Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut, on Au… Read Full Bio ↴Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut, on August 25, 1950; died in New York City on August 6, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter of Basque, Pequot, and Irish descent. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille (1974–1986) and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in various American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary music, including Jack Nitzsche, Doc Pomus, Dr. John, Mark Knopfler, Allen Toussaint, and Eddie Bo. A wide range of styles, including latin rhythms, blues riffs, doo-wop, Cajun music, strains of French cabaret, and echoes of early-1960s uptown soul, can be heard in DeVille's work.

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.

Shake Sugarfree
Willy DeVille Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got a secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven in a split pea shell
Oh, Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree
Everything I have is down in pawn

I pawned my watch, an' I pawned my chain
ashamed

Oh, Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree
Everything I have is down in pawn

I've got a song to sing
Ain't very long
I'm gonna sing it right if it take me all night long
Oh, Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree
Everything I have is down in pawn

I've got a secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven in a split pea shell

Oh, Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree
Everything I have is down in pawn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Willy DeVille's song Shake Sugaree express themes of poverty, spirituality, and resilience. The opening lines, "I've got a secret, I ain't gonna tell, I'm goin' to heaven in a split pea shell", suggest a deep faith in the afterlife, as well as a possible desire to escape the struggles of the present. The use of the phrase "split pea shell" is particularly notable, as it is an unexpected image that adds a touch of whimsy to the song.

The later lines, "Everything I have is down in pawn" and "I pawned my watch, an' I pawned my chain, ashamed", suggest a sense of financial desperation and shame, which is a recurring theme throughout the song. However, the repeated line "Oh, Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree" adds a note of resilience and determination, suggesting that even in the face of hardship, the singer is still able to find moments of joy and connection.

Overall, Shake Sugaree is a powerful song that blends elements of gospel, folk, and blues music to create a unique and moving musical experience.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got a secret
The singer has a secret that they do not wish to share.

I ain't gonna tell
The singer is not going to share their secret.

I'm goin' to heaven in a split pea shell
The singer believes they are going to heaven in a split pea shell.

Oh, Lordy me, didn't we shake sugaree
The singer is reminiscing about a time they shook sugaree with someone.

Everything I have is down in pawn
The singer has pawned everything they own, likely due to financial hardship.

I pawned my watch, an' I pawned my chain
The singer pawned both their watch and their chain, likely for money.

ashamed
The singer feels ashamed about having to pawn their belongings.

I've got a song to sing
The singer has a song they want to sing.

Ain't very long
The song the singer wants to sing is short.

I'm gonna sing it right if it take me all night long
The singer is determined to sing the song correctly, even if it takes all night.