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.
Downside Of Town
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a hand print on your window pane
Calling you just to hear your voice
I knew then I didn't have a choice
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town.
Stuck here such a long long time
Hanging on the telephone line
That I will never ever hurt you again
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town.
Packed my things and I took my guns
Crawled out the window and I started to run
Why did I leave ? Did you not want me around ?
She hurts me still since I cut her down, since I cut her down.
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town.
Then I heard that voice that I love so
Why I left I just don't know
Don't hang up on me, give me one more chance
I need to tell you that I love you again
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town
On the downside of town
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town
On the downside of town.
The opening lines of Willy DeVille's song Downside of Town explore the aftermath of a failed relationship. The singer, who is now situated in a lowly part of town, has left a hand print on his ex-partner's window pane to prove that he still cares for her. The hand print symbolizes a plea for attention and communication, as he is willing to do whatever it takes to reconnect with her. The following lines reveal that the singer is struggling with the consequences of his past mistakes, and is now trying hard to remedy his actions. Over the course of the song, the singer's tone shifts from begging for forgiveness to trying to make amends, as he preaches his love and loyalty in multiple instances.
The song effectively captures the emotions of a person who is trying to rectify his past errors, but has very little hope for redemption. The singer is stranded in a lowly environment, and his quest for reconciliation with his ex-partner is further weighed down by feelings of guilt and anger. The song tries to convey the idea that there is very little happiness to be found in a place that is situated on the downside of town.
Line by Line Meaning
I left a note on your pillow
I wrote a message on your bed, hoping you'd see it.
With a hand print on your window pane
I left a mark on your window with my hand, to show that I was there.
Calling you just to hear your voice
I rang you up simply because I wanted to hear the sound of your voice.
I knew then I didn't have a choice
I realized that I had no other option but to reach out to you.
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town.
I'm stuck in a difficult situation, and I'm here in the worst part of town.
Stuck here such a long long time
I've been trapped here for an extended period of time.
Hanging on the telephone line
I'm waiting for you to pick up the phone and talk to me.
Please, answer now so I can say
I'm begging you to answer the phone immediately so that I can speak with you.
That I will never ever hurt you again
I want to assure you that I'll never cause you any harm or pain again.
Packed my things and I took my guns
I packed my belongings and grabbed my weapons.
Crawled out the window and I started to run
I snuck out of the window and ran away as quickly as I could.
Why did I leave ? Did you not want me around ?
I'm questioning my decision to leave and wondering if you didn't want me to stay.
She hurts me still since I cut her down, since I cut her down.
I'm still feeling the pain of the breakup, even though I was the one who ended it.
Then I heard that voice that I love so
I finally heard your voice, which I love so much.
Why I left I just don't know
I'm not sure why I chose to leave in the first place.
Don't hang up on me, give me one more chance
Please don't end the call, let me have another opportunity to make things right.
I need to tell you that I love you again
I want to express my love for you once more.
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town
I'm still in a difficult situation, here in the worst part of town.
On the downside of town
I'm in a bad place emotionally and physically.
Here I am, baby, on the downside of town
I'm still stuck in this difficult situation, in the worst part of town.
On the downside of town.
I'm in a tough spot, feeling low with no easy way out.
Contributed by Aria O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ingley5220
Dies ist meine Lieblingsstück von Willy, muss es immer wieder hören
Er kann nicht übertroffen werden.Die Tatsache,daß er immer noch unendlich viele Fans hat, macht ihn unsterblich.
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
Genau so ist es😢❤
@ingley5220
@@EllaElsner-iy7sf 🌹
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
@@ingley5220 Es ist nicht nur die Musik, auch seine Biografie fasziniert mich, sauge auf was ich finde über ihn . Leider bekommt man nix in deutscher Sprache ! Alles sehr mühsam. Tja Droge !😍
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
@@ingley5220 ich kann einfach nicht genug davon bekommen. Wünsche eine schöne Vorweihnachtszeit !
@andretremblay5344
What a beautiful song! He does a great job with it.
@petertroost9624
Kan een hele avond genieten van zijn muziek. Top.
@ingley5220
Genau das mache ich auch!
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
😊Ich auch !❤
@AM-kn7yy
Hey Willy, dir glaube ich alles! Es tut mir heute noch in der Seele weh, so einen begnadeten Musiker nicht mehr in unserer Mitte zu haben. RIP Willy.
Keiner ist besser.