The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Ooh oh, hey
Hey, oh-oh, hey
He comes from a foreign place
An island far away
Intrigues me with every move
Til' I'm breathless, I'm helpless
Can't keep my cool
Steals my heart when he takes my hand
And we dance, to the rhythm of the band
I feel his fingertips, grip my hips
And I slip as we dip into a rare bliss
Mama used to warn me
To beware of those Latin lovers
She said I gave my heart too soon
And that's how I became your mother
I said, "Ay mama, you seem to forget
I'm not in love yet
Sweet talk don't win me over"
But I realized
Big brown eyes can hypnotize
When he says
"I am full blood boricua"
Reads the tattoo on his arm
He tells me, "Mami, I need ya"
And my heartbeat pumps so strong
Getting lost in el ritmo
He whispers, "Te quiero, te quiero"
I begin to give in with no hesitation
Can't help my infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
It's pure infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
Hey
Skin the color of cinnamon
His eyes light up and I melt within
Feels so good it must be a sin
I can't stop what I started
I'm giving in (giving in)
He brings life to my fantasies
Sparks a passion inside of me ('side of me)
Finds the words when I cannot speak
In the silence, his heartbeat is music to me
Mama used to warn me
Not to rush love with another (not to rush love)
She said I'm not trying to lecture
I just care about my daughter
Ay mama, you seem to forget
I never will let
A man control my emotions
But when he smiles (when he smiles)
I feel like a little child
When he says
I am full blood boricua
Reads the tattoo on his arm (whoa, whoa)
He tells me, "Mami I need ya"
And my heartbeat pumps so strong (so strong)
Getting lost in el ritmo
He whispers, "Te quiero, te quiero"
I begin to give in with no hesitation
Can't help my infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
It's pure infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
Caught between my mama's words
And what I feel inside
I'm wanting to explore his world
But part of me wants to hide
Should I risk it? Can't resist it
This has caught me by surprise
Should I, let him take me to Puerto Rico?
I can't hold back no more
Let's go tonight
Ooh, hey
Papi, hold me
Say that you adore me (you adore me)
Never let go
Never leave me lonely (leave me lonely)
Papi, hold me
Say that you adore me (oh)
Never let go
Never leave me lonely
I am full blood boricua (boricua)
Reads the tattoo on his arm (on his arm)
He tells me, "Mami I need ya"
And my heartbeat pumps so strong (so strong)
Getting lost in el ritmo
He whispers, "Te quiero, te quiero" (oh, quiero)
I begin to give in with no hesitation
Can't help my infatuation
(I can't help, what I'm feeling, I'm infatuated)
It's pure infatuation (oh)
Can't help my infatuation (oh, whoa, oh)
It's pure infatuation
Hey
Hey, oh-oh, hey
He comes from a foreign place
An island far away
Intrigues me with every move
Til' I'm breathless, I'm helpless
Can't keep my cool
Steals my heart when he takes my hand
And we dance, to the rhythm of the band
I feel his fingertips, grip my hips
And I slip as we dip into a rare bliss
Mama used to warn me
To beware of those Latin lovers
She said I gave my heart too soon
And that's how I became your mother
I said, "Ay mama, you seem to forget
I'm not in love yet
Sweet talk don't win me over"
But I realized
Big brown eyes can hypnotize
When he says
"I am full blood boricua"
Reads the tattoo on his arm
He tells me, "Mami, I need ya"
And my heartbeat pumps so strong
Getting lost in el ritmo
He whispers, "Te quiero, te quiero"
I begin to give in with no hesitation
Can't help my infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
It's pure infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
Hey
Skin the color of cinnamon
His eyes light up and I melt within
Feels so good it must be a sin
I can't stop what I started
I'm giving in (giving in)
He brings life to my fantasies
Sparks a passion inside of me ('side of me)
Finds the words when I cannot speak
In the silence, his heartbeat is music to me
Mama used to warn me
Not to rush love with another (not to rush love)
She said I'm not trying to lecture
I just care about my daughter
Ay mama, you seem to forget
I never will let
A man control my emotions
But when he smiles (when he smiles)
I feel like a little child
When he says
I am full blood boricua
Reads the tattoo on his arm (whoa, whoa)
He tells me, "Mami I need ya"
And my heartbeat pumps so strong (so strong)
Getting lost in el ritmo
He whispers, "Te quiero, te quiero"
I begin to give in with no hesitation
Can't help my infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
It's pure infatuation
(Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah)
Caught between my mama's words
And what I feel inside
I'm wanting to explore his world
But part of me wants to hide
Should I risk it? Can't resist it
This has caught me by surprise
Should I, let him take me to Puerto Rico?
I can't hold back no more
Let's go tonight
Ooh, hey
Papi, hold me
Say that you adore me (you adore me)
Never let go
Never leave me lonely (leave me lonely)
Papi, hold me
Say that you adore me (oh)
Never let go
Never leave me lonely
I am full blood boricua (boricua)
Reads the tattoo on his arm (on his arm)
He tells me, "Mami I need ya"
And my heartbeat pumps so strong (so strong)
Getting lost in el ritmo
He whispers, "Te quiero, te quiero" (oh, quiero)
I begin to give in with no hesitation
Can't help my infatuation
(I can't help, what I'm feeling, I'm infatuated)
It's pure infatuation (oh)
Can't help my infatuation (oh, whoa, oh)
It's pure infatuation
Hey
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