Panama

"Panama" is a song from Van Halen's highly successful album 1984. It was the third single released from that record and is one of their most recognized songs. The song was written about a car. According to David Lee Roth this was because critics accused him of writing about nothing more than partying, sex, and automobiles but Roth realized that he had yet to write a song about cars. In an interview with Howard Stern, Roth explained the meaning behind the trademark song. Although the song features some suggestive lyrics, it is about a car that Roth saw race in Las Vegas; its name was "Panama", hence the title of the song. During the bridge of the song where Roth says "I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off of it," guitarist Eddie Van Halen can be heard revving his Lamborghini in the background. The car was backed up to the studio and microphones were attached to the exhaust pipe to record the sound for the song. The music video for the song, directed by Pete Angelus, features mostly on-stage antics by the band. It heavily uses shots of band members flying through the air attached to a cable. During the breakdown, David Lee Roth is seen sword dancing and ribbon dancing. Bassist Michael Anthony's Jack Daniel whiskey bottle guitar is also seen.

[Intro] Oh yeah Uh-huh [Verse 1] Jump back, what's that sound? Here she comes, full blast and top down Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue Model citizen zero discipline [Pre-Chorus] Don't you know she's coming home with me? You'll lose her in the turn I'll get her! [Chorus] Panama, Panama Panama, Panama [Verse 2] Ain't nothin' like it, her shiny machine Got the feel for the wheel, keep the moving parts clean Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue Got an on-ramp Comin' through my bedroom [Pre-Chorus] Don't you know she's coming home with me? You'll lose her in the turn I'll get her! [Chorus] Panama, Panama Panama, Panama [Guitar Solo] [Spoken Interlude] Yeah, we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off of it Ah, I reach down, between my legs, ease the seat back [Bridge] She's blinding, I'm flying Right behind the rear-view mirror, now Got the feeling, power-steering Pistons popping, ain't no stopping now! [Chorus] Panama, Panama Panama, Panama Panama, Panama Panama