Ice Cream Man is the tenth track on Van Halen.
The acoustic intro on this John Brim penned, Elmore James recorded, was performed by David Lee Roth. He played the intro live on a variety of acoustic/electric guitars tuned to open E. On rare occasions he would pull out his infamous Dave-sickle (as pictured), a steel-string acoustic/electric that looked like a giant ice cream bar.
For over 20 years fans wondered about the lyrics of this song. Speculation about one line in the song led to dozens of theories. The mystery was cleared up by the band in 1999. Dave is actually singing, “I got puddin’ pie banana, dixie cups, all flavors and pushups too.”
From Guitar World:
In his pre-Van Halen days, DLR used to perform this horny midcentury blues – originally by John Brim – in solo acoustic form. It became a VH staple early on, before being recorded for posterity on the band’s 1978 debut. And while Dave’s vocals and acoustic guitar (tuned to open E) are a highlight of the studio version, Ed made sure to firebomb the proceedings with one of his most electrifying solos on record.
Lyrics:
(Dedicate one to the ladies…)
Now summertime’s here babe, need somethin’ to keep you cool
Ah now summertime’s here babe, need somethin’ to keep you cool
Better look out now though, Dave’s got somethin’ for you
Tell ya what it is
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
Oh my my, I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on a second baby
I got puddin’ pie banana, dixie cups
All flavors and push ups too
I’m your ice cream man, baby, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on, one more
Well, I’m usually passin’ by just about eleven o’clock
Uh huh, I never stop, I’m usually passin’ by, just around eleven o’clock
And if you let me cool you one time, you’ll be my regular stop
All right boys
I got puddin’ pie banana, dixie cups
All flavors and push ups too
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Yes I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
Ah, one time
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
One time, boys
I’m your ice cream man
I’m your ice cream man
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-baby
Ah my, my, my
All my flavors are guaranteed to satis-uh-fy
Ow