Pantala Naga Pampa

Song_infobox
Name = Pantala Naga Pampa


SorA = album
Artist = Dave Matthews Band
Album = Before These Crowded Streets
Released = April 28 1998
track_no = 1
Recorded = The Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA & Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY
Genre = Rock
Length = 0:40
Writer = David J. Matthews
Composer = Dave Matthews Band
Label = RCA
Producer = Steve Lillywhite
Chart position =
prev =
prev_no =
next = "Rapunzel"
next_no = 2

"Pantala Naga Pampa" is the first track on the Dave Matthews Band's album, "Before These Crowded Streets".

The song is the shortest track recorded by the band in the studio and was based on an old live song known as "What Will Become of Me?" part of which can be heard at the end of "Jimi Thing" on Matthews and Tim Reynolds' album, "Live at Luther College".

It was supposed that the title translates to "welcome to my home" in "Gambian," however, it was later discovered by fans that no such language exists. The phrase derives from an South Indian language Tamil meaning, "There's a python in my pants." This phrase was often shouted by an Indian chef that worked for the band during the "Crash" sessions, and Dave would yell it back at him. It is unknown whether Dave knew the meaning of the phrase when he named the song "Pantala Naga Pampa." [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=438]

When performed live by the band, the song is usually followed by "Rapunzel," the following track on the album. Although it has been followed by other songs at times.