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.
Gun Control
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'With just a bullet in your gun and a pistol in your hand'.
Guns are now outlawed and only outlaws have guns
And you can't walk the streets feeling safe anymore
Only thieves on parole and the cops out on patrol
Walk the streets feeling safe, ain't it strange? Due to gun control.
let me see you dance
Let me see you dance,
partner dance, ain't it strange hit the floor?
Due to gun control.
In this land of milk and honey, we tried so hard to make our own
You've got your feel of choice,
living clean and living long, long.
The power of persuasion, like a leg with broken bones
and let's not show out of town
You loose everthing you own
Only thieves on a parole and the cops out on patrol
Walk the streets feeling safe, ain't it strange?
Due to gun control.
Let me see you dance, ooh-oo,
let me see you dance
Let me see you dance, partner dance,
ain't it strange out of range ?
Due to gun control.
In this great country of ours, yes we have finally grown
Built with sweat and muscle and tape recorded telephones
Only thieves on a parole and the cops out on patrol
Walk the streets feeling safe,
ain't it strange? Due to gun control.
Let me see you dance, ooh-oo, let me see you dance
Let me see you dance, partner dance, ain't it strange hit the floor?
Due to gun control
Due to gun control.
Ooh-hoo, due to gun control
Ooh-hoo, due to gun control
The lyrics of Willy DeVille's song Gun Control begin with the singer recalling the words of his father, who advised him that having a gun and a bullet was not enough to make him a man. This statement sets up the theme of the song, which is the negative effects of gun control. DeVille sings about how, with guns now outlawed, only outlaws have them and that walking the streets no longer feels safe, as the only people who do are thieves on parole and police officers on patrol. The chorus of the song is an invitation to dance, as the singer acknowledges the strangeness of the situation, in which gun control has made people feel less secure.
The verse following the chorus discusses the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and how people strive to live cleanly and for a long time. However, the power of persuasion and the loss of property is a risk in this land of milk and honey, suggesting that without guns, people become vulnerable. In the final verse, the singer reflects on the growth of the country, built with sweat, muscle, and technological innovations like tape-recorded telephones. The chorus repeats twice, inviting the listener to dance and highlighting the strange effects of gun control.
Overall, the song's message is a criticism of gun control, which the singer perceives as having led to insecurity and vulnerability. The invitation to dance can be seen as an attempt to cope with this strange and disorienting situation.
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy he once told me : 'Don't think you can be a man'
Willy's father advises him not to think that owning a gun makes him a man.
'With just a bullet in your gun and a pistol in your hand'.
He is told that having a gun is not what defines a man.
Guns are now outlawed and only outlaws have guns
The government has enforced gun control laws and now only criminals have weapons.
And you can't walk the streets feeling safe anymore
Because of gun control laws, people are now fearful of walking in public places.
Only thieves on parole and the cops out on patrol
The only people who carry guns are the criminals on parole and the police who patrol the streets.
Walk the streets feeling safe, ain't it strange? Due to gun control.
It is strange that only the people who used to feel safe are now the ones who have to live in fear because of gun control laws.
Let me see you dance, ooh-oo, let me see you dance
This line is not directly connected to the meaning of the song.
Let me see you dance, partner dance, ain't it strange hit the floor?
The lyrics are emphasizing the point made earlier - things have changed so much that people must now dance in a particular way.
In this land of milk and honey, we tried so hard to make our own
In a place where everyone tries to make a name for oneself, a gun is not what defines an individual.
You've got your feel of choice, living clean and living long, long.
Living a healthy and clean life is a better definition of manhood.
The power of persuasion, like a leg with broken bones
If you are unable to protect yourself anymore, then persuasion becomes your last resort.
And let's not show out of town
This line is not directly connected to the meaning of the song.
You loose everthing you own
If you don't have a gun, then you are more likely to lose everything that you own if someone decides to rob you.
Partner dance, ain't it strange out of range?
People are only allowed to use guns in certain ranges and dance styles now, which is a strange thought.
In this great country of ours, yes we have finally grown
The country has gone through so much growth, yet gun control laws have been put in place to ensure safety.
Built with sweat and muscle and tape recorded telephones
The country has come so far since its early days, but now people must be protected by laws and technology.
Ooh-hoo, due to gun control
The song is highlighting the effects of gun control laws and their impact on people's lives.
Due to gun control.
This line is the repeated phrase to emphasize that everything that has been said is due to gun control laws.
Contributed by Molly V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
Grandios, das in DAUERSCHLEIFE ! SPITZE !❤
@Steve1989MRE
I have no idea how there was not an entire album devoted to further development on this particular sound and feeling harnessed from this incredibly nuanced song. It's such a well crafted work of art, with a powerful and truthful message. The musical aspect is tight, driven, and by no means simple or underwhelming in any way. With heartfelt undertones. A perfect song, and my personal favorite from Willy "Mink" DeVille. I can only hope to stumble upon another song or two in my life that delivers in such as a way as this one does.
@darlingusa2pettee57
Let me see you dance, partner dance, ain't it strange I think Willy could make the alphabet sound hot with his voice.
@mbeenz
ManyThanx Brilliant Simply Brilliant!!!!,! Wow!!!!,
@RedCloudSophie25
Masterpiece, for ever ❤️❤️❤️
@antoniolucena5112
Maravilloso, dos monstruos tocando juntos
@dirstr8s
No Mark Knopfler on this track. clickbait
@BababooeySoundEffect
He produced whole Miracle album
@darlingusa2pettee57
@@BababooeySoundEffect 'dirstr8s' apparently limits Knopfler to Dire Straights. Knopfler did a lot with Willy DeVille and others he liked.