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)
Ain't Talkin 'bout Love
Van Halen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All about your disease
Yeah, you may have all you want baby
But I got somethin' you need, oh yeah
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
You know you're semi-good lookin'
And on the streets again
Oh yeah, you think you're really cookin' baby
You better find yourself a friend, my friend
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't gonna talk about love
Just like I told you before, before
Before, before, before
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Babe, it's rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' bout love
Just like I told you before, before
I been to the edge
And there I stood and looked down
You know I lost a lot of friends there baby
I got no time to mess around
So if you want it, got to bleed for it baby
Yeah, got to, got to bleed, baby
You got to, got to bleed, baby
Hey, got to, got to bleed baby
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
My love is rotten to the core
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Just like I told you before, before, before
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
Don't wanna talk about love
Don't need to talk about love
Ain't gonna talk about love
No more, no more
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" is a classic rock song that features deep, thoughtful lyrics. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that he's heard news about someone's disease, but tells the person that he has something they need. He then goes on to say that he's not talking about love, as his love is "rotten to the core." He reminds the person that they may think they're good-looking and have their life together, but they still need to find themselves a friend. The song then becomes more intense as the singer talks about standing on the edge and losing friends, indicating that he's not willing to waste time on meaningless love. He tells the person that if they want his love, they'll have to bleed for it.
The song is likely a commentary on the nature of love and the superficiality of relationships. The singer is looking for something deeper than just physical attraction and empty promises. He's not willing to engage in a relationship that lacks substance, which is indicated by his statement that his love is "rotten to the core." He's been hurt before and isn't willing to waste his time on someone who isn't willing to sacrifice for love.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the news baby
I have been informed about your situation, babe.
All about your disease
I am aware of the illness/difficulty you are experiencing.
Yeah, you may have all you want baby
Yes, you might have everything you desire, babe
But I got somethin' you need, oh yeah
However, I possess something that you need/want, oh yeah
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
I am not talking about love.
My love is rotten to the core
My love is corrupt and flawed to the very center.
Just like I told you before, yeah before
Just as I said to you previously, yeah, previously.
You know you're semi-good lookin'
You are aware that you are only somewhat attractive.
And on the streets again
You are back on the streets, again.
Oh yeah, you think you're really cookin' baby
Oh yeah, you believe you have got it all figured out.
You better find yourself a friend, my friend
You better find a companion, my friend.
I been to the edge
I have been to the ultimate limit.
And there I stood and looked down
And at that point, I stood and gazed downwards.
You know I lost a lot of friends there baby
You know I lost many acquaintances there, babe.
I got no time to mess around
I have no time to waste.
So if you want it, got to bleed for it baby
Therefore, if you want it, you have to go through pain for it, babe.
Yeah, got to, got to bleed, baby
Yes, you have, got to, got to endure hurt/pain, babe.
Ain't talkin' 'bout love
I'm not talking about love.
Don't wanna talk about love
I don't want to talk about love.
Don't need to talk about love
There is no need to talk about love.
Ain't gonna talk about love
I am not going to talk about love.
No more, no more
Not anymore, not anymore.
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEX VAN HALEN, EDWARD VAN HALEN, DAVID ROTH, MICHAEL ANTHONY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mary
One of the sickest opening riffs in Hard Rock history. RIP Eddie.
Emile Barry
I tied it together with Eruption. I'm a genius.
Perry John Ehses
Agreed, a few more but Unchained is up there as well
reese
@Perry John Ehses I love Unchained thr bestđ€đž
Perry John Ehses
@reese you are very cool my friend!
reese
@Perry John Ehses Thanks! I'm 14
Tharos
The intro riff is just mind blowing!!
YouTube has too many adverts
Totally agree, learning this song on the guitar and the intro riff and solo just forces the song forwards
Emile Barry
That's why I tied it together with Eruption.
lenton crerar
Yup