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.
I Call Your Name
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The morning's the same as the evening
Day after day
When will these feelings leave me
I'm lonely through my life
I know it's not right
But we were made for each other
These feelings remain
Lonely through my life
Can this go on for ever
I call your name
I call your name
And still I get no answer
And still I get no answer
In the shadows of night
That somehow brought us together
We only kissed once
The kiss that made me forever
Lonely through my life
They say I've no shame
But I can't help but show it
As time passes by
Waiting for you to take notice
Lonely through my life
Will I wait. Haw much longer
Should I wait. How much longer.
I call your name
I call your name
While I wait. How much longer.
Should I wait. How much longer.
I call your name
I call your name
While I wait. How much longer.
Must I wait. How much longer.
I call your name
I call your name
Must I wait. How much longer.
And still I get no answer
The lyrics of Willy DeVille's song "I Call Your Name" are about unrequited love and the emotional pain that it brings. The singer is alone and pining for someone who doesn't reciprocate their feelings. Despite the passage of time and the lack of a response to their calls, the singer can't help but hold onto the hope that their love will be returned.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer describes their endless cycle of loneliness and longing. The repetition of the phrase "Lonely through my life" emphasizes the depth of their despair. The second verse introduces the idea that the singer and their love interest were "made for each other", highlighting the intensity of their attraction. Despite this, their love remains unfulfilled and their calls for their beloved go unanswered.
The chorus is a haunting cry of desperation, as the singer pleads for their love interest to respond to their calls. The repetition of the phrase "I call your name" strengthens the sense of urgency and frustration that the singer feels. The final verse adds another layer of sadness to the song, as the singer remembers a single kiss that sealed their fate. The imagery of the "shadows of night" evokes a sense of mystery and longing that is echoed throughout the song.
Overall, "I Call Your Name" is a poignant expression of the pain of unrequited love. The lyrics paint a picture of a lonely and desperate narrator, who can't help but hold onto hope despite the lack of response from their love interest.
Line by Line Meaning
All through the night
The feeling of loneliness continues through the night
The morning's the same as the evening
Even though time passes, the feeling of loneliness remains unchanged
Day after day
The feeling of loneliness continues every day
When will these feelings leave me
The singer wonders when the feeling of loneliness will go away
I'm lonely through my life
The singer constantly feels lonely
I know it's not right
The singer recognizes that feeling lonely is not a good thing
But we were made for each other
The singer believes that they are meant to be with someone in particular
These feelings remain
The feeling of loneliness continues to persist
Must I go on without you
The singer wonders if they can continue living without being with the one they love
Can this go on forever
The singer questions if the feeling of loneliness will last forever
I call your name
The singer calls out for the person they love
And still I get no answer
The singer receives no response when they call out for the person they love
In the shadows of night
The singer thinks about the person they love during the night
That somehow brought us together
The singer believes that there was a reason why they and the person they love met
We only kissed once
The singer and the person they love only shared one kiss
The kiss that made me forever
That one kiss had a significant impact on the singer that lasted forever
They say I've no shame
Other people judge the singer for feeling lonely and searching for love
But I can't help but show it
The singer cannot hide their true feelings of loneliness and longing for love
As time passes by
More time goes on
Waiting for you to take notice
The singer is waiting for the person they love to notice them
Will I wait. Haw much longer
The singer wonders how much longer they will have to wait for the person they love
Should I wait. How much longer.
The singer questions if they should continue waiting for the person they love
Must I wait. How much longer.
The singer questions if they have to continue waiting for the person they love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILLY DE VILLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annettegeiermann9537
Es gibt die tollsten Sachen hier von ihm und es hört nicht auf. Knopfler war die perfekte Ergänzung zu diesem Song..... aber was erzähl ich da. Perfekte Harmonie.... wundervoll....
@ingley5220
Es gibt einfach nichts besseres, wundervoll, einzigartig, Willy
@EllaElsner-iy7sf
Das ist mein Lieblingslied geworden !😢
@LuckyDalton1984
Mark & Willy , my dad's favourite artists ..I'm 38 years old and grew up listening to these two giants ❤️
R.I.P Willy
@manuelreymonde443
Fantástico Willy... Una voz preciosa
@conchidominguez3782
Siempre que la escucho me conmueve... Inolvidable!!
@manuelreymonde443
@conchi dominguez a mí también me conmueve con casi todas sus canciones. Y las que es acompañado por Knopfler, ya ni te digo. Dos genios que confluyen. 😊
@mbeenz
Willie Deville and Mark Knopfler are you kidding me that’s got to be one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard thank you guys so much from Costa Mesa California never get tired of hearing it keep playing it thank you guys
@fritsvanswinderen4532
They have an album together, Guncontrol, its beautiful. There are some songs of them on YouTube also
@joseluisfragamartinez3105
Einmalig!!!!Super!!!!Gorgeous!!!!!Bravissimo!!!!Genial!!!!! Te toca la fibra este tema..........😉😉😉😉