Deuce
by Kiss

Album: Kiss (1974)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Gene Simmons: "'Deuce' was written in my head on a bus. I heard the lick, the riff, the melody, the whole thing. 'Deuce' was written on a bass. It was a very linear song. As soon as the riff came, the first verse came, then I wrote the bridge, and then I wrote the chorus. We arranged it right on the spot and knew that it would be a staple for years. In fact, when we first went on tour with our first record, it was the opening song of the show and we would come back for encores and not have any songs left and do 'Deuce' again. Then if we got a second encore we would do 'Deuce' again. Lyrically, I had no idea what I was talking about. Sometimes stuff means a lot, sometimes it means nothing."
  • Paul Stanley: "The beginning of the song was me ripping off the Raspberries. The beginning of 'Deuce,' the thing that starts it off, is me, bastardizing 'Go All The Way.'"
  • Ace Frehley: "It's my favorite KISS song. When I auditioned for KISS, they said, "We're going to play you a song for you to listen to, and then try playing along. The song was 'Deuce,' and they played it as a three-piece and the song was in the key of 'A.' I thought, 'That's easy enough,' so I got up and wailed for four minutes playing lead work over it." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ken - LaSalle, Canada, for all above

Comments: 36

  • Tommy Roxx from SaturnYeah, I agree with others that say it's about anal sex. It seems Gene was really fixated on the female butt around this time when you think about it. They probably all were as a lot of young men go through a phase where they want anal from all the hot girls,I'm sure there's a very long psychological explanation for this which I will not attempt to ponder especially as no one will probably ever read this. Although it could be one of the few remnants of humanity tens of millions of years from now when some future being fires up someone's smart phone and accesses their temp Internet files. Hahahaha.

    Anyhooo, first you u have this song pressuring the girl into it with a guilt trip about working hard and having to put up with her family staying/ living with them ("Get your Grandma outta here! Poor Jim, etc"), also another song trying to convince an apparent anal virgin into trying it out but not knowing how to approach the subject, ( "I thought about the back door but didn't know what to say" then the chorus with, depending how you look at it, begging ((if youre a man)), pressuring,((if you're a woman)), because you are definitely getting f--ked one way or another because I'm the man and im running s--t in this motherf--ker just like i do in the rest of our society (" so baby please don't 'cha refuse, you know you got nuthin to loooooooooooooooose. YOU GOT NUTHIN TO LOSE!").
  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, Michigan@Dixie Normiss It's rare but unfortunate when your tongue is longer than your manhood, lol!
  • Dixie Normiss from LaI always thought Gene was saying deuce referring to his 2 inch penis. Telling her to take all 2" from him because he's worth it.
  • Joejoe from KokomoHe’s worth having anal with his girlfriend. Came directly from Gene in an interview. Wish I could remember where…
  • Comfortably Dumb from OnTwo bucks, the cover charge to watch a bar band back in the day. What I want it to mean, anyway.
  • Ace from UkIts a number 2....
    Anal
    Lol
  • AnonymousI think it's her and her sister /best friend type thing
  • James from TennesseeTwo rounds of sex.
  • Top Hoffman from Colorado Grew up seeing KISS every few weeks, sometimes 2-3 times in a week.
    “Deuce” , is about getting it twice from ones girlfriend or hookup. Period. In the early days most lyrics were about ‘chicks’.
  • Brian from Fort Worth, TxGet your Grandma out of here!
    What did poor Grandma do?
  • Duane from Temple, TxOne of the dumbest songs lyrically ever written.
  • Greg from Kentwood, MichiganWorth a deuce. Deuce mean two. As in going #2. Meaning s**t. He's worth a s**t so treat him well. That how I interpret it.
  • Burnley from Va.beachI original thought 2 girls at once but then heard ,when he gets home from work,give him a 24 oz .beer,2xbeer,a Deuce.Now hearing a NY term for BJ .Maybe its just WHATEVER you give him he's worth double what your planning cause he's working hard .Maybe it mean not a thing,itjust sounds good .after all i loved my Grandmother and this sounds harsh,but it sounds so powerful with the chords.its in your face ,fist pumping ,kick ass hard rocking .My favorite intro song .it sets the crowd Alive the whole show
  • Dale from 45648Gene said it means nothing- but I always figured it meant sex.
  • Jim from KalamazooYour man is workin' hard, he's worth you being faithful. Worth a second thought.
  • Kirk from Michigan I always thought "Deuce" referred to the two "B's"... a backrub and a bl--job!
  • Stix from Illinois I thought the song meant you know your man is working hard so give him good sex.
  • Gino Schafer from 48231A Deuce is a half oz of coke. Duh.
  • Juanita from Glendale AzThanx to John from Seattle! Your answer was the best & pretty much what I thought! Knowing Gene like I do. I've done some art for him & he was nice enough to call me! Love that man!
  • Bryan from Douglasville, GaThis is an easy one. Deuce means 2, as in going number 2 or taking a s--t. So, to say "he's worth a deuce" is saying "he's worth a s--t" so treat him right.
  • Michelle from Detroit, MiI always thought they were talking about anal sex...hence #2=deuce.
  • Malcolm from Adelaide, AustraliaI always thought "He's Worth a Deuce" meant that a man was worthy of having sex with 2 bisexual woman at the same time. ie, getting a "b--wjob in stereo", etc.
  • Tony from Moreno Valley, CaA Deuce is paying 20 dollars for a blow job.
  • John from Tujunga, Cai think it means he worth having sex with twice in one night. regardless, its not about taking a dump.
  • Axeman from Melbourne, AustraliaWe used to play this 1, always went OFF!
    We did the movements too!
    That was a laugh!
  • Axeman from Melbourne, AustraliaWe used to play this 1, always went OFF!
    We did the movements too!
    That was a laugh!
  • Jason from Denver, CoI dig that rocking side to side thing they do towards the end of the song when they play it live. I wonder who came up with it.
  • Randy from Colerain Twp., Oh'Deuce' is also slang for sh!t- possibly in regards to a 'No. 2'.
  • Randell from Sydney, AustraliaThis is one KISS's best songs ever and one of my favourite songs too!
  • Haggai from Hobart, Australiayeah, i always thought deuce was about a encouraging a woman to cheat on her man
  • Fyodor from Denver, CoI thought the Duece was getting laid twice. But whatever it is, the guy's worth it...if the gal's still with him!!
  • Kevo from St.augastine, FlDeuce is definatley one of Kiss's most hard driving songs,the first time i saw them[8 times all together],Roosevelt Stadium,N.J.in 1976,they opened their set with Deuce and to this day some 100 concerts later have never seen a band even come close to rocking out that hard,a Kiss fan for life,Kevo.
  • Andrew from TorontoThe main riff in Deuce is ripped off from the Stones tune Bitch addmittingly by Gene.Listen it's slowed down a bit but it,s there.It does,nt matter great song anyway.
  • Matt from Charleston, ScIn school, we always thought that the deuce referred to a woman's fine "pair" and that the guy coming home was worthy of being "flashed" or more... How dumb.
    Anyway, there is a killer version by Lenny Kravitz Kiss My A** tribute album, whats even cooler is Stevie Wonder appearing, playing harmonica!
  • Frank from Staten Island , NyThis is a KISS Klassic! Opened the show on many tours. Ace shines on this one.
  • John from Seattle, WaOn genesimmons.com, Gene stated that "worth a deuce" means "twice as important," but in an admittedly sexist way. Basically, if a man works all day to pay the rent, and his girlfriend sits around all day, then the man's opinions and wants are twice as important. He says as much in his second book too, and admits that it was a rather sexist but prevalent attitude in the early 70s.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."