Dale is revered as one of the pioneers of surf rock and one of the most influential guitarists of the early 1960s. His technique influenced future guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom-made Fender amplifiers. Among Dale's most well-known songs are "Misirlou", "Surf Beat", and "Let's Go Trippin'". He also released music under Dick Dale & His Del-Tones.
Born Richard Anthony Mansour to a Lebanese father and a Polish mother, he soon learned to play the drums, the ukulele, and finally the guitar. Among his early musical influences was his uncle, an oud player performing belly dance music. A plethora of Dale's early material contains middle eastern musical influences. Dale's professional career began in 1959, playing with his band The Del-Tones for surfers at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, California. With authorities concerned about the mix of young people and guitars, one of the requirements at the Ballroom was that every male patron wear a tie, so the audience was often made up of barefooted guys in surfer garb wearing ties that were handed out at the door.
Dale is often credited as one of the first electric guitarist to employ exotic scales in his playing. When Dale started surfing he became so fascinated that he began seeking ways of channeling the energy and power of the sport through his guitar playing. While he is primarily known for introducing the use of guitar reverberation, which has since become a staple of the surf sound, it was Dale's fast staccato picking that was his trademark. Due to his left-handedness, Dale was initially forced to play a right-handed model. However, he did so without restringing the guitar, leading him to effectively play the guitar upside-down (while Hendrix would restring his guitar). Even after he acquired a proper left-handed guitar, Dale continued to use his reverse stringing.
Discography:
Albums:
1962 - Surfer's Choice (Deltone)
1963 - King of the Surf Guitar (Capitol)
1963 - Checkered Flag (Capitol)
1964 - Mr. Eliminator (Capitol)
1964 - Summer Surf (Capitol)
1965 - Rock Out With Dick Dale & His DelTones: Live At Ciro's (Capitol)
1983 - The Tigers Loose (Balboa)
1993 - Tribal Thunder (HighTone)
1994 - Unknown Territory
1996 - Calling Up Spirits (Beggars Banquet)
2001 - Spacial Disorientation
Mr. Peppermint Man
Dick Dale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was his name (Was his name)
Every gal he loved (Girl he loved)
He left her in vain (Left her in vain)
Yeah, Mister Peppermint Man
Peppermint Man
Every gal he loved
Well you'll know him a-when you see him
Bright, stripey shirt
He carries a big ol' sign
Have love, will hurt
Yeah, Mister Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Every mother he loved
Well he left her in vain
I once had a true love
She was special and true
Wasn't anything, she
She wouldn't do
Yeah, till one day
He come along (Peppermint Man)
And took her by the hand (Peppermint Man)
Said, "Doll, my name is Peppermint Man"
And then follow all over
All over this land
Fall into the trap
Of the Pepper, Peppermint Man
Yeah, Mister Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
I'm a bad lovin' man (Peppermint Man)
Oh, Every gal he loved
Oohhh, he left her in vain
I said, C'mon Baby
Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Mister Pepper
Ummmmm, Mister Pepper
Oh, Peppermint Man
C'mon, Ooohhhhh
Yeah, Mister Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
I said Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Ah, every gal he loved
Well he left her in vain
I say, C'mon Honey
C'mon to the Mister Peppermint Man
Oh, now Pepper
Ummmm, Yeah, Mister Pepper
Owwwwww
(Long Saxophone Solo + Hand Clapping)
SPOKEN: Hey, that's out o' sight, Man!
The song "Mr. Peppermint Man" by Dick Dale & The Del-Tones is about a man known for leaving women heartbroken after loving them. The lyrics describe him as a man in a bright, stripey shirt who carries a big ol' sign that says "Have love, will hurt." The first verse says that every girl he loved, he left in vain. The second verse tells the story of a woman who was special and true until the Peppermint Man came along, took her by the hand, and introduced himself. The woman then falls into the trap of the Peppermint Man, following him all over the land, and ultimately ends up heartbroken.
The song's lyrics convey a sense of warning to women to stay away from the Peppermint Man, who is portrayed as a bad-loving man who will only leave them hurt. The saxophone solo and hand-clapping also add to the song's energetic, upbeat feel. Overall, "Mr. Peppermint Man" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling for someone who is not worthy of one's love.
Line by Line Meaning
Mister Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Referring to a person named Mister Peppermint Man or simply, the Peppermint Man.
Was his name (Was his name)
His name was Mister Peppermint Man.
Every gal he loved (Girl he loved)
Every girl he loved or was in a relationship with.
He left her in vain (Left her in vain)
He broke up with them or hurt them badly, leaving them with no good reason.
Yeah, Mister Peppermint Man
Repeating his name to address him.
Peppermint Man
Repeating his nickname.
Well he left her in vain
Reiterating that he left every girl he loved without any good reason.
Well you'll know him a-when you see him
His appearance is distinctive enough to be recognized.
Bright, stripey shirt
He wears a shirt with bright stripes on it.
He carries a big ol' sign
He carries a large sign, the contents of which are unknown.
Have love, will hurt
The sign suggests that he is capable of love but will also likely cause heartbreak.
Every mother he loved
Refers to every girl's mother he loved.
I once had a true love
The singer is reminiscing about their past.
She was special and true
The singer's past love was special and honest.
Wasn't anything, she
She was willing to do anything to make the relationship better.
She wouldn't do
She refused to do something.
Yeah, till one day
Until one day, something happened.
He come along (Peppermint Man)
Mister Peppermint Man entered the picture.
And took her by the hand (Peppermint Man)
Mister Peppermint Man took her away- either literally or figuratively.
Said, "Doll, my name is Peppermint Man"
Mister Peppermint Man introduced himself to the artist's past love.
And then follow all over
He pursued her persistently.
All over this land
Mister Peppermint Man is known widely.
Fall into the trap
The girls he meets eventually fall for him.
Of the Pepper, Peppermint Man
Again referring to Mister Peppermint Man's nickname.
I'm a bad lovin' man (Peppermint Man)
Mister Peppermint Man is not a good boyfriend.
Oh, Every gal he loved
Referencing all the women Mister Peppermint Man was in relationships with.
Oohhh, he left her in vain
Repeating that he abandoned them without any valid reason.
I said, C'mon Baby
The artist is urging a girl or making a request.
Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Pep-Mister Pepper
Uses Mister Peppermint Man's nickname.
Ummmmm, Mister Pepper
Repeating Mister Peppermint Man's nickname.
Owwwwww
An exclamation of excitement or enthusiasm.
I say, C'mon Honey
The artist is urging a girl or making a request.
C'mon to the Mister Peppermint Man
Asking someone in particular to come to Mister Peppermint Man.
Long Saxophone Solo + Hand Clapping
Description of the musical interlude.
SPOKEN: Hey, that's out o' sight, Man!
Positive affirmations about the music.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind