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.
Spanish Stroll
Willy DeVille Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Finger on your eyebrow
And left hand on your hip
Thinking that you're such a lady killer
Think you're so slick!
Alright
Brother Johnny, he caught a plane and he got on it
And he got a pistol in his pocket
They say the man is crazy on the West Coast
Lord there ain't no doubt about it!
Well allright
Sister Sue tell me baby what are we gonna do
She said take two candles,
And then you burn them out
Make a paper boat,light it and.... send it out
send it out now..
Spanish Stroll
Spanish Stroll
Spanish Stroll
Hey Rosita! Donde vas con mi carro Rosita?
tu sabes que te quiero
pero ti me quitas todo
ya te robasta mi television y mi radio
y ahora quiere llevarse mi carro
no me haga asi, rosita
ven aqui
ehi, estese aqui al lado rosita
Spanish Stroll
Mira aqui!
Hey Johny! Yeah, tenth street Johny
We've been looking for you man
Everybody told me you had moved uptown
Hey! you wanna go for a ride
I'm going uptown myself
For what?
Yeah, ain't it right?
Yeah, one time for Tito Puente, one time
Are you ready?
Yeah, of course we cannot leave out, Mr Ray Baretto
Are you ready?Are you ready?Are you ready?
The song "Spanish Stroll" by Willy DeVille is an upbeat rock and roll number that features the story of a group of people who are enjoying life in their own unique, cool ways. The first verse talks about a man named Jim, who seems to be thinking he's a lady killer or someone who is very smooth with women. He's seen with his finger on his eyebrow and left hand on his hip, basically posing and thinking he's too cool for school. The second verse is about Brother Johnny, who's just caught a plane and is on the West Coast. They say that he's crazy, but he's got a pistol in his pocket and seems to be enjoying life on his own terms.
The chorus of the song, "Spanish Stroll", repeats the phrase over and over, creating a danceable beat that is catchy and addictive. The middle section is sung in Spanish, and is about a woman named Rosita who is trying to steal the singer's car. He's upset with her because she's taken his TV and radio, and now she wants to take his car too. The song switches back to English and in the final verse the singer is looking for a guy named Johnny and wants to know if he wants to go for a ride uptown. The song ends with a tribute to Tito Puente and Ray Baretto, two famous Latin musicians.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Mr. Jim I can see the shape you're in
Hello Mr. Jim, I can see you're not doing well
Finger on your eyebrow
You're deeply contemplating
And left hand on your hip
Your body language is showing confidence
Thinking that you're such a lady killer
Believing that you have a lot of romantic success
Think you're so slick!
Thinking you're smooth and cool
Brother Johnny, he caught a plane and he got on it
Johnny left town on a plane
Now he's a razor in the wind
He's free and wild
And he got a pistol in his pocket
He's armed and dangerous
They say the man is crazy on the West Coast
People claim he's insane on the West Coast
Lord there ain't no doubt about it!
It's a fact
Sister Sue tell me baby what are we gonna do
Sister Sue, what's our plan?
She said take two candles,
Her solution was to use two candles
And then you burn them out
Burn the candles completely
Make a paper boat,light it and.... send it out
Create a paper boat, set it on fire, and send it away
send it out now..
Do it now
Hey Rosita! Donde vas con mi carro Rosita?
Hello Rosita! Where are you going with my car, Rosita?
tu sabes que te quiero
You know I love you
pero ti me quitas todo
You take everything from me
ya te robasta mi television y mi radio
You already stole my TV and radio
y ahora quiere llevarse mi carro
And now you want to take my car
no me haga asi, rosita
Don't do this to me, Rosita
ven aqui
Come here
ehi, estese aqui al lado rosita
Hey, come stand next to me, Rosita
Hey Johny! Yeah, tenth street Johny
Hello Johnny! Tenth street Johnny, right?
We've been looking for you man
We've been searching for you
Everybody told me you had moved uptown
Everyone said you moved uptown
Hey! you wanna go for a ride
Want to take a drive with me?
I'm going uptown myself
I'm heading uptown too
For what?
Why?
Yeah, ain't it right?
Yeah, it is, isn't it?
Yeah, one time for Tito Puente, one time
A shoutout to Tito Puente
Are you ready?
Are you prepared?
Yeah, of course we cannot leave out, Mr Ray Baretto
Of course, we can't forget Mr. Ray Baretto
Are you ready?Are you ready?Are you ready?
Are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?
Spanish Stroll
Celebrating the Spanish dance style in the song
Spanish Stroll
Repeating the recognition of the Spanish dance style in the song
Spanish Stroll
Celebrating the Spanish dance style in the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLY DE VILLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@easyray3012
Willy DeVille was one of the heroes of my youth can’t believe this is nearly 45 years ago.
@harrycooke6349
Love this bloody song, can't get it out of my head 😅
@delaneytycholis5487
Watch in the land of women! Great sound track has this in it aswell
@manolom.t3040
Me to(
@susanneharaldsson8051
Who can...finger on your eyebrow, left hand on your hip...
@erikakeese5692
Saw him three times in Geamy. He was great.
@erikakeese5692
@@susanneharaldsson8051... And the world is yours!
@MP-id2po
Bought the album, Cabretta, when I was 21 ... and I was listening to greatness. Now I'm 63 (21 again and again) ... and still listening to greatness. RIP Willy deVille.
@peterwall2654
I'm 65,saw them in Dublin 1977,blew me away and nothing has changed. Southern Politition is amazing.
@utearens499
i was 15 ☺