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.
18 Hammers
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well,there's 18 hammers standing in a line,
Well,they ring like silver and they shine like gold,
Well,they ring like silver and they shine like gold.
There ain't no hammer that'll ring like mine,
No,there ain't no hammer that'll ring like mine.
Well, you cut your corner boys like I cut mine,
Well, you cut your corner boys like I cut mine.
Well,I'll be living when you be dying.
Well,I shot me a dead man,got a hundred years,
Well,I shot me a dead man,got a hundred years.
Well,a tree fall on me,I done been mo care,
Well,a tree fall on me,I done been mo care.
Well,I raised up my hammer,let it drop on down,
Well,I raised up my hammer,let it drop on down.
Well,look over yonder boys,all dressed in red.
Looks like the childrens that Moses led.
The lyrics of Willy DeVille's song "18 Hammers" describe a line of 18 hammers that ring and shine like silver and gold, with the claim that there is no hammer that can ring like the singer's. The song also makes references to cutting corners, living longer than others, getting a long prison sentence for shooting a dead man, surviving a falling tree, and seeing individuals dressed in red that resemble the children that Moses led.
At first glance, the lyrics of the song can be interpreted as a tribute to industrial work, with the hammers symbolizing the hard work and dedication needed to succeed. However, with the additional references to violence, death, and biblical imagery, it's clear that the song's meaning is more complex than that.
The lyrics can be seen as a commentary on mortality, with the singer asserting that they will outlive others and survive even in the face of danger. The reference to shooting a dead man and getting a hundred years in prison may symbolize the singer's past mistakes catching up with him, while the falling tree could represent a random and unpredictable force that could take one's life. The red-clothed figures resembling Moses' children may symbolize the singer's desire for liberation and freedom from his troubled past.
Line by Line Meaning
Well,there's 18 hammers standing in a line,
There are 18 hammers lined up in a row.
Well,they ring like silver and they shine like gold,
The hammers make a beautiful noise and look shiny.
No,there ain't no hammer that'll ring like mine,
My hammer is unique and special, no other hammer is like it.
Well, you cut your corner boys like I cut mine,
You live your life your way and I'll live mine my way.
Well,I'll be living when you be dying,
I will still be alive when you pass away.
Well,I shot me a dead man,got a hundred years,
I received a 100-year prison sentence for killing a dead man.
Well,a tree fall on me,I done been mo care,
If a tree falls on me, I won't care because I've been through worse.
Well,I raised up my hammer,let it drop on down,
I lifted my hammer and let it fall to the ground.
Well,look over yonder boys,all dressed in red.
Hey, look over there at those people dressed in red.
Looks like the childrens that Moses led.
They resemble the children that Moses led in the Bible.
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@steppene
Willy DeVille is one of the best artist who ever walked across a stage. He will live forever!
@mariaaliceparga4408
Incrivel! E pensar que só o conheci neste ano de 2023! Ele é simplesmente fantástico!
❤❤❤
@eclecticnorth
It just doesn't get better than this. I'm so sad that I never heard of Willy when he was alive, but so grateful to have discovered him at all.
@hinamauka
This song really illustrates Willy's wide range of musical interests and talents. You can't categorize him as being this or that type of singer/musician. He enjoys doing it all and he does it all well. Great clip!
@PlayIt4MeAgainSam
Fantastic footage; great song. RIP Willy. His music lives on & on.
@den55ify
Fabuleux, inspiré - a magic moment - Il est pour longtemps the best! J'espère qu'on te reverra là haut Will!
@utakramer139
Great voice! Great Willy!🎤👏👍🏻
@fleurdesel825
Thank you so much, Rob, for sharing that marvel !
@juttawinkler7280
What a 18 hammer Song, Willy you were the best!!!!!!!!!!!
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
Diese Leidenschaft !