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.
Come A Little Bit Closer
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was just sitting there givin' me looks that made my mouth water
So I started walking her way, she belonged to that man, José
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave when I heard her say ..
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man, so big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
So we started to dance, in my arms she felt so inviting
That I just couldn't resist just one little kiss so exciting
Then I heard the guitar player say : 'Vamoose, José's on his way'
Then I knew, yes I knew I should run but then I heard her say ..
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man, so big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long.
Then the music stopped when I looked the café was empty
Then I heard José say : 'Man you know you're in trouble plenty'
So I dropped my drink from my hand and through the window I ran
And as I rode away I could hear her say to José ..
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man, so big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long.
Come a little bit closer.
Come a little bit closer.
Come a little bit closer, oh I'm so alone.
The lyrics to Willy DeVille's song "Come A Little Bit Closer" tell the story of a man who becomes entranced with a woman in a café just over the border. She belongs to a man named José, but she begins to give the singer looks that make his mouth water. Although he knows he should leave when she says that she belongs to José, he can't resist and they begin to dance. In his arms, she feels inviting and the singer can't help but kiss her. However, when the guitar player warns that José is on his way, the singer knows he needs to run. Despite this, the woman calls out to him, asking him to come a little bit closer.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is driven by his desire for the woman, but he knows that she belongs to another man. He is caught between his emotions and his reason, as he knows he should leave to avoid trouble. The woman's lines also indicate a sense of loneliness and longing, as she asks him to come closer and suggests that the night is long.
The story is ultimately unresolved, leaving listeners to wonder what happens to the singer and the woman. The lyrics are accompanied by a catchy melody that adds to the tension and drama of the story.
Line by Line Meaning
In a little café just the other side of the border
I was at a small café near the border
She was just sitting there givin' me looks that made my mouth water
She was giving me seductive looks
So I started walking her way, she belonged to that man, José
I approached her, but she was with another man named José
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave when I heard her say
I realized I should go away when I heard her speak
Come a little bit closer
She asked me to come closer
You're my kind of man, so big and so strong
She was attracted to me for being a manly
I'm all alone and the night is so long
She felt lonely on that night
So we started to dance, in my arms she felt so inviting
We began to dance, she felt comfortable with me
That I just couldn't resist just one little kiss so exciting
I couldn't resist to kiss her
Then I heard the guitar player say : 'Vamoose, José's on his way'
The guitar player warned me that José was coming
Then I knew, yes I knew I should run but then I heard her say
Even though I knew I should leave, she convinced me to stay with her
Then the music stopped when I looked the café was empty
Suddenly, the music stopped and the café was empty
Then I heard José say : 'Man you know you're in trouble plenty'
José threatened me
So I dropped my drink from my hand and through the window I ran
I left my drink and escaped through the window
And as I rode away I could hear her say to José ..
While I was leaving, I heard her talking to José
Come a little bit closer, oh I'm so alone
She repeated her invitation for me to come closer
Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Yvette Leerdam
This artist is so superb I can't even think of superlatives that can capture his talent ! I love him forever!
Nico Merken
Yes you are a little bit hihi
Matias M.M.
I could not have said it any better!!!
Laurence Sprangers
'Nice to be in a bar you can smoke in..' that's just gold here in 2022 😁
John j. Wedrall
Willy is the only guy that sings it like it was meant to be sung ! !
marie-rose daly
Still my fav. by him ♥
Jordhuga
Once you hear him sing it the rythm just takes over.
Erik Heine
Great voice,great songs,great man.There`s nothing more to say.
Deborah Ummels
I agree.Wonderfull
Vic Godinet
Yep just grt