By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ Last Sunday (July 19) was national ice cream day – hope you had a cone or two to celebrate the “holiday.” The occasion brought to mind the cool Van Halen song, “Ice Cream Man,” a rocked-up version of a tune written and originally recorded by the Chicago blues musician John Brim in 1953.
The Van Halen version appeared on the band’s 1978 debut album after David Lee Roth reportedly offered it to KISS’s Gene Simmons, who turned it down.
Filled with double entendres, it ultimately became a signature song for the famously libidinous Roth, who continued to perform it (often at great length) both during and after his tenure with Van Halen.
Here’s a toned-down, toe-tapping version (and more manageable in length) performed with the Mambo Slammers in 1995.
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 flavours are guaranteed to satisfy
Hold on a second, baby
I got a puddin’ pie banana, ah, dixie cups
All flavours and push ups too
I’m your ice cream man, baby, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavours 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 a puddin’ pie banana, ah, dixie cups
All flavours and push ups too
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavours 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 flavours 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
Oh my, my, my
All my flavours are guaranteed to satisfy
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