Tom Jones Delilah Lyrics – Meaning, History & Full Text

Q: What album is Delilah on?

It was released as a single and later appeared on the EP 'The Delilah EP' (1968).

Q: What other songs did Tom Jones have as number ones?

His first UK #1 was 'It's Not Unusual' in 1965.

Sing along to a murder ballad—that’s the curious experience of Tom Jones’ “Delilah.” The 1968 hit, recorded in December 1967 and released the following February (Wikipedia), has a chorus that fills stadiums but lyrics that tell a story of jealousy, infidelity, and fatal violence. Despite the dark narrative, it remains a fan favourite, sparking debates about art, morality, and what it means to roar along with a tale of murder.

Release year: 1968 · Songwriters: Les Reed & Barry Mason · Chart peak (UK): #2 · Duration: 3:22

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Written by Les Reed & Barry Mason (Wikipedia)
Tom Jones recorded it in Dec 1967 (Wikipedia)
Lyrics describe a man who kills his unfaithful lover (Wikipedia)
Tom Jones still performs it live (Songfacts)

2What’s unclear

Whether the song was inspired by a specific real event or purely fictional
Exact reason the BBC banned it – some sources point to the lyrics, others to a coincidental real murder case
Song’s exact UK chart peak – most sources say #2, but some claim #1 (conflicting reports)

3Timeline signal

1967: Song written
March 1968: Peaks at #2 UK
2023: WRU bans choir singing at matches

4What’s next

Debate over the song’s place in public performance continues
Potential for further bans or reinterpretation at sporting events

The six key details that define “Delilah” as a piece of music history.

Detail	Value
Release date	1968
Songwriters	Les Reed, Barry Mason
Peak chart position (UK)	#2
Duration	3:22
Album	The Delilah EP
Label	Decca

What is the meaning behind the song Delilah?

Is Delilah based on a biblical story?

The title echoes the biblical Delilah, who betrayed Samson, but the narrative is original. Wikipedia states the lyrics describe a man who discovers his lover’s infidelity and stabs her to death after her lover leaves at dawn.
The story is fictional, not drawn from a specific real event.

The catch

A biblical name and a lilting melody mask a plot that is entirely the writers’ invention, not a retelling of Scripture.

The implication: The biblical allusion adds a layer of irony to a story of domestic violence.

Does the song glorify violence?

Critics argue yes. A 2023 piece by Workers’ Liberty calls the lyrics among the most misogynist, about a jealous man butchering a woman.
Defenders counter that fans sing along for the tune, not the murder. Songfacts notes the song’s lilting rhythm makes crowds sing despite the theme, often when inebriated.

The pattern: Catchy music can carry dark content into mainstream culture, forcing audiences to confront whether enjoyment implies endorsement.

What are the lyrics to Delilah?

Full lyrics of Delilah by Tom Jones

Below are the complete lyrics as recorded by Tom Jones in 1968, sourced from Wikipedia.

I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
I saw the flickering shadows of love on her blind
She was my woman
As she deceived me I watched and went out of my mind
My, my, my Delilah
Why, why, why Delilah
I could see, that girl was no good for me
But I was lost like a slave that no man could free
At break of day when that man drove away I was waiting
I cross the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more
My, my, my Delilah
Why, why, why Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn’t take anymore
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more
My, my, my Delilah
Why, why, why Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn’t take anymore

Why this matters

The lyrics are the core of the controversy: the narrator frames himself as a “slave” to passion and ends by stabbing the woman, yet the chorus invites a whole stadium to shout “My, my, my Delilah” without a second thought.

The recognition: The sing-along power of the chorus makes the violent narrative almost invisible in a crowd.

Chords and guitar tab for Delilah

The song is in the key of E minor (according to Songfacts).
Basic chords: Em, C, G, D, Am, B7 – a straightforward progression that contributes to its sing-along appeal.

Does Tom Jones still sing Delilah?

Has Tom Jones ever stopped performing Delilah?

No. Songfacts confirms Delilah remains a staple in his live sets, often the biggest crowd-pleaser.
It is one of his most requested songs, even after decades of touring.

What did Tom Jones say about the song in 2020?

In a 2020 concert, Tom Jones addressed the controversy head-on. According to Songfacts, he told the audience, “It’s not a political statement… This woman is unfaithful and he just loses it.”
He encouraged fans to keep singing, despite online petitions to drop the song.

The implication: Tom Jones has turned the debate into part of the show, betting that the live energy will always win over the critics.

What is the most famous Tom Jones song?

Other iconic Tom Jones hits

“It’s Not Unusual” (1965) – his breakthrough single.
“What’s New Pussycat?” (1965) – a Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic.
“She’s a Lady” (1971) – another enduring anthem.

Why Delilah is often named his signature song

Songfacts note that Delilah consistently ranks among his top songs in listener surveys.
It has a dual life: a chart hit and a sports anthem. Welsh rugby fans adopted it after a 1999 victory over England (Songfacts).
Gold Radio listed it as one of his 10 greatest songs.

The trade-off: Delilah’s fame is inseparable from its controversy—the very thing that made it a stadium anthem also made it a target for bans.

Who wrote Delilah and when was it released?

Songwriters: Les Reed and Barry Mason

Lyricist Barry Mason and composer Les Reed wrote the song specifically for Tom Jones, per Wikipedia.
In 1983, a lawsuit claimed Mason’s ex-wife Sylvan Whittingham co-wrote half the lyrics; the case was settled out of court in 1986 (Wikipedia).

Release date and chart performance

Released as a single in February 1968 on Decca Records.
Peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1968 (Wikipedia).
Also reached the top 10 in Ireland, Germany, and Australia.

What this means: The song’s success was immediate, but its legal and cultural journey would unfold over decades—a pop single that became a social flashpoint.

Timeline

1967: Les Reed and Barry Mason write the song. (Wikipedia)
February 1968: Single “Delilah” officially released (Wikipedia).
March 1968: Song peaks at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. (Wikipedia)
1970s: BBC and other stations ban the song following a murder case, citing its dark narrative (Songfacts).
1999: Welsh rugby fans adopt it after a victory over England. (Songfacts)
2015: Welsh Rugby Union removes it from the Millennium Stadium playlist over concerns it glorifies violence against women. (Songfacts)
February 2023: WRU bans choirs from singing Delilah during matches (Songfacts).

The arc: From pop chart to sporting anthem to ban—Delilah’s timeline traces the shifting cultural sensitivity around violent content in music.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

Song written by Les Reed and Barry Mason. (Wikipedia)
Tom Jones recorded it in December 1967. (Wikipedia)
Lyrics describe a man who kills his unfaithful lover. (Wikipedia)
Tom Jones still performs it live. (Songfacts)

What’s unclear

Whether the song was directly inspired by a specific real event or entirely fictional.
Exact reason for the BBC ban – some sources cite lyrics, others a coincidental real murder.
Song’s exact UK chart peak – most sources say #2, but some claim #1 (conflicting reports).
Whether the audience’s enjoyment of the tune outweighs the violent narrative in the long cultural debate.

The unresolved: The debate around Delilah remains open, caught between a catchy chorus and a deadly story.

In their own words

It’s not a political statement… This woman is unfaithful and he just loses it.

— Tom Jones, addressing the controversy in 2020 (as reported by Songfacts)

The lyrics are among the most misogynist, about a jealous man butchering a woman.

— Workers’ Liberty, 2023

The paradox

Tom Jones himself frames the murder as a moment of passion, but the song’s lasting legacy is not the narrator’s loss of control—it’s the crowd’s joyful participation.

The deeper friction: The singer’s justification and the critics’ condemnation both miss the point: the audience’s roar is what keeps the song alive.

Additional sources

youtube.com

For those interested in a deeper dive into the song’s narrative and chord progression, the full Tom Jones Delilah lyrics provide both the complete text and musical annotations.

Frequently asked questions

Is Delilah a true story?

No. According to Wikipedia, the story is fictional, though the title references the biblical figure Delilah.

Why was Delilah banned?

The BBC and other stations banned the song in the 1970s, reportedly because of its violent narrative, though some sources link it to a coincidental real murder case. (Songfacts)

What chords are used in Delilah?

The song is in E minor and uses chords: Em, C, G, D, Am, B7. (Songfacts)

What album is Delilah on?

It was released as a single and later appeared on the EP The Delilah EP (1968). (Wikipedia)

Did Tom Jones write Delilah?

No. The song was written by Les Reed and Barry Mason. (Wikipedia)

What key is Delilah sung in?

E minor, according to Songfacts.

How long is Delilah?

The track runs 3 minutes 22 seconds.

What other songs did Tom Jones have as number ones?

He has had multiple hit singles, but “Delilah” peaked at #2 in the UK. His first UK #1 was “It’s Not Unusual” in 1965. (Wikipedia)

The final question: For Welsh rugby fans, the choice is clear: continue belting out “Delilah” as a sign of team spirit, or accept that the joyful roar carries a violent story that no catchy chorus can fully hide.