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.
Iko Iko
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My grandma told your grandma, I'm going to set your flag on fire,
Takin bout hey now, hey now
Iko! Iko! an de'
Jackomo fe no nan e' , Jackomo fe nan e'
Look at my King all dressed in red
I bet you 5 dollars, he kill you dead!
Jackomo fe nan e'
Takin bout ..... hey now, hey now
Iko! Iko! an de'
Jackomo fe no an e' , Jackomo fe nan e'
My flagboy and your flagboy, sittin by the fire,
My flagboy told your flagboy, I'm going to set your flag on fire,
Takin bout ..... hey now, hey now
Iko! Iko! an de'
Jackomo fe no an e' , Jackomo fe nan e'
See that guy all dressed in green, Iko! Iko! an de'
He's not a man, he's a lovin machine!
Jackomo fe nan e'
Takin bout hey now, hey now
Iko! Iko! an de'
Jackomo fe no nane' , Jackomo fe nan e'
Takin bout hey now, hey now
Iko! Iko! an de'
Jackomo fe no ane' , Jackomo fe nan e'
The lyrics to Willy DeVille's "Iko Iko" tell the story of two grandmothers and two flag boys engaging in a friendly rivalry. The first stanza sets the scene, with the grandmothers sitting by the fire and engaging in banter. The second and third stanzas introduce the flag boys and their rivalry - each claiming they will set the other's flag on fire. The fourth stanza introduces a man dressed in red, who is alleged to be a killer. The fifth stanza introduces a man dressed in green, who is declared a "loving machine."
The repeated refrain of "hey now, hey now, Iko Iko an de'" serves as a sort of chorus, tying the different verses together. The "Jackomo fe nan e'" that follows the refrain appears to be a nonsense phrase with possible Haitian Creole roots.
Overall, the lyrics to "Iko Iko" present a lighthearted, playful story with a catchy refrain that invites the listener to join in.
Line by Line Meaning
My grandma and your grandma, were sittin by the fire,
Two grandmothers were sitting by a fire.
My grandma told your grandma, I'm going to set your flag on fire,
One of the grandmothers threatened to set the other's flag on fire.
Takin bout hey now, hey now
Iko! Iko! an de'
Jackomo fe no nan e' , Jackomo fe nan e'
Phrase spoken between individuals as they start chanting the song.
Look at my King all dressed in red
Iko! Iko! an de'
I bet you 5 dollars, he kill you dead!
Jackomo fe nan e'
Individual dressed in red who would potentially hurt someone for money.
My flagboy and your flagboy, sittin by the fire,
My flagboy told your flagboy, I'm going to set your flag on fire,
Two helpers of the grandmothers arguing and making threats.
See that guy all dressed in green, Iko! Iko! an de'
He's not a man, he's a lovin machine!
Jackomo fe nan e'
A man in green who is potentially a player or heartbreaker.
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cliveskinner7036
Mr Willy DeVille strutting his stuff with a cool blend of Cajun, roots rock and Latin rock Rock it for us, Willy! R.I.P Many thanks Aggiespoenk!
@pjbscript
maybe ... the best stuff ever ... Godspeed Willy๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
@sierra6588
You are sorely missed beautiful man with a beautiful heart! Thank you for all of the truly amazing music you gave us!
@conchidominguez3782
Great Willy. Beatiful song, me encanta esa fusiรณn de estilos, culturas... Fsntastic ๐๐ถ
@tomryan3908
WILLY DE VILLE BLESS HIM- NEC PLURIBUS IMPAR- DEUS VULT- NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN- SUCH A STRONG SPIRIT WHICH HE SO GENEROUSLY SHARED WITH US !!๐โก๐โก๐โก๐โก๐๐๐ THANK YOU FROM EIRE FOR UPLOADING THIS WONDERFUL VIDEO๐๐ฎ๐ช๐ค๐บ๐ธ๐ค๐ฎ๐ช๐โก๐โก๐โก๐๐
@sugardeb
The years go by and my heart is still breaking for the loss of you. Please know you live on through all the music you have left us. RIP Willy. xoxo
@paulataylorpsychic4150
So beautiful, colors and colorful sounds!
@christian-albrechtgroddeck3320
awesome, I didn't know this before! Fantastix, many thanks for sharing it! R.I.P. William, we miss you so much.
@elseMa5194
Brilliant mix of music โฆ๏ธโฆ๏ธโฆ๏ธ๐ผโค๏ธ
@lisamcmullan6484
Wonderful,Orleans at it's best,thanks Willie