In the late 1960s he led a blues-rock trio called Love Sculpture, who scored a quasi-novelty hit by reworking Khachaturian's classical piece "Sabre Dance" as a speed-crazed rock number. "Sabre Dance" became a hit after garnering the enthusiastic attention of British DJ John Peel.
After Love Sculpture split, Edmunds had a number one single with "I Hear You Knocking", a Smiley Lewis cover. His only acting role followed, as a band member in the David Essex movie Stardust (1974 movie). After learning the trade of producer, culminating in a couple of singles in the style of Phil Spector, "Baby I Love You" and "Born To Be With You", he became linked with the pub rock movement of the early 1970s, producing Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe, and also The Flamin' Groovies, using a stripped down, grittier sound.
His own solo LP from that era, Subtle As A Flying Mallet, was similar in style. In 1977, the Brinsley Schwarz connection brought about a collaboration with Nick Lowe under the name Rockpile, with Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. For contractual reasons they could not record as Rockpile until 1980, but contemporary solo LPs (such as Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust and Edmunds' own Repeat When Necessary) were in fact group recordings. Dave Edmunds had more hits during this time, including Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk", Nick Lowe's "I Knew The Bride", Hank DeVito's "Queen of Hearts" ), Graham Parker's "Crawling From The Wreckage", and Melvin Endsley's "Singing The Blues" (originally a hit for Guy Mitchell).
Unexpectedly, after Rockpile relased their first LP under their own name (1980's Seconds Of Pleasure), the band split, generally attributed to tensions between Edmunds and Lowe. Edmunds spent the 1980s collaborating with and producing an assortment of artists, from Paul McCartney to King Kurt, and from The Stray Cats to Status Quo. He recorded the soundtrack for Porky's Revenge, supplying the main theme, "High School Nights", and was the musical director for a television special starring Carl Perkins, with assorted guests including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Rosanne Cash.
On his 1983 and 1984 releases, Information and Riff Raff, Edmunds collaborated on two songs with Jeff Lynne, the lead musician of Electric Light Orchestra. He recorded less frequently after the mid 1980s.
Edmunds now lives in Wales in semi-retirement, touring Scandinavia infrequently, after surviving a quadruple bypass several years ago.
Deborah
Dave Edmunds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's a fox and she knows it well
All the fellows for miles around want to get her but they never will
Just to have a girl with so much class
They'd crawl a mile over broken glass
And she'd let em do it just for a game
Deborah's her name
Heart breaking love making connissure
Deborah
Deborah's her name
She's the kind that never follows fashion
Gotta make up her own
All the other kids quick to catch on act like they've always known
But you should see em when the lights go down
Looking at her as she moves around
Pretty soon they're gonna look the same as the famous Deborah
Deborah
Heart breaking love making connoisseur
Deborah
Deborah's her name
One day when my ship comes in
I'm gonna make her wonder where I've been
I'll get some money and I'll jump in my car
I'll go and make a meal of Deborah
I'll take her driving up to the top
When we get started ain't gonna stop
I'm gonna go and pick that wild flower
And her name is Deborah
Deborah
Heart breaking love making connoisseur
Deborah
Deborah's her name
Deborah's her name
Deborah's her name
Deborah's her name
The song "Deborah" by Dave Edmunds is a tribute to a beautiful and alluring girl named Deborah who lives in the town that the singer inhabits. He describes her as a fox who knows how to use her charm to get the attention of the men in the surrounding areas. Despite the fact that many men are vying for her affection, she remains unattainable. Her class and beauty make men crawl through broken glass just for the chance to be with her, even if it's just for a game. The singer seems to be infatuated with her, referring to her as a "heart-breaking, love-making connoisseur".
Deborah is a unique and independent individual who doesn't follow fashion trends, but sets her own. The other kids try to emulate her style, but they can never quite capture her essence. When the lights go down, all eyes are on her as she moves about, and it won't be long before she becomes as famous as the Deborah in the song. The singer longs to win her affections and dreams of the day when he'll have the means to impress her. He's determined to take her for a ride in his car, show her his world, and make her his own.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a girl living in this town
There is a vivacious girl living in this town.
She's a fox and she knows it well
She is an attractive person and she is fully aware of it.
All the fellows for miles around want to get her but they never will
All the men in the area would like to date her, but none of them will be able to do so.
Just to have a girl with so much class
Just to have a girl with such a charming demeanor.
They'd crawl a mile over broken glass
They would go to great lengths to be with her.
And she'd let em do it just for a game
And she would allow them to do so just for amusement.
Deborah's her name
Her name is Deborah.
She's the kind that never follows fashion
She is someone who never copies others.
Gotta make up her own
She has to create her own personal style.
All the other kids quick to catch on act like they've always known
All of the other kids eagerly follow her fashion and pretend to have known it all along.
But you should see em when the lights go down
But one should observe them when the lights dim.
Looking at her as she moves around
Witnessing her as she moves about.
Pretty soon they're gonna look the same as the famous Deborah
Soon they will all look identical, like the famous Deborah.
One day when my ship comes in
One day when I become affluent.
I'm gonna make her wonder where I've been
I will cause her to contemplate where I have been.
I'll get some money and I'll jump in my car
I will gather some money and drive my vehicle.
I'll go and make a meal of Deborah
I will become intimate with Deborah.
I'll take her driving up to the top
I will take her for a drive up to the peak.
When we get started ain't gonna stop
Once we kick start this, there will be no halting it.
I'm gonna go and pick that wild flower
I will go and choose that untamed, feisty woman.
And her name is Deborah
And her name happens to be Deborah.
Deborah
Deborah.
Heart breaking love making connoisseur
Expert in pleasurable intercourse that causes heartbreak.
Deborah's her name
Her name is Deborah.
Deborah's her name
Her name is Deborah.
Deborah's her name
Her name is Deborah.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICK LOWE, DAVE EDMUNDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BaronEmpain
Long, looong time fan of Dave; thank you so much for this beautiful cut. It is nostalgia on my part or is Terry Williams really just one of the best and most underrated drummers in Rock? From the primal tom rolls at the beginning to that beautiful release into a Latin groove with all the hat work...I defy anyone to sit still :-) What joy that we have such music.
davepeterboro
Pure joy in 2 minutes 42 seconds
Brian Clayton
She took longer than that in 1973, I wonder where she is today!
SlashMan.EXE
Great song, never heard it before. It's ironic that the Crickets have a song called "Deborah," but more importantly, this song bares a lot of similarities to "My Little Girl" by them as well (as previous posters have pointed out). Then again, "My Little Girl" was inspired by "Sheila" by Tommy Roe, which was inspired by "Peggy Sue" by the Crickets (with Buddy Holly). Figure THAT out!
Deborah Luper
love this song and the name DEBORAH is on the rise again ..after 6 decades.
Rekku9
Terry Williams´ work is unbelievable.. Listen to the bell effect on the ride cymbal! Also, Nick on bass sounds relatively sober, if there is a way to tell a difference...
Kschtokes
I named my daughter after this song. I really did. 1983, Manchester: it was playing on the radio in some café on Oxford Road, because it was Dave Edmunds' birthday. I was on my way to an ante-natal check at St Mary's Hospital. Very young, very confused. Hadn't even dared to think about names. Song stuck in my head. April 15th has been known as Dave Edmunds Day in our family ever since. Happy birthday Dave Edmunds! (aged 69, April 15th 2013) Happy birthday Deborah! (aged 30, April 18th, 2013) xx
Sabatinitennis
A god of a song - cheers for uploading.
Clive Bindley
Yes..I saw Glitter on Quo's End Of The Road show at Milton Keynes. I bought a few of his singles too..I loved Rock n Roll Parts 1 & 2. Noddy should have been a fairground barker..Helluva voice!
St Pauli
Dave Edmunds= ROCK