You Really Got Me
Van Halen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh

Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I don't know what I'm doin'
Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I can't sleep at night

Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me, so, I can't sleep at night

(You really got me) oh
(You really got me) whoa, oh
(You really got me)

Please, don't ever let me be
I only wanna be by your side
Please, don't ever let me be
I only wanna be by your side

Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I don't know what I'm doin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me, so, I can't sleep at night

(You really got me) ah, ah
(You really got me) ah, ah
(You really got me)
Oh, no, no, ah

Ah, ow, ah-ah, ah, ow, ah-ah, ah, ow, unh

Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I don't know what I'm doin', awh
Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I can't sleep at night

Girl, you really got me now
You got me, so, I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me, so, I can't sleep at night

(You really got me)
(You really got me) oh




(You really got me)
Oh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

Van Halen's song You Really Got Me is a rock classic which is often considered as one of the greatest guitar riffs in rock music history. The song is an ode to the power a woman can have over a man and how it can leave the man feeling helpless and confused. The opening line "Girl, you really got me now" is a declaration of just how deeply affected the man is by the woman.


The repeated line "You got me, so I don't know what I'm doing" highlights the obsession and addiction the man has for the woman. He is so captivated by her that he is incapable of rational thought and doesn't know what he is doing. The line "I can't sleep at night" reinforces the intensity of his feelings and how they are affecting his daily life.


The chorus of the song, which consists of the repeated line "You really got me", serves to highlight the overwhelming power the woman has over the man. The final lines in the song "Please don't ever let me be, I only want to be by your side" demonstrate just how much the woman has consumed the man's life, and how much he wants to be with her.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh
Expressing surprise, excitement, or pleasure


Girl, you really got me now
Addressing a girl who has a strong hold over the singer


You got me, so, I don't know what I'm doin'
Being controlled by the girl to the point of confusion


Girl, you really got me now
Reiterating the girl's control over the artist


You got me, so, I can't sleep at night
The girl's power has become a burden on the artist, disrupting his sleep


Girl, you really got me now
The girl has thrown the singer's life into chaos and confusion


You got me, so, I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Being lost and disoriented due to the girl's power over the singer


Oh yeah, you really got me now
Emphasizing the strength of the girl's hold over the artist


You got me, so, I can't sleep at night
The girl's power has resulted in a negative impact on the artist's sleep


(You really got me) oh
Repetition of the girl's power over the artist


(You really got me) whoa, oh
Intensifying the girl's control over the singer


(You really got me)
Highlighting the girl's strong hold over the artist


Please, don't ever let me be
Wishing to remain under the girl's control


I only wanna be by your side
Wanting to remain close to the girl


Please, don't ever let me be
Reiterating the desire to remain under the girl's control


I only wanna be by your side
The only thing the artist wants is to be close to the girl


Girl, you really got me now
The girl's hold over the artist is still strong


You got me, so, I don't know what I'm doin', yeah
The girl's control over the singer has led to confusion and indecision


Oh yeah, you really got me now
The girl's power over the singer is emphasized once again


Got me, so, I can't sleep at night
The girl's control over the artist is causing a negative impact on his sleep


(You really got me) ah, ah
Repetition of the girl's power over the artist


(You really got me) ah, ah
Intensifying the girl's hold over the artist


(You really got me)
Emphasizing the girl's strong hold over the singer


Oh, no, no, ah
Exclamation of the severity of the girl's control over the artist


Ah, ow, ah-ah, ah, ow, ah-ah, ah, ow, unh
Exclamations indicating the extent of the singer's emotional pain caused by the girl's power over him


Girl, you really got me now
Reiterating the girl's strong hold over the singer


You got me, so, I don't know what I'm doin', awh
Confusion and disorientation resulting from the girl's power over the singer


Girl, you really got me now
The girl's power over the artist has disrupted his life


You got me, so, I can't sleep at night
The girl's control over the artist is causing a negative impact on his sleep


Girl, you really got me now
Emphasizing the depth and extent of the girl's hold over the singer


You got me, so, I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
The girl's power over the singer has made him feel lost and directionless


Oh yeah, you really got me now
The girl's hold over the artist is still strong


Got me, so, I can't sleep at night
The girl's power over the artist is having a negative impact on his sleep


(You really got me)
Reiteration of the girl's strong hold over the artist


(You really got me) oh
Intensifying the girl's control over the singer


(You really got me)
Emphasizing the girl's power over the artist


Oh, oh, oh
Exclamations expressing the depth of the singer's emotional turmoil caused by the girl's power over him




Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION, Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd
Written by: Ray Davies

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@justmeonthebeach

I said girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin'
(Oh yeah) you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me, ooh
You really got me, yeah
You really got me
Oh see, don't ever set me free
I only wanna be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin' now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me (no)
You really got me
You really got me
Let's interact!
Well look who's doing the call of the city
Look who's coming through the side
People tell me there ain't no reason why
They all see why they ain't mad at times
She's havin' a good time, alright!
He's a workin', he slaves his life away, yeah
He slaves his life away
Yeah I said girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin'
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
You really got me, yeah
Really got me
You really got me
Ooh



All comments from YouTube:

@walmirtheodoro9601

Van Halen รฉ simplesmente demais...

@ThePokersurfer

THE epitomy of my 70's rock moment ....... Hands down, all hail to Van Halen ๐ŸคŸ๐ŸคŸ๐ŸคŸ

@MultiMagnumforce

This album is possibly the greatest Rock album ever made.

@tobexdmasterofjej6363

Ngl Iโ€™d say unlawful carnal knowledge

@Hud.T.

I think itโ€™s most well know 1984

@user-bs3wb9hr1k

Brother, did you know that kinks is the original song?

@kristofschar6053

@๊น€์ง„์šฑ๊น€์ง„์šฑ yes i know ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜Š

@Ezecarrizoo_

Led Zeppelin I, Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV...

9 More Replies...

@v.s.bstudio7100

5 years old back in the late 90s blasting this on my boom box and playing along on a drum pad, first cassette I've ever got, great times!

@dominiquepaul6877

The Van Halen brothers: two so skillful and so nice people!!!

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