Delilah (1968 song)
Encyclopedia
"Delilah" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Tom Jones
in 1968. It was written by Barry Mason
, with music by Les Reed
.
chart records its highest position as 15.
, the goth rock band Inkubus Sukkubus
on their album Wild
, the Irish American punk band Flogging Molly
on their live album Alive Behind the Green Door
and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
whose single reached No 7 in the UK chart in 1975. It was covered in 1978 by Filipino
singer/artist Sam Sorono (1950-2008) on his Sings Tom Jones' Greatest Hits LP album with EMI Records
. In 1988 "Delilah" was covered by Paddy Goes To Holyhead. This version can be found on the 4CD box The Hannover Sessions with The Sweet. The Finnish rock band The Leningrad Cowboys also performed a version of this song at Total Balalaka 1993. Austrian singer Peter Alexander recorded a German cover on his 1985 album Ein Abend Mit Dir.
have adopted Delilah as their club anthem since the 1970s. It was adopted by the fans after a supporter was heard singing it in a local pub. Some of the song's original lyrics have been adapted for the terraces, but the essence of the song remains the same.
Welsh rugby fans have sung Delilah as an unofficial anthem since at least as early as the 1970s, so much so it was referred to in the lyrics of one of the verses of Max Boyce's Hymns and Arias'- "We sang 'Cwm Rhondda
' and 'Deliliah', damn they sounded both the same". Tom Jones performed it before Wales's historic rugby victory over England at Wembley Stadium
in 1999. The Welsh Rugby Union
now plays the song in Millennium Stadium
before matches; the words to the song are shown on the big screens and the crowd sings along.
The song featured in the film "Edward Scissorhands
" (1990).
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
in 1968. It was written by Barry Mason
Barry Mason
John Barry Mason is an English songwriter, originally from the village of Coppull, near Chorley in Lancashire....
, with music by Les Reed
Les Reed
Les Reed O.B.E. is an English songwriter, musician and light orchestra leader.-Career:...
.
Success
It reached No 1 in the charts of several countries including Germany and Switzerland. It reached No 2 in the British charts in March 1968 and was the sixth best selling single of that year. The US BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart records its highest position as 15.
Chart performance
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 1 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 2 |
| Austrian Top 40 | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
Overview
Jones narrates the song as a deceived lover who spies his woman in a silhouette on a window as she makes love to another man. Although he realizes that she is of no good to him, he goes temporarily insane. Waiting until after her paramour leaves at break of day, he knocks on the door to find her laughing and stabs her to death. Realizing his murderous act, the deceived lover begs her forgiveness before the police come to break down the door and take him away.Cover versions
The song has also been covered many times by other artists, including a reggae cover by Horace AndyHorace Andy
Horace Andy is a roots reggae songwriter and singer, known for his distinctive vocals and hit songs such as "Government Land", "Angel", "Five Man Army" and a cover version of "Ain't No Sunshine"....
, the goth rock band Inkubus Sukkubus
Inkubus Sukkubus
Inkubus Sukkubus are a British goth and pagan band formed in 1989 by Candia Ridley, Tony McKormack, and Adam Henderson.-History:Inkubus Sukkubus are a British goth and pagan band who have been releasing albums and touring since their formation as Incubus Succubus in 1989.-Incubus Succubus:Before...
on their album Wild
Wild (album)
Wild is the fifth full-length studio album by British Pagan rock band Inkubus Sukkubus."Death & The Virgin" is a hidden track that plays about 2 minutes after "Delilah" finishes...
, the Irish American punk band Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish-descendant band from Los Angeles, California, that is currently signed to their own record label, Borstal Beat Records.-Early years:...
on their live album Alive Behind the Green Door
Alive Behind the Green Door
Alive Behind the Green Door is a live album by the band Flogging Molly, recorded at Molly Malone's in 1997.-Songs:The album features two cover songs, "What's Made Milwaukee Famous " and "De Lilah", which is a combination of "Delilah" by Tom Jones and "That's All Right " by Elvis Presley...
and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
whose single reached No 7 in the UK chart in 1975. It was covered in 1978 by Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
singer/artist Sam Sorono (1950-2008) on his Sings Tom Jones' Greatest Hits LP album with EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
. In 1988 "Delilah" was covered by Paddy Goes To Holyhead. This version can be found on the 4CD box The Hannover Sessions with The Sweet. The Finnish rock band The Leningrad Cowboys also performed a version of this song at Total Balalaka 1993. Austrian singer Peter Alexander recorded a German cover on his 1985 album Ein Abend Mit Dir.
In popular culture
Supporters of Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
have adopted Delilah as their club anthem since the 1970s. It was adopted by the fans after a supporter was heard singing it in a local pub. Some of the song's original lyrics have been adapted for the terraces, but the essence of the song remains the same.
Welsh rugby fans have sung Delilah as an unofficial anthem since at least as early as the 1970s, so much so it was referred to in the lyrics of one of the verses of Max Boyce's Hymns and Arias'- "We sang 'Cwm Rhondda
Cwm Rhondda
Cwm Rhondda, the Welsh name for the Rhondda Valley, is a popular hymn tune written by John Hughes and first performed in 1907. It is often erroneously called Bread of Heaven and is usually used in English as a setting for William Williams's text Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah , originally...
' and 'Deliliah', damn they sounded both the same". Tom Jones performed it before Wales's historic rugby victory over England at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
in 1999. The Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
now plays the song in Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
before matches; the words to the song are shown on the big screens and the crowd sings along.
The song featured in the film "Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands
Edward Scissorhands is a 1990 romantic fantasy film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. The film shows the story of an artificial man named Edward, an unfinished creation, who has scissors for hands. Edward is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their teenage daughter...
" (1990).