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.
Mixed Up Shook Up Girl
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jumpin' now, paper clip.
Make a move, sail a ship,
Tap it in, tap it in, ruby lips.
She's a mixed up, shook up girl,
Got me so strung out.
I don't know what to do.
Take a breath, in the night.
Hurry over, she said,
But there was no one in sight.
Now break away, is in her eyes.
You know that little girl, she cut me deep,
Inside out.
She's a mixed up, shook up girl,
Got me so strung out.
I don't know what to do.
She's a mixed up, mixed up, shook up girl.
Hey, you, I remember
All the empty streets.
Fill me now.
And though you're gone away,
I know not forever.
Why don't you just come over here and tell me, baby
Is it over now?
She's a mixed up, shook up girl,
Got me so strung out.
I don't know what to do.
She's a mixed up, mixed up, shook up girl.
She's a mixed up, shook up girl,
She's a mixed up, shook up girl.
And she got me so strung out
She's a mixed up, shook up girl
And she got me so strung out
She's a mixed up, shook up girl
The lyrics of Willy DeVille's "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl" speak about the singer's relationship with a woman who is unpredictable and confusing. DeVille opens the song by describing himself as being slits-eyed and jumpy, seemingly anxious about his situation. He then mentions the woman's ruby lips and her mixed up and shook up nature, which has caused him to feel strung out and unsure of what to do.
DeVille continues to describe the woman's unpredictable nature, saying that she told him to hurry over, but when he arrived there was no one in sight. The way she looks at him suggests that she has cut him deeply, leaving him feeling emotionally exposed and inside-out. Despite the woman's confusing behavior, DeVille urges her to come over and tell him if it's really over. The song ends on a reiteration of the woman's mixed up and shook up nature, which has got DeVille feeling so strung out.
Overall, "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl" speaks to the emotional strain caused by a volatile and unpredictable romantic relationship. Although the specifics of the relationship remain unclear, DeVille's lyrics capture the pain and confusion often experienced in such situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Candle lit, and my eyes are slits
The dim light of the candle has made my eyes half-closed and hazy.
Jumpin' now, paper clip.
I am anxious and restless, like a bent paper clip that can't stay still.
Make a move, sail a ship,
I feel the need to take action and set sail towards a destination.
Tap it in, tap it in, ruby lips.
Her lips, like precious rubies, are tantalizing and hard to resist.
She's a mixed up, shook up girl,
This woman is confused and unpredictable, making me feel unbalanced and uncertain.
Got me so strung out.
I am deeply affected by her behavior and can't help but be obsessed with her.
I don't know what to do.
Her mixed feelings and erratic behavior have me at a loss for how to proceed.
Take a breath, in the night.
I try to calm myself, taking a deep breath in the stillness of the night.
Hurry over, she said,
She asked me to come quickly, and I obeyed, but she was not to be found.
But there was no one in sight.
This girl is unpredictable and unreliable in her requests, leaving me confused and alone.
Now break away, is in her eyes.
She is looking at me with a hint of detachment and readiness to leave, causing me discomfort.
You know that little girl, she cut me deep,
Her lack of reliable behavior and fickle nature has hurt me emotionally.
Inside out.
I feel like she has turned my world upside down and made me vulnerable and exposed.
Hey, you, I remember
Addressing her, I recall all the times we spent together and the feelings we shared.
All the empty streets.
Our past is now marked by the absence of people or distractions.
Fill me now.
I feel empty and need her presence and affection to make me whole.
And though you're gone away,
Although I am separated from her physically, I still long for her presence and attention.
I know not forever.
I can't predict the future, but I cling to the hope that she will return to me one day.
Why don't you just come over here and tell me, baby
I implore her to speak to me directly and share her true feelings and intentions.
Is it over now?
I need clarity on our relationship and whether it has come to an end.
She's a mixed up, shook up girl,
Repeating this phrase emphasizes how confusing and unpredictable this woman is.
And she got me so strung out
Her behavior has left me deeply affected and unable to think about anything else.
She's a mixed up, shook up girl
Once again, this phrase emphasizes how confusing and unreliable she is.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLY DE VILLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DDios-ih9de
Did you see him get HIGH?
Profesional artists like Willie don't get on stage WACKED out.
Idiots like Jim Morrison did and died from.it
Cancer that's what killed him
.Willie and recently Walter Lure 😞
Willie was a incredible artist and wonderful person and artist.I promoted him
never saw him get WACKED out be 4 a show Never saw him screwed up in public My good friend did a European tour with him
A total professional
Just because someone's considered a rocker dosnt mean he- she's a fuk up always high and a junky
There were a few and it was obvious they'd talk about it though despite it this other fool never missed a show
And he was one of the best
Don't assume things you might of read in some CRAP SCANDLE
Also know the guy did often 2 HR shows
That'll wear you and sweat you out night after night
What Willie did in his private life is whatever he chose On stage he was Willie DeVill and still here in NYC I can say Much missed and loved
That's it.
He was great.
Assumptions are not
@johnmccreedy6821
Willy should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I hold the man in very high regard.
@gerrysupp4492
Grettings from GERRY SUPP Germany HOHENTRÜDINGEN
@pascalletterle666
As a member of the gold circle, Willy will always remembered for each and every song and melody.
@precisionbrown6829
He didn’t play rock and roll music
@DanofEarth
@precisionbrown6829 literally everything is rock n' roll 👍
@HildeVertommen-og6qs
Also ❤ Freddy Koella, brilliant!!!, those two together!! X
@LarryNeie-lj7zc
In my twenties I bought the first two Mink DeVille albums and still have them. Listening to him would evoke early Van Morrison, Springsteen, Southside Johnny in their formative years. And Yes, Willy deserves R&R Hall of Fame recognition! Soul charisma.
@richardsoper8985
Completely agree-,Dylan says same think about Willy
@user-ku3th9pu3c
Willy was unique among his peers. He is missed and no one could ever replace him in my heart.
@ljhhermans9638
In the early 80’s I saw a German TV registration of Willy at Rockpalast and I was flabbergasted how he is living the music. I had to wait until the mid 90’s to see him live in Eindhoven and it was stunning how he plays his music in entire simplicity. No distractions only Willy doing his music.