more album in them as VHIII, I believe this era of the band (and this album) would have been remembered differently. A brilliant album for those that are not attached to any specific era/version of the band. You can hear this version of the band really could have gone somewhere interesting with more time, touring etc. It is it's own thing.
calbff
Well said. I didn't like it much at the time but now that I've re-listened, it's actually an excellent album and I'm annoyed at my initial reaction years ago. I came to listen to it the same way, being a huge Extreme fan over the years and Six being as solid as it is. This is easily some of Gary's best work, and of course Eddie is always great.
Obi Wan
I agree, if not for Eddie's ego at the time (sings lead on a track, is front and center on the promo poster ) VH could have been a great with Gary.
Jun Serafin
Here's a good test how good/different/timeless VHIII is.. put it on as background music (the whole album in a loop) when having people over, in a car or whatever.
After a few songs they will say 'what's this?' or 'nice music, who is it?' This is 25 years after release standing the test of time.
Also, it's good music to do paperwork by. Put it on not too loud in the background. It helps a person 'think'.😘💯
Carl Dalton
Hell to the yeah
Steve Phelps
I also am just hearing
VH III for the first time and way under rated but as a recording musician, I think lot of the bad vibe is from real iffy mix and mastering. Too much sand paper smeared over it . Remaster please. Vocals are good for a replacement and similar to Sammy but at 87% good enough for me!
dio
Excellent album , I think a lot of fans were worn out from the drama ...third singer , but this album is a gem .
GUITAR ARQ
Neworld 0:00
Without You 1:46
One I Want 8:15
From Afar 13:49
Dirty Water Dog 19:10
Once 24:37
Fire in the Hole 32:20
Josephina 37:52
A Year to the Day 43:34
Primary 52:09
Ballot or the Bullet 53:37
How Many Say I 59:18
Ti
Thank you! I love this album!
Ti
Especially ballot or the bullet. Very relavent