What inspired the ballad Delilah by Tom Jones?
An American singer’s song about a “devil” lover, a 1954 musical, or a Welsh girl named Delia who had an affair with the composer? What Inspired Tom Jones’ Ballad Delilah As Rugby Bosses Ban Lyrics That Kill Women
- Songwriter Barry Mason said he was inspired by Frankie Laine’s hit Jezebel.
- He said in another interview that the Christmas adventure was behind the track.
- And his wife claimed that the Biblical story of Samson inspired the song.
It’s a song about a scorned man who kills his love in revenge for her infidelity.
Tom Jones’ 1968 hit Delilah was back in the headlines this week, with the news that Welsh rugby bosses have banned their choir from singing what has become an unofficial anthem for fans of the nation.
Its lyrics say: ‘At the break of day when that man walked away, I was waiting. I walked across the street to her house and she opened the door. She just stood there laughing… I felt the knife in my hand and she didn’t laugh anymore.
The penetrating words, penned by the late songwriter Barry Mason, have always raised questions about what inspired them.
Mason said he was inspired by both American singer Frankie Laine’s hit Jezebel, a song about an ‘evil’ lover, and his teenage ordeal of a girl named Delia he met on vacation telling him she had a boyfriend, an experience that made him left ‘sick’. with jealousy’.
It’s a song about a scorned man who kills his love in revenge for her infidelity. Tom Jones’ 1968 hit Delilah has hit the headlines again this week.
The piercing words were penned by the late songwriter Barry Mason (pictured with Tom Jones and have always raised questions about what inspired them).
But his wife Sylvan claimed Mason’s original idea was to make the song about the Biblical story of Samson, who loses his immense strength when his majestic hair is cut off by his lover.
However, he added that the story “took off of its own accord”, meaning that only one line in the song, “but I was lost like a slave no man could free”, references the story of Samson.
Instead, he said it “ended up being more of a Carmen Jones theme,” a reference to the famous 1954 musical in which star Harry Belafonte strangled his adulterous mistress.
Delilah reached number 2 in the UK charts and was very popular in other parts of the world.
Mason and his collaborator Les Reed, who came up with the tune, won a coveted Ivor Novello Award, before becoming the unofficial anthem for Welsh rugby fans.
Delilah has also been covered by dozens of acts in the decade since its original release.
Laine’s success tells of a lover named Jezebel. Her lyrics say: ‘If ever the devil was born without a pair of horns.
It was you, Jezebel, it was you. If ever an angel fell, Jezebel, it was you.
Mason’s wife, Sylvan, claimed her original idea was to make the song about the Biblical story of Samson, who loses his immense strength when his majestic hair is cut off by his lover.
She said it “ended up being more of a Carmen Jones theme,” a reference to the famous 1954 musical (above) in which star Harry Belafonte strangled his adulterous mistress.
Mason said he was inspired by American singer Frankie Laine’s hit Jezebel, a song about the devil.
Another line reads: ‘If ever the devil’s plan to torment man was made. It was you, Jezebel, it was you.
Samson, a muscular warrior, is mentioned in the Old Testament Book of Judges.
His enormous strength was derived from his extremely long hair and he was said to have killed a lion with his bare hands.
His lover betrays him by ordering a servant to cut his hair while he sleeps. His eyes are then gouged out before God restores his strength.
Samson’s story culminates in his death and that of his captors, the Philistines, collapsing the temple in which they are found.
Mason was a multi-award winning gold and platinum artist who also wrote songs for Elivs Presley, Rod Stewart, and Barbra Streisand.
He died at age 85 in 2021.
His other hits included The Last Waltz and Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes).