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.
Junkers Blues
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sick as I could be
Some people call me a junker
'Cause I'm loaded all the time
I just feel happy
And I feel good all the time
Some people say I use a needle
And some say I sniff cocaine
But that's the best old feelin'
That I'd ever seen
Say, good-bye, good-bye to whiskey
Lord, and so long to gin
I just want my refer
I just wanna feel high, again
Oh yeah, I'm a junker!
I feel alright
Some people, some people
Crave for chicken
And some crave for porterhouse steak
But when I get loaded
Lord, I won't want my milk and cake
Oh yeah, that's all I want, now
They call me a junker'
'Cause I'm loaded all the time
But that mean nothin' if I feel good all the time.
The Willy DeVille's song "Junker's Blues" is a bluesy ballad about addiction and the quality of life of a person who is addicted. The lyrics tell the story of a man who is often called a junker because of his excessive use of drugs and alcohol. Despite what people might think of him, he feels good and happy all the time when he is loaded. The song doesn't shy away from acknowledging the fact that he uses hard drugs such as needles and cocaine, but according to the man, "that's the best old feelin'" he has ever experienced.
Towards the end of the song, the man is bidding farewell to whiskey and gin and saying hello to his favorite substance, weed. He craves the high that it provides and would rather have it over anything else. He acknowledges that people have different cravings, but for him, the feeling that marijuana provides is all he wants.
Overall, the song is a melancholic tale of addiction, highlighting its grip on people's lives and the comforts that people find in spite of the damage that it causes. Willy DeVille's gravely voice and the slow, languid blues sound convey the emotion and pain that this lifestyle brings.
Line by Line Meaning
My, my
Expressing the singer's amazement or wonder at something.
I'm sick as I could be
The singer is ill or under the weather.
Some people call me a junker
Others label the singer as a junkie or drug addict.
'Cause I'm loaded all the time
Because the artist is always under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
I just feel happy
Despite the negative connotations of being called a junkie, the artist claims to be content and satisfied.
And I feel good all the time
The singer's frequent drug use has not impacted their ability to feel positive emotions.
Some people say I use a needle
Some believe that the singer injects drugs.
And some say I sniff cocaine
Others claim that the artist snorts cocaine.
But that's the best old feelin'
Regardless of the rumors, the artist believes that getting high is the best feeling.
That I'd ever seen
The artist has not experienced any feeling that compares to being high.
Say, good-bye, good-bye to whiskey
The singer is bidding farewell to whiskey.
Lord, and so long to gin
The artist is also saying goodbye to gin.
I just want my refer
The singer desires marijuana or weed.
I just wanna feel high, again
The singer seeks to experience the high that drugs provide.
Oh yeah, I'm a junker!
The singer affirms their status as a junkie.
I feel alright
Despite the negative labels and scrutiny, the artist feels okay.
Some people, some people
People have different preferences and desires.
Crave for chicken
Some want to eat chicken.
And some crave for porterhouse steak
Others crave a more expensive cut of meat.
But when I get loaded
When the artist is high or drunk.
Lord, I won't want my milk and cake
The artist will have no interest in eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages and food.
Oh yeah, that's all I want, now
All the artist wants is to get high or loaded.
They call me a junker'
Others refer to the singer as a junkie.
'Cause I'm loaded all the time
Again, because the artist is always under the influence.
But that mean nothin' if I feel good all the time.
Despite being branded a junkie, this label holds no weight for the singer as long as they continue to feel good from drug use.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK DUPREE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind