Van Halen

Lyrics

[Intro]
Whoo!

[Verse 1]
Pretty woman walking down the street
Pretty woman, the kind I'd like to meet
Pretty woman, I don't believe you, it must be true
No one could look as good as you
Mercy

[Verse 2]
Pretty woman, won't you pardon me
Pretty woman, I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman, oh, you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me?

[Bridge]
Pretty woman, stop a while
Pretty woman, talk a while
Pretty woman, give your smile to me
Pretty woman, yeah, yeah, yeah
Pretty woman, look my way
Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me
'Cause I need you, need you tonight

[Verse 3]
Pretty woman, don't walk on by
Pretty woman, don't make me cry
Pretty woman, don't walk away-ay, okay
If that's the way it must be, okay
I guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow night, but wait
What do I see?
She's walking back to me
Whoa-whoa, pretty woman

If you're a fan of classic rock music, then you're almost sure to have heard or heard of Van Halen. This popular American rock band infamously covered "Oh (Pretty Woman)" by Roy Orbison for release in 1982. The song had already gained critical acclaim by then, having earned Orbison a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But Van Halen's cover version of "(Oh) Pretty Woman" was a hit in its own right and seems to have been something of a turning point for the band.

About (Oh) Pretty Woman

"(Oh) Pretty Woman" is a cover of Roy Orbison's classic. Van Halen recorded it as a single to start 1982, following the end of their Fair Warning tour. Charting at #12 on the Billboard charts, its success inspired label Warner Bros. to feature more covers in the band's subsequent album, "Diver Down."

Interestingly, "(Oh) Pretty Woman" is preceded by an instrumental intro known as "Intruder" on the album and in many other versions. This intro was made specifically for the music video as the captured footage was too long. Speaking of the music video, it is worth noting that it was directed by David Lee Roth, the band's lead singer at the time. Described by Roth as "rather like a surrealistic art project … where they paint the picture and come back three days later and try to figure out what they meant," the music video was one of the first to be banned on MTV.

Some of the reasons for the ban include complaints about the video's depiction of a Samurai warrior (played by Michael Anthony in the video, who is painted in a manner that some felt made fun of him), and the appearance of two midgets who appear to be molesting a woman (who is, in reality, a drag queen performer from the Los Angeles area).

It's worth noting that Van Halen's version of "(Oh) Pretty Woman" is a little different from Orbison's. Their version omits the final chorus and replaces it with a bluesy guitar solo. This was a typical move for the band members, who were known for their improvisational style of performing, injecting their own unique sound into covers they performed.

The decision to cover "(Oh) Pretty Woman" was all thanks to bassist Michael Anthony's discovery of an Orbison cassette tape. But the recording process wasn't without its challenges. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen struggled to find a way to make the song fit the band's instrumental style. He was more interested in creating a riff rather than merely hitting barre chords and strumming. Eventually, he came up with a riff that worked, and the band was able to complete the recording session in just one day.

With its catchy guitar riffs, driving drumbeats, and singable lyrics, "(Oh) Pretty Woman" quickly became a fan favorite and a staple of Van Halen's live performances. Fans especially enjoyed the high-octane guitar solo that replaced the final chorus, typical of Van Halen's signature improvisational style.

In the end, Van Halen's cover of "(Oh) Pretty Woman" remains one of the most memorable and beloved songs in their catalog. Its blues-inspired guitar riffs, Roth's confident and charismatic vocals, and the band's unmistakable sound made it a classic rock staple that endures to this day.

• Release Date: April 14, 1982
• Artist: Van Halen