Just To Walk That Little Girl Home

Album: Le Chat Bleu (1980)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This romantic ballad finds Mink DeVille frontman Willy DeVille smitten with a woman at a cafe. Though she's with a man, he still wants to walk her home.
  • "Just to Walk That Little Girl Home" showcases Willy DeVille's soulful vocals and the band's blend of roots rock, soul, and blues.
  • DeVille wrote the song with Doc Pomus, the legendary songwriter who worked with artists like The Drifters ("Save The Last Dance For Me") Dion & the Belmonts ("A Teenager in Love") and Elvis Presley ("Viva Las Vegas").

    "Willy and I were in Doc Pomus' apartment on West 72nd Street in Manhattan," keyboardist Kenny Margolis recalled to Mojo magazine. "Doc was in a wheelchair, but he could get about. He had a little Wurlitzer electric piano that I played, and Willy bought an acoustic guitar. Willy had all the music for the song, but no lyrics. Doc wanted to give it some sort of Spanish theme, so he started out with the line, 'It's closing time at Roberto's cafe,' but Willy said no. Doc thought about it for a few minutes and said, 'I've got it: in that nowhere Cafe,' and Willy said, 'Yes that's it.'"
  • This was one of three DeVille and Pomus co-writes for Mink DeVille's third album, Le Chat Bleu. "Willy was in awe of Doc," Margolis told Mojo. "And I think Doc saw in Willy a link to the past when Doc was young and coming up with those songs that influenced Willy's music."
  • Jean-Claude Petit, a French composer and conductor, did the string arrangement.
  • Recorded at the L'Aquarium in Paris, France, DeVille delved into Cajun music and the French cabaret tradition for Le Chat Bleu. "I wanted that (French) sound," Willy DeVille told Rolling Stone. "French records are so much more vivid. I knew what I was going for - this record was my dream."
  • Le Chat Bleu received critical acclaim. The Rolling Stone critics' poll ranked it the fifth best album of 1980.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

The End Of The Rock Era

The End Of The Rock EraSong Writing

There are no more rock stars - the last one died in 1994.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.