Unchained

Van Halen

About Unchained

"Unchained" is a song from Van Halen's fourth album, Fair Warning. Vocalist David Lee Roth's working title for the song was "Hit the Ground Running". The song features prominent use of the MXR M-117 flanger, which became a popular sound and spurred sales of the pedal. A preset for the flanger was also included on the EVH Flanger MXR pedal. It uses a Drop Db tuning with suspended fourth chords interspersed. The song is 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.  


Year:
1981
3:30
128 
#1

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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 to 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 side-swiped 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

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Van Halen

Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Its 1978 debut album, Van Halen—featuring guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony—is widely considered to be among the most "original" and "revolutionary" albums to "change rock and roll." more »

4 fans

Written by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, David Roth, Michael Anthony

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


23 facts about this song

Band Details
"Unchained" is a song by American rock band Van Halen from their fourth studio album, "Fair Warning" which was released in 1981.
Album Production
The album and the song "Unchained" were produced by Ted Templeman, who had worked with the band since their debut album.
Unique Sound
The song is regarded for incorporating a unique guitar sound, achieved by Eddie Van Halen using a flanger effect during the main riff and the solo.
Chart Performance
Despite not being released as a single, "Unchained" is one of Van Halen's most popular songs and it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart in 1981.
Live Performances
"Unchained" is a staple of Van Halen's live performances and is often used as an encore.
Influential Nature
The song had a vast influence on hard rock music and is often cited by other musicians as one of Van Halen's best works.
Notable Lyrics
A notable part of the song is the spoken interlude, where producer Ted Templeman says, "Come on, Dave, gimme a break!" and lead singer David Lee Roth responds, "Hey, I don't sound like that!"
Guitarist Recognition
"Guitar World" magazine, in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos, ranked Eddie Van Halen's solo in "Unchained" at number 27.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by several bands, including Slaughter, Godsmack, and rockumentary band, Van Canto.
Used in Media
"Unchained" has been used in various forms of media including movies, TV shows, and video games, most notably in the movie "Superbad" and the video game "Guitar Hero: Van Halen."
Release Details
"Unchained" is a song by American hard rock band Van Halen, from their 1981 album, "Fair Warning."
Musical Style
The song is a hard rock track which is characterized by some of Eddie Van Halen's most popular guitar riffs and solos.
Critical Reception
It is often listed as one of the top songs in the Van Halen discography, and is frequently cited as a fan favorite.
Live Performances
"Unchained" is a staple at live Van Halen concerts, often featured during the "encore" portion of their performances.
Album Impact
The song played a pivotal role in defining the distinct sound of the "Fair Warning" album, which is often categorized as darker and heavier than Van Halen's preceding albums.
Innovation in Sound
The song features the use of a flanger, a guitar effect pedal that creates a swirling, jet-like sound, which Eddie used to innovative effect.
Prominent Rankings
"Unchained" has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest rock songs of all time; for instance, it ranked at number 15 in the VH1's list of "Top 100 Hard Rock Songs."
Inspiration
The lyrics and title of the song were inspired by a comment from a record label executive who suggested that the band needed to become "unchained” to achieve their full potential.
Band's Composition
At the time of the song's release, the band's line-up consisted of lead vocalist David Lee Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony, and drummer Alex Van Halen.
Production
The distinctive, almost spoken-word middle section heard in the track is actually the voice of producer Ted Templeman, a frequency of such outside-voice cameos in the band’s discography.
Song Legacy
The song has been covered by several other bands and has influenced countless hard rock and metal bands over the past few decades.
Pop Culture
"Unchained" has been featured in a number of television shows, films, and video games throughout the years, contributing to its enduring popularity.
Guitar Work
Eddie Van Halen performed a distinct drop-D tuning for the track, an innovative move, adding more heft to the song’s hard-driving sound.

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