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.
Loup Garou 'Bal Goula'
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Loup Garou Bal Goula'
'Loup Garou Bal Goula'
'Loup Garou Bal Goula' ...
Come with me through the doors of a Bayou barroom
There's a place God's angels don't go
Satan wolves all loom large
It's Louisiana guard dog's nightmare
Cajuns don't say his name
But they say looks just like a rabid dog
And he walks upright like a man.
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Loup Garou
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir.
Black snake swim through the water
See spanish moss gently sway
Moon hangs yellow like a big gold coin
In the distance you can hear them sing
Shhh! See them playing on a big bass drum
It's made out of coon skin hide
Shhh! Shhh! See them shaking rattles full of human teeth
Shaking them out of time.
Sing child
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Loup Garou
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir.
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir, ce soir.
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Loup Garou Bal Goula
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir, ce soir.
The song 'Loup Garou Bal Goula' by Willy DeVille describes the scene of a Bayou barroom in Louisiana where sinister, supernatural creatures like Satan wolves and Loup Garous are present. These creatures are only known to mad men and are feared by the locals. The song describes the Loup Garou, a shape-shifting creature, known as a guard dog's nightmare, whom the Cajuns refuse to name. It is said to look like a rabid dog and walk upright like a man. Despite the eerie presence of these creatures, the locals continue to dance and make merry near a fire in the Bayou barroom.
The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of the mysterious world of the Bayou, where creatures and spirits from folklore and superstition come to life. The song’s verses and chorus have been sung over a lively, upbeat melody that adds a sense of festivity to an otherwise terrifying scenario.
The song is an interesting interpretation of the popular Cajun myth about Loup Garou, which goes back hundreds of years, passed down from generation to generation. In Cajun folklore, Loup Garou is a shape-shifting creature that can transform from human to wolf form on full moon nights. The song's lyrics also highlight the importance of music and dance in Cajun culture, even in the face of danger and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Come with me through the doors of a Bayou barroom
Join me in exploring a barroom in the Bayou
There's a place God's angels don't go
This place is so dark, even angels don't visit
Satan wolves all loom large
Wolves associated with Satan possess a large presence
Over creatures only mad men know
These wolves reign over unknown and eerie creatures
It's Louisiana guard dog's nightmare
Even Louisiana's supposed guard dog fears the area
Cajuns don't say his name
The name of the monster is taboo among the Cajun people
But they say looks just like a rabid dog
They describe the monster as having a resemblance to a rabid dog
And he walks upright like a man.
Despite being a monster, he walks upright like a human
Loup Garou Bal Goula
The phrase used to refer to the monster
Black snake swim through the water
A black snake glides through the waters
See spanish moss gently sway
The Spanish moss gently moves in the breeze
Moon hangs yellow like a big gold coin
The moon shines bright, resembling a large gold coin
In the distance you can hear them sing
There are voices singing in the distance
Shhh! See them playing on a big bass drum
Listen quietly, as you can hear them playing a large bass drum
It's made out of coon skin hide
The drum is made from raccoon skin
Shhh! Shhh! See them shaking rattles full of human teeth
You can hear the sound of rattles filled with human teeth
Shaking them out of time.
The rattles are being shaken out of rhythm
Sing child
The singer addresses someone to sing
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir.
Translation: 'Good times dance by the fire tonight'
Loup Garou Bal Goula
The phrase referring to the monster
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir, ce soir.
Translation: 'Good times dance by the fire tonight, tonight.'
Loup Garou Bal Goula
The phrase referring to the monster
Loup Garou Bal Goula
The phrase referring to the monster
Du bon temps danse près du feu ce soir, ce soir.
Translation: 'Good times dance by the fire tonight, tonight.'
Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pretorious700
Willy was a star in the old fashioned sense. Original, different, inspiring, honest. I don't think artists like that exist anymore...or just an aging handful maybe.
@Haleakala1000
I love it.... could we have more of that for the end of our days....
@barbararausch6995
Willi schade das du so früh von uns gehen musstes wir vermissen dich.❤️😢
@juttawinkler7280
wow! Musik vom Feinsten - von Willy, er war wirklich der Beste und fehlt soooo sehr!!!
@gypsysallylamarthy372
+Jutta Winkler Just Amazing , and so sexy !!! Only Willy could do this , dear Jutta !! Bih hugs from Sally !!! xxxx
@juttawinkler7280
+sally vandenhende Sally, why I do not hear anything more from you? What happened?????
@Royalmidget
Still miss you, Willy RIP my friend
@ladrondelaredo
Beatiful!!!!!!! from mexico salutes
@kkroessner
wow. The eerie music and his inimitable voice make this song mesmerizing. Yes, a "shaman groove" just like the bayous and mysterious places in Louisiana. ... thank you, ddecimal for the background info
@sfied1973
Great song , great artist!!!!