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 Must Be Dreaming
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't help but love you.
Don't pull away
I tell you that I love you.
Am I cursed to walk this earth without you?
You're in my blood,
Now I can't live without you.
Just take my hand
Come a little bit closer
I tell you that I love you.
Am I the one?
I'll never ever hurt you.
Give me your love,
I'm saying that I love you.
Through the dark nights
How we loved,
Now I can't live without you.
I wanna look and I wanna touch
Ooh! I must be dreaming
Ooh! I must be dreaming.
Just take my hand
I can't go no place without you.
Come a little bit closer
I tell you that I love you.
Am I the one?
I'll never ever hurt you.
Give me your love,
I'm saying that I love you.
Through the dark nights
How we loved,
Now I can't live without you.
I wanna look and I wanna touch
Ooh! I must be dreaming
Ooh! I must be dreaming.
You're in my blood,
I can't help but love you.
Don't pull away
I tell you that I love you.
Am I cursed to walk this earth without you?
You're in my blood,
Now I can't live without you.
Through the dark nights
How we loved,
Now I can't live without you.
I wanna look and I wanna touch
Ooh! I must be dreaming
Ooh! I must be dreaming.
The lyrics in "I Must Be Dreaming" by Willy DeVille talk about intense feelings of love for someone who is deeply ingrained in the singer's life. The opening lines, "You're in my blood, I can't help but love you," suggest that the love they share cannot be ignored or rationalized away. The following lines, "Don't pull away, I tell you that I love you," show that the singer is so desperate to express their love that they are afraid the object of their affection might reject them.
As the song goes on, the singer expresses their fear that they will never be able to be with their loved one, asking, "Am I cursed to walk this earth without you?" This line highlights the idea of feeling like one's destiny is out of their control and in the hands of fate. The repeated refrain of "I wanna look and I wanna touch" underscores the sensual nature of the singer's love, emphasizing the physical desire they feel for their loved one.
Overall, "I Must Be Dreaming" explores the idea of intense, all-consuming love and the fear of losing that love. The lyrics express a sense of desperation and longing mixed with passion and desire, making for a powerful emotional journey.
Line by Line Meaning
You're in my blood,
You have become an integral part of me, deeply ingrained in my being.
I can't help but love you.
Despite any rational or logical reason, I cannot help but have strong feelings of love towards you.
Don't pull away
Do not distance yourself from me or push me away.
I tell you that I love you.
I am expressing my deep affection and care for you.
Am I cursed to walk this earth without you?
I feel as though it would be a curse or a great tragedy to be without you in my life.
Now I can't live without you.
My life has become dependent on your presence and love.
Just take my hand
Come closer to me and connect with me physically and emotionally.
I can't go no place without you.
I cannot imagine being without you, even for a moment.
Come a little bit closer
Move towards me, both physically and emotionally.
Am I the one?
Do you see me as the one you want to be with, the one who can love and care for you?
I'll never ever hurt you.
I promise to never cause you pain or harm in any way.
Give me your love,
Share your feelings of affection and care with me.
Through the dark nights
During times of struggle, difficulty, or sadness.
How we loved,
The way we cared for and supported each other was strong and genuine.
I wanna look and I wanna touch
I desire physical and emotional intimacy and closeness with you.
Ooh! I must be dreaming
This feels like a dream or too good to be true.
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Oman
A masterpiece in my opinion
Christos Doumas
one of my favourite songs ever from one of the best singers ever
Sonorworld
Great song, I love it!
Wayne Dunn
I love this song by Willie I bought the 12 inch still sounds great
Ann De Bondt
I miss that wonderful music of the 80's!!
Move with trickbro
So underrated
Sean McArdle
Love it!
Mike Ash
I can't say I like all of DeVille's songs, but the one's I do like (such as this one) I can't seem to get enough of!
Hans A. Müller
Sooooo great!
Phyllis Stein
This is so "West Side Story" influenced.