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.
Heart of a Fool
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See she's walking away
Left me alone here
Where I'm at
Nothing to do
Nothing I can say
Won't somebody tell me
The right words to make her stay
This world is such an empty place
Cause someday she'Il see
It's not easy to find
A love like she's throwing away
Then maybe next time
She won't act so cruel
And maby she'Il be kind
To the heart of a fool
See she was the only one
Who made me feel like a man
She took the darkness from my night
Emptiness out of my days
There's got to be a way somehow
To stop her right there in her tracks
Stop and make her turn around
Cause she belongs only with me
Cause someday she'Il see
It's not easy to find
A love like she's throwing away
Maybe next time
She won't act so cruel
And maby she'Il be kind
To the heart of a fool
Now all of the promises made
I must have the heart of a fool
Why I take the abuse
And it just ain't no use
I keep going back for more
And there she goes
See she's walking away
Left me alone here where I'm at
With only one thing I can say
Now someday she'Il see
It's not easy to find
A love like
She's throwing away
And maby next time
She won't act so cruel
Maybe she'Il be kind
To the heart of this fool
(repeat 1 x)
Maybe, maybe next time
She won't act so cruel
Maybe she'Il be kind
To the heart of this fool
Maybe next time
She won't act so cruel
Maybe she'Il be kind
To the heart of this fool
And maybe, maybe next time
The lyrics of Willy DeVilles song Heart of a Fool speak about the pain and confusion of a man who has been left alone by his love. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his desperation to make his love stay, stating that the world is an empty place without her. He acknowledges that he must have the heart of a fool for continuing to take the abuse and going back for more. Nevertheless, he holds onto hope that she will someday see the love that he has to offer her and regret walking away. The singer also emphasizes that his love was the only one who made him feel like a man and helped him through times of darkness and emptiness.
The song portrays the universal theme of love and loss, which many can relate to, making it a timeless classic. It speaks about the desperation one feels when they realize that the love they have given may not be enough to keep the other person. The song also acknowledges the value of love, which is not easy to find, suggesting that one should not throw it away.
Interestingly, the song's lyrics are paired with a bluesy rock melody, which adds to the heartbreak expressed by the singer. The powerful guitar riffs and the soulful voice of the singer convey the emotions of the lyrics in a way that reaches and touches hearts. Through the lyrics of Heart of a Fool, Willy DeVille successfully conveys the sadness that comes with losing love and the hope that it might return, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
There she goes
She is leaving
See she's walking away
I am observing her leaving
Left me alone here
I am now alone after her leaving
Where I'm at
The present point in time and space after her departure
Nothing to do
I am idle after her departure
Nothing I can say
I cannot influence her departure
Won't somebody tell me
I am seeking assistance and guidance
The right words to make her stay
I am looking for the perfect words that will convince her to come back
It's hard to make it all alone
It is difficult to handle life solo
This world is such an empty place
The world seems bleak and empty without her
Cause someday she'Il see
I believe that she will realize
It's not easy to find
It is hard to come across
A love like she's throwing away
The love she had with me is unique and rare
Then maybe next time
If there is a next time
She won't act so cruel
She will not behave brutally
And maby she'Il be kind
Perhaps she will act with compassion
To the heart of a fool
To my heart, which loved her so deeply
See she was the only one
She was the sole person
Who made me feel like a man
She helped me feel confident as a man
She took the darkness from my night
She brought light and hope into my life
Emptiness out of my days
She filled my days with love, making them meaningful
There's got to be a way somehow
There must be a solution or a method
To stop her right there in her tracks
To make her stop from leaving abruptly
Stop and make her turn around
Make her pause and reconsider leaving
Cause she belongs only with me
I believe that we should be together
Now all of the promises made
All of the commitments I made
I must have the heart of a fool
I must be a fool for falling for her
Why I take the abuse
I do not understand why I tolerate mistreatment
And it just ain't no use
It seems pointless to continue staying
I keep going back for more
I repeatedly return to the same situation
And there she goes
She is leaving again
With only one thing I can say
I am left with one statement
Now someday she'Il see
I hope that one day she will comprehend
And maby next time
If there is another opportunity
Maybe she'Il be kind
Perhaps she will treat me with compassion
To the heart of this fool
To my heart, which continues to love her despite everything
Maybe, maybe next time
There is a slight hope that things might be different
Maybe next time
In the future
Contributed by Samuel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@utakramer139
Oh,i love it. R I P Willy 🌹🌹🌹
@conchidominguez3782
Unforgettable Willy... Forever an my 💖🌹
@conchidominguez3782
Siempre en el corazón Willy. Inolvidable y talentoso 💖🌹
@trinahagglund3325
new to me love this ! thank you
@lucasart71
Mitico
Sonorità fantastiche
@1958Shemp
RIP Willy D. :(
@rosagruber1578
Wow gypsy Ross
@600SOUTHCAST
yes