Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut, on Au… Read Full Bio ↴Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut, on August 25, 1950; died in New York City on August 6, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter of Basque, Pequot, and Irish descent. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille (1974–1986) and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in various American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary music, including Jack Nitzsche, Doc Pomus, Dr. John, Mark Knopfler, Allen Toussaint, and Eddie Bo. A wide range of styles, including latin rhythms, blues riffs, doo-wop, Cajun music, strains of French cabaret, and echoes of early-1960s uptown soul, can be heard in DeVille's work.
As a teenager, DeVille had a band named Billy and the Kids. He moved to London looking to form a band, but was unsuccessful in finding like-minded musicians. Eventually he landed in San Francisco where he formed a band with bassist Ruben Siguenza and drummer Tom "Manfred" Allen. The band played under the names Billy DeSade & the Marquis and the Lazy Eights before settling on the name Mink DeVille. Later, DeVille took the band to New York City, where they helped to pioneer punk rock music and were one of the original house bands at CBGB, the New York nighclub where punk rock music was born in the mid-1970s.
The typical DeVille song -- if any of his songs can be called "typical" -- is filled with romantic conviction and yearning. Latin rhythms, Blues riffs, and strains of country music can be heard in DeVille songs. Spanish Stroll was a hit in the U.S. and the UK in 1978; Storybook Love (nominated for an Academy Award in 1987) is the theme song of the movie The Princess Bride.
DeVille suffered from drug addiction for many years, which stifled his career. Among fellow musicians and songwriters, he was widely respected. Songwriter Doc Pomus said about Deville, "He knows the truth of a city street and the courage in a ghetto love song."
DeVille died of pancreatic cancer during the night of August 6, 2009 in a New York hospital.
DeVille had homes in New Orleans and Mississippi.
As a teenager, DeVille had a band named Billy and the Kids. He moved to London looking to form a band, but was unsuccessful in finding like-minded musicians. Eventually he landed in San Francisco where he formed a band with bassist Ruben Siguenza and drummer Tom "Manfred" Allen. The band played under the names Billy DeSade & the Marquis and the Lazy Eights before settling on the name Mink DeVille. Later, DeVille took the band to New York City, where they helped to pioneer punk rock music and were one of the original house bands at CBGB, the New York nighclub where punk rock music was born in the mid-1970s.
The typical DeVille song -- if any of his songs can be called "typical" -- is filled with romantic conviction and yearning. Latin rhythms, Blues riffs, and strains of country music can be heard in DeVille songs. Spanish Stroll was a hit in the U.S. and the UK in 1978; Storybook Love (nominated for an Academy Award in 1987) is the theme song of the movie The Princess Bride.
DeVille suffered from drug addiction for many years, which stifled his career. Among fellow musicians and songwriters, he was widely respected. Songwriter Doc Pomus said about Deville, "He knows the truth of a city street and the courage in a ghetto love song."
DeVille died of pancreatic cancer during the night of August 6, 2009 in a New York hospital.
DeVille had homes in New Orleans and Mississippi.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Willy DeVille Lyrics
(Due to) Gun Control My daddy he once told me: 'Don't think you can…
09. Stand by me When the night has come And the land is dark And the…
18 Hammers Well,there's 18 hammers standing in a line, Well,there's 1…
Across the Border Line There's a place where I've been told every street is Paved…
Across the Borderline There's a place where I've been told every street is Paved…
All by myself Little girl don't you want to stay? I want to be…
All in the Name of Love Cities they crumble, civilizations fall Cultures are forgot…
Angel Eyes Angel baby, you're the strength in my life And when we…
Angels Don't Lie When I first saw your face It was Sunday And in my…
Asi Te Amo Como las estrellas En el cielo le da luz Y suavemente le…
Assassin of Love She's got a heart of stone that cares for nobody Lips…
Bacon Fat While I was down in W.D.C. Certain folks were not glad…
Ballad of the Hoodlum Priest Oohh, oohh The hoolum priest and his downtown Juliet Swore t…
Bamboo Road I wake up in the morning And I'll work 'till night My…
Beating Like a Tom-Tom Tossin' and I'm turnin' all in my sleep All through the…
Been There Done That Been there done that don't do that no more Been there…
Betty And Dupree Betty told Dupree she wanna diamond ring Betty told Dupree s…
Big Blue Diamonds Big diamonds, big blue diamonds, on her finger (On her finge…
Cadillac Walk When the moon comes up the sun goes down Rita…
Carmelita I hear Mariachi static on my radio And the tubes they…
Chieva Late at night I dream of you all through my…
Come A Little Bit Closer In a little café just the other side of the…
Come to Poppa When the sun goes behind the clouds And you feel like…
Could You Would You Could you, would you hold me in your arms? And show…
Crow Jane Alley Outside the dark hotel room The taxis flash their lights Gar…
Demasiado Corazon Every morning I'm broken Every day I die Every night I wea…
Downside Of Town I left a note on your pillow With a hand print…
Empty Heart When I look all around me, there's pain everywhere Seems li…
Even While I Sleep You may be far away or just may be down…
Goin' Over the Hill I'm going over the hill, I'm going over the hill,…
Gun Control My daddy he once told me : 'Don't think you…
Gypsy Deck of Hearts Hold that lantern up high, I could have gone anywhere.…
Heart and Soul Every night I have the same recurring dream There you are…
Heart of a Fool There she goes See she's walking away Left me alone here …
Heat of the Moment I'm walking the sidewalk And I feel like every part of…
Heaven stood still As a tear fades away And the dawn drives a lovers…
Hello My Lover Hello, my lover, wherever you are I've been a fool, my…
Hey Joe Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your…
Hound Dog You ain't nothin' but a hound dog Cryin' all the time. You…
I One night of sin Is what I'm now paying for The things…
I Call Your Name All through the night The morning's the same as the evening …
I Can Only Give You Everything Baby, baby, sweet baby, look now, what do you see ? There…
I Must Be Dreaming You're in my blood, I can't help but love you.…
I Remember The First Time I remember the first time And the look in her eyes I…
I'm blue so blue Well, it′s true, so true I didn't do right by you I…
I'm Gonna Do Something The Devil Never Did Out in the street Out in the street The trucks will leave …
Iko Iko My grandma and your grandma, were sittin by the…
It's so Easy You know you're sliding down Against your heart Yeah, you go…
It's Too Late She's Gone It′s too late, she's gone It′s too late, my baby's gone Yes…
It`s So Easy You know you're sliding down Against your heart Yeah, you go…
Jump City Low down little miss treater Old man slick mister twister …
Junker's Blues My, my I'm sick as I could be Some people call me…
Key to My Heart You got the key to my heart, don't make me…
Lay Me Down Easy Calm this storm so the water's still And take me…
Let It Be Me I bless the day I found you I want to stay…
Lonely Hunter Down the back streets of desire Left on lonesome street Wh…
Louise [Chorus:] Oh Louise, yes you're the sweetest girl I know. …
Loup Garou Come with me through the doors Of a Bayou barroom There′s a…
Loup Garou 'Bal Goula' 'Loup Garou Bal Goula' 'Loup Garou Bal Goula' 'Loup Garou …
Lover Please Lover please, please come back Dont take that train goin dow…
Miracle Please help me up, you let me down If there's a…
Mixed Up Shook Up Girl Candle lit, and my eyes are slits Jumpin' now, paper clip. M…
Muddy Waters Rose Out Of The Mississippi Mud Try stealing a guitar that's strung with barbed wire Rippin…
My Forever Came Today I've heard that words of love can fade There must be…
My One Desire DeVille I don't care for all the wealth in the whole…
Needles and Pins I saw her today, I saw her face, it was…
Nightfalls When the morning breaks, the sun comes up I'm still awake…
No Such Pain as Love Don't you turn and look back at me Just quickly walk…
One Love One Lifetime DeVille They said it would be heaven, But heaven can't comp…
One Night Of Sin One night of sin Is what I'm now paying for The things…
Right There Right Then DeVille Right there, right then, I could have cried Right t…
Ruler of My Heart Ruler of my heart, robber of my soul Where can you…
Runnin' Through The Jungle DeVille (You run run run, you do run run) (You run run…
Save the Last Dance for Me You can dance-every dance with the guy Who gives you the…
Savoir Faire I was standing on the corner of the avenue I was…
Shake Sugaree I've got a secret I ain't gonna tell I'm goin' to heaven…
Since I Met You Baby Since I met you baby, my whole life has changed Since…
Slave To Love Tell her I'll be waiting In the usual place With the tired…
So So Real I used to think I used to be And everything was up…
Southern Politician Momma had such high hopes for her favorite sun He'd be…
Spanish Harlem There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up…
Spanish Jack Spanish Jack had a Cadillac that he always parked around…
Spanish Stroll Hey Mr. Jim I can see the shape you're in Finger…
Stand By Me When the night has come And the land is dark And the…
Stars that Speak There's a park somewhere Maybe in new york maybe in paris …
Steady Drivin' Man DeVille She's my dragon lady, I'm her Jumbo Jet S…
Still As a tear fades away And the dawn drives a lovers…
Storybook Love Come my love I'll tell you a tale Of a boy…
Teasin' You She's just teasin' you though she's teasin' too With that s…
The Band Played On Do I make you feel pretty When I say take another…
The Downing of the Flamingo Knowles It has been some time now since that fatal blow Tha…
The Mountains Of Manhattan DeVille The mountains of manhattan Drums along the hudso…
Time Has Come Today Our time has come today And young hearts will go their…
Time to Time This river runs deep And the road runs long. I…
Trouble Comin' Everyday In A World Gone Wrong Don't you see there was a time it was the…
Trouble In Mind Trouble in mind, I'm blue But I won't be blue always, 'Cause…
Voodoo Charm I wake up in the morning from the same dream…
When I Get Home Oh it's been so long Since I held you in my…
When You're Away From Me When you're not with me I feel lost and forsaken Without…
White Trash Girl Her daddy's in the Ku Klux Klan Her brother broke my…
Who Shot the La-La Hey fellas (hey) I wanna know (what ?)…
You Got The World In Your Hands How do you know just how to please me Thought I…
You'll Never Know You'll never know just how much I miss you You'll never…