The American hard rock band Van Halen released a cover of "You Really Got Me" for their 1978 debut album, Van Halen. As the band's first single, it was a popular radio hit that helped jump-start the band's career, as it had done for the Kinks 14 years earlier.

This version, which was cited by Eddie Van Halen as an "updated" version of the original, featured "histrionic" guitar playing by Eddie Van Halen and "vocal shenanigans" by David Lee Roth. The song had been played by the band live for years before its studio release. On the radio, it is often featured with "Eruption", the instrumental that precedes it on the album, as an intro.

Lyrics

Girl, you really got me goin'

You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' now

Yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I can't sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' now

Oh yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me

You really got me

You really got me

See, don't ever set me free

I always want to be by your side

Girl, you really got me now

You got me so I can't sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' now

Oh yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me

You really got me

You really got me

Oh no

See, don't ever set me free

I always want to be by your side

Girl, you really got me now

You got me so I can't sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' now

Oh yeah, you really got me now

You got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me

You really got me

You really got me

Songwriters: Ray Davies

You Really Got Me lyrics © BMG Rights Management