Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut, on Au… Read Full Bio ↴Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut, on August 25, 1950; died in New York City on August 6, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter of Basque, Pequot, and Irish descent. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille (1974–1986) and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in various American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary music, including Jack Nitzsche, Doc Pomus, Dr. John, Mark Knopfler, Allen Toussaint, and Eddie Bo. A wide range of styles, including latin rhythms, blues riffs, doo-wop, Cajun music, strains of French cabaret, and echoes of early-1960s uptown soul, can be heard in DeVille's work.

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.

Hello My Lover
Willy DeVille Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hello, my lover, wherever you are
I've been a fool, my dear, a fool by heart
But I'm done up in my mind
I have played the game of love and lost and now I'm crying, mmm.

If you come back, my dear, there'll be some changes in me
I will order myself in every way
I'm gonna make a brand new policy

I'm gonna teach you a lesson in loveology, mmm.

I'm gonna try my best to do what is right
I'm gonna be with you, yes I will, both day and night
I'm gonna get me a brand new policy
I'm gonna teach you a lesson in loveology, mmm.

Yes I will, yes I will, yes I will
You got to believe, you must believe, honey, that I will
..., yes I will
You got to believe, you must believe, honey, that I will

Yes I will, yes I will, yes I will
Mmm

Overall Meaning

The song "Hello My Lover" by Willy DeVille is a tale of a man longing for his lost love. The opening lines are an indication of this, where the singer speaks to his lover, wherever she may be. He admits to being a fool who lost the love of his life due to his own actions. He has played the game of love and lost, and now he is suffering the consequences of his actions.

Despite this, the singer is determined to change his ways and win back his lover. He promises that if she were to return, he would order himself in every way, and make a brand new policy to show his commitment to her. He wants to teach her a lesson in "loveology," which has become his new focus. He is even willing to try his best to be with her both day and night, in the hope that he can win back her love and trust.

Overall, the song "Hello My Lover" is a lament about lost love and regret, but it also showcases the determination of the singer to do better and make amends for his mistakes. It is a message of hope that love can be regained and is worth fighting for.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello, my lover, wherever you are
Greetings, my love, I do not know where you are

I've been a fool, my dear, a fool by heart
I have acted foolishly, my love, because of my emotions

But I'm done up in my mind
But I have made a decision in my mind

I have played the game of love and lost and now I'm crying, mmm.
I have experienced failure in love and now I am emotional and sad

If you come back, my dear, there'll be some changes in me
If you were to return, my love, I will have made some changes in myself

I will order myself in every way
I will organize myself in every aspect

I'm gonna make a brand new policy
I will establish a new set of rules for myself

I'm gonna teach you a lesson in loveology, mmm.
I will educate you in the subject of love and relationships

I'm gonna try my best to do what is right
I will put forth my greatest effort to do what is correct

I'm gonna be with you, yes I will, both day and night
I will be with you constantly, both during the day and at night

Yes I will, yes I will, yes I will
I will, I will, I will