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
Peppermint Man
Dick Dale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was his name (was his name)
Every girl he loved (girl he loved)
Well, he left her in vain (left her in vain)
Oh now, Mr. Peppermint Man
Peppermint Man
Every girl he loved now he left her in vain
Now well, you know him
and when you see him
by his striped shirt
He carries a real sign
Says "Have love will hurt"
Oh, Mr. Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Every girl he loved now he left her in vain
I once had a true love
She was faithful and true
There wasn't anything
That she, she wouldn't do
Yeah, 'til one day I come along (day I came along)
And took her by her hand (took her by her hand)
And said "Darling, my name is the Peppermint Man"
And he followed and followed his plan
And fall into the trap of the
Pepper-Peppermint Man
Mr. Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Every girl he loved now he left her in vain
Pepper, Pepper, Pepper
Pepper, Peppermint Man
The song "Peppermint Man" by Dick Dale tells the story of a man known as Mr. Peppermint Man who goes around breaking the hearts of every girl he loves. The first verse introduces the character and his habit of leaving his lovers in vain. The chorus repeats his name and describes him as a person who breaks hearts. The second verse describes how to identify him with his striped shirt and the sign he carries that says "Have love will hurt". The final verse tells a personal story of how Dick Dale's own girlfriend, who was faithful and would do anything for him, fell for the Peppermint Man's trap.
The song is a cautionary tale warning young women to be careful of charming men who may not have their best interests at heart. The Peppermint Man is depicted as someone who uses his charisma to get what he wants and then moves on to the next conquest, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. The song highlights the importance of being cautious in matters of love and of listening to the warnings of those who have experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Peppermint Man, oh yeah (Peppermint Man)
Introducing the singer of the song, known as Mr. Peppermint Man
It was his name (was his name)
Confirms that Peppermint Man is his actual name
Every girl he loved (girl he loved)
Describes Peppermint Man's romantic partners
Well, he left her in vain (left her in vain)
Indicates that Peppermint Man's previous relationships have ended badly
Oh now, Mr. Peppermint Man
Reintroducing the character of Peppermint Man
Peppermint Man
Repeating the name of the singer
Every girl he loved now he left her in vain
Reiterates the theme of Peppermint Man's failed relationships
Now well, you know him
Assuming that the audience is now familiar with Peppermint Man
and when you see him
Describing how to identify the character
by his striped shirt
Providing a specific detail regarding Peppermint Man's appearance
He carries a real sign
Further describing Peppermint Man's physicality
Says "Have love will hurt"
Quoting a phrase that Peppermint Man associates with himself
I once had a true love
Introducing a personal story related to the theme of the song
She was faithful and true
Detailing positive qualities of the love interest
There wasn't anything
Further emphasizing the positive qualities of the love interest
That she, she wouldn't do
Highlighting the love interest's capability and willingness to do anything for the artist
Yeah, 'til one day I come along (day I came along)
Introducing a turning point in the artist's story
And took her by her hand (took her by her hand)
Describing a physical action that the singer takes
And said "Darling, my name is the Peppermint Man"
Revealing the singer to be Peppermint Man, and creating dramatic irony
And he followed and followed his plan
Indicating that Peppermint Man has a specific plan in mind
And fall into the trap of the
Implying that the plan has a negative result
Pepper-Peppermint Man
Repeating the name of the artist in a variation
Pepper, Pepper, Pepper
Repeating a portion of the name of the singer
Pepper, Peppermint Man
Repeating the name of the artist in a variation
Mr. Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Reintroducing the character of Peppermint Man
Peppermint Man (Peppermint Man)
Repeating the name of the singer
Every girl he loved now he left her in vain
Reiterating the theme of Peppermint Man's failed relationships
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.