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.

Trouble Comin' Everyday In A World Gone Wrong
Willy DeVille Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't you see there was a time it was the trauma of my life ?
So I walked down those tracks for the very very last time
Jack hammers running through my brains as I flew
Why can't they learn to forgive you all the things that you do ?

Well, it feels like it's here but it won't last long, Lord Lord Lord
Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong.

I say to myself : 'Have I really gone soft ?'
I pick myself up and I dust myself off
Reality TV spitting out white noise
They're holding court on the corner so I guess I'll go out with the boys.

It feels like it's here but it won't last long
Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong.

Why do I feel like no one tells the truth while I watch and I listen and I don't believe the news ?
Why do I feel like no one speaks the truth while I watch and I listen and I don't believe the news ?

So I hit the road before disaster hit New York
I thought I was safe in the desert but I couldn't shake it off
Big Brother wants to know where I am and when will I pay him off ?
I got a roadmap in my hand but I still stay lost.

It feels like it's here but it won't last long
Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong.

Oh Lord, trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
Hey hey, trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong

Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
Oo wee, trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong.

Overall Meaning

The song "Trouble Comin' Everyday In A World Gone Wrong" by Willy DeVille is a commentary on the state of the world and the chaos and uncertainty that seems to pervade it. The lyrics speak to the frustrations of trying to navigate a world where reality TV and fake news dominate the airwaves and the truth seems to be elusive. The first verse addresses a personal struggle, emphasizing the difficulty of being forgiven for past mistakes. The second verse speaks to a general sense of disillusionment with the world and the lack of trust in what people are hearing and experiencing.

The chorus, "Trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong," repeats several times throughout the song, driving home the central theme. The repeated phrase is meant to convey a sense of helplessness, that even though trouble is looming, there is nothing one can do to prevent it. The song ends with several repetitions of this phrase, emphasizing the sense of inevitability and the feeling that the world is spinning out of control.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't you see there was a time it was the trauma of my life?
Can't you see that there was a period when I was in constant distress and it became the most significant experience of my life?

So I walked down those tracks for the very very last time
I decided to put an end to those bad times and never had to go through such misery again.

Jack hammers running through my brains as I flew
I had a severe headache and felt as if an electric drill was running through my head.

Why can't they learn to forgive you all the things that you do ?
Why can't people just let go of the mistakes you've made and forgive you instead of constantly judging you?

Well, it feels like it's here but it won't last long, Lord Lord Lord
The problem feels like it's happening now and looks severe, but it won't be for long.

I say to myself: 'Have I really gone soft?'
I'm beginning to wonder if I'm losing my edge or have become too passive.

I pick myself up and I dust myself off
I try to move on from whatever setback or failure I'm experiencing and start afresh.

Reality TV spitting out white noise
Television shows that project a fake image of reality that is meaningless and has lost touch with what reality really is.

They're holding court on the corner so I guess I'll go out with the boys
Since they're congregating and probably having a good time, I'll join them.

Why do I feel like no one tells the truth while I watch and I listen and I don't believe the news ?
Why does it seem like no one speaks the truth and when I watch or listen to the news, I find it tough to believe?

So I hit the road before disaster hit New York
I left for a safer place before any calamity befalls New York.

I thought I was safe in the desert but I couldn't shake it off
Although I felt secure after seeking refuge in the desert, my worries and fears never really left me.

Big Brother wants to know where I am and when will I pay him off ?
The authorities seem to want to know my whereabouts and for me to take responsibility for something I'm unaware of.

I got a roadmap in my hand but I still stay lost
Even though I have all resources and help to guide me, I still feel like I'm wandering aimlessly without a sense of direction.

Oh Lord, trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
In a world where everything seems to be falling apart and chaotic, problems and issues seem to arise more often than not.

Hey hey, trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
Problems and issues seem to arise more often than not in a world that is in a state of chaos.

Oo wee, trouble comin' every day in a world gone wrong
In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, it seems like problems and issues arise continuously.

Contributed by Peyton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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