Unchained

Unchained is the best-known song from Van Halen's 1981 album Fair Warning. Considered to be one of the band's signature tracks, it is instantly identifiable and one of the most requested songs on FM radio in the 1980s. Eddie Van Halen wrote the main riff at 4:00 in the morning with engineer Donn Landee while they were doing some overdubbing on the album. The song features prominent use of the MXR M-117 flanger, which has become a popular sound and a preset for the flanger setting was included on the EVH Flanger MXR later manufactured. It uses a dropped-D tuning down a half step with suspended fourth chords interspersed. The song is also notable for being producer Ted Templeman's only vocal contribution to the band when he says "Come on, Dave, gimme a break!" during the interlude of the song. He thought David Lee Roth was getting too obnoxious and he jumped in. The band liked the way it sounded and kept it in the song.

You said 'I cannot get there from here, baby And I don't care where I'm goin' Here's to your thin red line I'm stepping over Thought you'd never miss me 'Til I got a Fat City address Non-stop talker, what a rocker! Blue-eyed murder in a size five dress Change, nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah you hit the ground running Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah you hit the ground running No, I don't ask for permission This is my chance to fly Maybe enough ain't enough for you But it's my turn at a try Thought you'd never miss me 'Til I got a Fat City address Non-stop talker, what a rocker! Blue-eyed murder in a size five dress Change, nothing stays the same Unchained, and ya hit the ground running Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running Change, nothing stays the same Unchained, and ya hit the ground running Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running Take a look at this! Hey, man, that suit is you! You'll get some leg tonight for sure! Tell us how you do! (Come on, Dave, give me a break.) Hey, hey, hey, hey, one break coming up! Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running Change, and nothing stays the same Unchained, yeah ya hit the ground running