When the group was first formed in 1971, they were called Shacklock after their guitarist Alan Shacklock. Members included Janita Haan and Dave Hewitt, with Dave Punshon and Dick Powell later joining. The first release was their single "Elusive"; their first album, First Base, went gold in Canada. In 1973, Ed Spevock replaced Powell and Chris Holmes replaced Punshon on the second album. In 1975, Steve Gurl, keyboardist from Glenn Cornick's Wild Turkey replaced Holmes for the third album. The same year, Shacklock exited and Bernie Marsden (Wild Turkey) joined the team for the fourth album. After this, Haan and Hewitt left.
Though no original member remained, the group incorporated Ellie Hope and Ray Knott for the fifth album in 1976. Shortly before Babe Ruth disbanded, they were joined by the 17 year-old Birmingham born Simon Lambeth who made a few appearances on their last tour. Lambeth's hauntingly naïve sound on rhythm guitar, behind the lead of Marsden, promised much but sadly it was too late; Marsden moved on to bigger things and joined Whitesnake. Simon changed careers and sadly was lost to the music scene - Hope did an outstanding job on the LP, later releasing her own solo effort in the booming disco era. Unfortunately, these later efforts are harder to pin down.
A disco cover of Babe Ruth's classic "The Mexican" appeared in the late 70s, performed by the Bombers. This version inspired an electro/freestyle cover produced by John Jellybean Benitez in 1984, for which he managed to recruit Haan on vocals - the cover subsequently becoming noted for its popularity as an underground dance hit.
Between late 2005 and early 2006, Haan, Shacklock, Punshon, and Hewitt recorded new material together in Nashville, with Spevock recording his drums in London. The album was completed September 2006, and after being made available in digital form via the band's official web site, it was released on CD through Revolver Records in the first quarter of 2009.
The Duchess of Orleans
Babe Ruth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For seeming so forlorn,
A thief by trade they know me
For you I am reborn,
There are men who knows me well
I won't be cruel
I'm just a knave as well.
So I may see your face
Pray hold your lantern higher
It's clearer now but wait
It's a face I know so well
It's not for me to say but we'll find the way.
Heaven knows I could be wrong
To love a guy like you
Your rags and my riches won't do
Heaven knows I should be strong
and damn my yesterdays
Help me to find the way
Take! Take my hands so tight
so you can't let go
I know your tale is dirty
And we must surely know
That is only time can tell
we'll get off these doors where others don't go
Heaven knows those saddened eyes
can tell me all i wanna know
your face can I feel in my soul
God I found the perfect love
a vagabond with sins
when you're holding me loving me
love is so blind now
it's time to believe it's a dream
And leave the Duchess of Orleans
And leave
The Duchess of Orleans by Babe Ruth is a song that tells the tale of a thief who has fallen in love with a member of royalty. The thief is reborn for the Duchess and is asking for forgiveness for his past transgressions. He asks her to come closer and hold up her lantern so he can see her face. He recognizes her face and knows her but does not mention how he knows her. He promises not to be cruel to her and asks her to take his hand so he can show her a different life. Heaven knows he shouldn't love her, but he does, and he is willing to risk everything for her. Finally, he knows it is time to leave the Duchess of Orleans behind and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Do pardon me your Highness
The singer is apologizing to the royalty for their seemingly melancholic demeanor.
For seeming so forlorn,
The singer is expressing regret for appearing sad or gloomy in the presence of the royalty.
A thief by trade they know me
The singer is admitting that they are a professional thief and that their reputation precedes them.
For you I am reborn,
The artist is saying that they are starting anew because of the presence of the royalty and how they feel about them.
There are men who knows me well
The artist is acknowledging that there are people who are familiar with them and their traits.
I won't be cruel
The singer is reassuring the royalty that despite their profession, they won't cause them any harm or be malicious towards them.
I'm just a knave as well.
The singer is stating that they are just a trickster or a rogue, like many other people.
Please come a little closer
The artist is requesting the royalty to move closer to them so that they can see their face clearly.
So I may see your face
The artist wants to see the royalty's face more closely and clearly.
Pray hold your lantern higher
The artist is asking the royalty to raise their lantern higher so that they can see their face better.
It's clearer now but wait
The singer is responding to seeing the royalty's face more clearly and asking them to wait for them to react.
It's a face I know so well
The artist is realizing that they recognize the royalty's face and they are familiar with them.
It's not for me to say but we'll find the way.
The singer is acknowledging that they shouldn't disclose their knowledge about the royalty's identity but they will find a way to come to a resolution.
Heaven knows I could be wrong
The singer acknowledges that they could be mistaken in their feelings for the royalty.
To love a guy like you
The singer is admitting that it might not be reasonable or expected for them to have feelings for the royalty.
Your rags and my riches won't do
The artist is saying that social class differences between them will likely make it impossible for them to have a relationship.
Heaven knows I should be strong
The artist is acknowledging that they should be stronger and resist their feelings for the royalty.
and damn my yesterdays
The singer wishes to change their past mistakes and the things that have led them to their current situation.
Help me to find the way
The singer is requesting assistance from an external source to help them overcome their internal struggle.
Take! Take my hands so tight
The artist is offering their hands to the royalty, wanting to hold them tightly.
so you can't let go
The artist is asking the royalty not to let go of their hand, signifying a desire for a deeper connection or relationship.
I know your tale is dirty
The artist acknowledges that the royalty has a questionable or infamous background.
And we must surely know
The singer is saying that they both need to be aware of the reality of their situation.
That is only time can tell
The artist is saying that only the passage of time can reveal what will happen between them.
we'll get off these doors where others don't go
The singer and the royalty will go somewhere unconventional, unusual, or forbidden, where other people don't typically go.
Heaven knows those saddened eyes
The singer acknowledges that the royalty's eyes reflect sadness and turmoil.
can tell me all i wanna know
The singer believes that the royalty's eyes reveal everything they need or want to know.
your face can I feel in my soul
The artist feels a strong connection with the royalty and their face is etched in their memory.
God I found the perfect love
The artist believes that they have found their ideal or perfect romantic partner.
a vagabond with sins
The singer acknowledges that their perfect partner is someone who might be considered a wanderer or drifter, someone who has committed some moral wrongdoing.
when you're holding me loving me
The singer fantasizes about or desires the royalty's love and affection, referring to them holding or being intimate with them.
love is so blind now
The artist acknowledges that love can often be irrational, making them feel like they are willing to overlook the difficulties or obstacles in their relationship.
it's time to believe it's a dream
The artist acknowledges that their situation might feel too good to be true or unbelievable.
And leave the Duchess of Orleans
The artist is saying goodbye to the royalty, who represents a certain lifestyle or social standing that they might not be able to be a part of.
And leave
The singer ends the song with a simple command, signifying their desire for closure or resolution.
Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.