William Melvin "Bill" Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an … Read Full Bio ↴William Melvin "Bill" Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His humor challenged mainstream beliefs, aiming to "enlighten people to think for themselves." Hicks used a ribald approach to express his material, describing himself as "Chomsky with dick jokes", while conceding that his humor was "caring". His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy. In both his stand-up performances and during interviews, he often criticized consumerism, superficiality, mediocrity and banality within the media and popular culture, describing them as oppressive tools of the ruling class, meant to "keep people stupid and apathetic."

Born in Valdosta, Georgia, Bill Hicks was the son of Jim and Mary (Reese) Hicks and had two older siblings: sister Lynn and brother Steve. The family lived in Florida, Alabama, and New Jersey, before settling in Houston, Texas when Hicks was seven. He was raised in the Southern Baptist faith, where he first began performing as a comedian for other children at Sunday School.

Hicks was 16 years old when he started performing stand-up comedy at the Comedy Workshop in Houston, Texas, in 1978. During the 1980s he toured the United States extensively and performed a number of high-profile television appearances. It was in the UK, however, where Hicks first amassed a significant fan base, packing large venues with his 1991 tour. Hicks died of pancreatic cancer in 1994 at the age of 32. In the years after his death, his work and legacy achieved the significant admiration and acclaim of numerous comedians, writers, actors and musicians alike. In 2007 he was voted the 6th greatest stand-up comic on the UK's Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups and again in the updated 2010 list as the 4th greatest stand-up comic.

Hicks was associated with the Texas Outlaw Comics group developed at the Comedy Workshop in Houston in the 1980s. Once Hicks gained some underground success in night clubs and universities, he quit drinking. However, Hicks continued to smoke cigarettes. His nicotine addiction, love of smoking, and occasional attempts to quit became a recurring theme in his act throughout his later years.

In January 1986, Hicks found himself broke, having spent all his money on a variety of substances. His career soon received another upturn, though, as he appeared on Rodney Dangerfield's Young Comedians Special, in 1987. The same year, he moved to New York City, and, for the next 5 years, performed about 300 times a year. On the album Relentless, he jokes that he quit using drugs because "once you've been taken aboard a UFO, it's kind of hard to top that", although in his performances, he continued to extol the virtues of LSD, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms. He fell back to chain-smoking, a theme that would figure heavily in his performances from then on.

In 1988, Hicks signed on with his first professional business manager, Jack Mondrus.[citation needed] Throughout 1989, Mondrus worked to convince many clubs to book Hicks, promising that the wild drug- and alcohol-induced behavior was behind him. Among the club managers hiring the newly sober Hicks was Colleen McGarr, who would become his girlfriend and fiancée in later years.[citation needed]

Hicks quit drinking in 1988, as stated in his 1990 album Dangerous on the first track, entitled "Modern Bummer".

In 1989 he released his first video, Sane Man.

In 1990, Hicks released his first album, Dangerous, performed on the HBO special One Night Stand, and performed at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival. He was also part of a group of American stand-up comedians performing in London's West End in November. Hicks was a huge hit in the UK and Ireland and continued touring there throughout 1991. That year, he returned to Just for Laughs and filmed his second video, Relentless.

Hicks made a brief detour into musical recording with the Marble Head Johnson album in 1992. During the same year he toured the UK, where he recorded the Revelations video for Channel 4. He closed the show with his soon-to become-famous philosophy regarding life, "It's Just a Ride". Also in that tour he recorded the stand-up performance released in its entirety on a double CD titled Salvation. Hicks was voted "Hot Standup Comic" by Rolling Stone magazine in 1993. He moved to Los Angeles in 1992.

The progressive metal band Tool invited Hicks to open a number of concerts in its 1992 Lollapalooza appearances, where Hicks once asked the audience to look for a contact lens he had lost. Thousands of people complied. Members of Tool felt that they and Hicks "were resonating similar concepts".

Intending to raise awareness about Hicks's material and ideas, Tool dedicated their triple-platinum album Ænima (1996) to Hicks. Both the lenticular casing of the Ænima album packaging as well as the chorus of the title track "Ænema" make reference to a sketch from Hicks's Arizona Bay album, in which he contemplates the idea of Los Angeles falling into the Pacific Ocean. Ænima's final track, "Third Eye" contains samples from Hicks's Sane Man and Relentless albums. An alternate version of the Ænima artwork shows a painting of Bill Hicks, calling him "Another Dead Hero," and mentions of Hicks are found both in the liner notes and on the record.

In 1984, Hicks was invited to appear on Late Night with David Letterman for the first time. He had a joke that he used frequently in comedy clubs about how he caused a serious accident that left a classmate using a wheelchair. NBC had a policy that no handicapped jokes could be aired on the show, making his stand-up routine difficult to perform without mentioning words such as "wheelchair".

On October 1, 1993, Hicks was scheduled to appear on Late Show with David Letterman, his 12th appearance on a Letterman late-night show, but his entire performance was removed from the broadcast—then the only occasion where a comedian's entire routine was cut after taping.
Hicks's stand-up routine was removed from the show allegedly because Letterman and his producer were nervous about a religious joke ("If Jesus came back he might not want to see so many crosses"). Hicks said he believed it was due to a pro-life commercial aired during a commercial break. Both the show's producers and CBS denied responsibility. Hicks expressed his feelings of betrayal in a letter to John Lahr of The New Yorker. Although Letterman later expressed regret at the way Hicks had been handled, Hicks did not appear on the show again.

Hicks's mother, Mary, appeared on the January 30, 2009 episode of Late Show. Letterman played the routine in its entirety. Letterman took full responsibility for the original censorship and apologized to Mrs. Hicks. Letterman also declared he did not know what he was thinking when he pulled the routine from the original show in 1993, saying, "It says more about me as a guy than it says about Bill because there was absolutely nothing wrong with that."

For many years, Hicks was friends with fellow comedian Denis Leary. But in 1993 Hicks was angered by Leary's album No Cure for Cancer, which featured lines and subject matter similar to Hicks's routine. According to American Scream: The Bill Hicks Story by Cynthia True, upon hearing the album "Bill was furious. All these years, aside from the occasional jibe, he had pretty much shrugged off Leary's lifting. Comedians borrowed, stole stuff, and even bought bits from one another. Milton Berle and Robin Williams were famous for it. This was different. Leary had practically taken line for line huge chunks of Bill's act and recorded it."
The friendship ended abruptly as a result.

At least three stand-up comedians have gone on the record stating they believe Leary stole Hicks's material as well as his persona and attitude. In an interview, when Hicks was asked why he had quit smoking, he answered, "I just wanted to see if Denis would, too."
In another interview, Hicks said, "I have a scoop for you. I stole his [Leary's] act. I camouflaged it with punchlines, and, to really throw people off, I did it before he did." During a 2003 Comedy Central roast of Denis Leary, comedian Lenny Clarke, a friend of Leary's, said there was a carton of cigarettes backstage from Bill Hicks with the message, "Wish I had gotten these to you sooner." This joke was cut from the final broadcast.

The controversy surrounding plagiarism is also mentioned in American Scream: Leary was in Montreal hosting the "Nasty Show" at Club Soda, and Colleen [McGarr?] was coordinating the talent so she stood backstage and overheard Leary doing material incredibly similar to old Hicks riffs, including his perennial Jim Fixx joke: "Keith Richards outlived Jim Fixx, the runner and health nut. The plot thickens." When Leary came offstage, Colleen, more stunned than angry, said, "Hey, you know that's Bill Hicks's material! Do you know that's his material?" Leary stood there, stared at her without saying a word, and briskly left the dressing room.

By Half
Bill Hicks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am an old brick mason and I've traveled in my time--
I've rambled north, I've rambled south, and up and down the line;
I've wandered east and wandered west, I've been most everywhere,
I've seen some things would make you weep, and some would make you stare.
And some would make you stare.

In Baton Rouge a lady lived, as best I can recall,
It was so very long ago it could have been St. Paul.

At any rate she kissed me with a rare and magic glance,
And I commenced to court and spark as if I had a chance,
As if I had a chance.

Her ankle it was curved just so, I never glanced her knee,
My heart began to patter should her dappled mare I see.
And passing I would leave a note, tucked neatly in her tack,
And hope I would that she would read, much more to send one back,
Much more to send one back.

And this she did! I'll ne'er forget, that lovely spring-time morn,
When rising with the early bells I found a scented form,
All pink and blue and violets, the message a cool draught--
"My love," she said, "my love for you it grows and grows by half ,
"Each day it grows by half."

From thince the time flew quickly, and the bricks rose from the floor,
I would stand upon my scaffold, watch my love pass thru the door.
Our notes would fly, like Luna moths, around the growing flame,
In every one she'd add a half, and I would do the same,
And I would do the same.

The summer passed to autumn, and the hotel it was done.
Where once there had been half the bricks there now was not a one.
And where her arrow once was seated well and to the mark,
I'd seen it fly until it came to rest inside my heart,
To rest inside my heart.

But then she told me sadly, that it was ne'er to be--
She had learned in mathematics that tis falseness that we see--
For when an arrow's started it must go by half, not all,
And from that it follows clearly that it cannot start at all,
Oh, it cannot start at all.

Each building that I've started has been finished in the end,
Each brick I've laid has kept its place spite of the stoutest wind.
I've heard the lady's married to some attorney from Dubuque,
With several lively children and a terrier named "Duke."
A terrier named "Duke."

But I--I've long departed, tho I'm not sure if I've went.
The road is long and winding, but the journey isn't spent.
I've never loved another like the girl who kept my heart,
And I've cursed the mathematics, that tore us all apart.
It tore us all apart.

I am an old brick mason now, I've traveled in my time--
I've rambled north, I've rambled south, and up and down the line;
I've wandered east and wandered west, I've been most everywhere,

I've seen some things would make you laugh, and some would make you care.
And some would make you care.

Overall Meaning

The song "By Half" by Bill Hicks tells the story of an old brick mason who has traveled extensively, and reflects on a past love affair. He reminisces about a lady he once courted in Baton Rouge, who caught his eye with a rare and magic glance. He describes the beauty of her ankle and the thrill he felt passing her dappled mare, leaving notes tucked neatly in her tack, and hoping for a response. When she did respond, it was with a message that said her love for him grew and grew by half every day, which he reciprocated in their notes. However, she eventually told him that their love could never be, citing the mathematical principle that an arrow must go by half, not all, and therefore, cannot start at all.

The song has a wistful and nostalgic tone, with the brick mason recalling his past with a mix of joy and sorrow. He reflects on the notes that he and his love exchanged, describing them as "Luna moths." The song beautifully captures the charm and innocence of a past love affair, and the bittersweet feeling of looking back on it with fondness and regret.

Line by Line Meaning

I am an old brick mason and I've traveled in my time--
I'm a seasoned brick mason with many travels under my belt.

I've rambled north, I've rambled south, and up and down the line;
I've gone north and south and covered a lot of distance along the way.

I've wandered east and wandered west, I've been most everywhere,
I've explored the east and west and all the places in between.

I've seen some things would make you weep, and some would make you stare.
I've witnessed things that would bring you to tears, and others that would leave you in awe.

And some would make you stare.
And others would simply leave you in wonder.

In Baton Rouge a lady lived, as best I can recall,
There was a woman in Baton Rouge that I remember vaguely.

It was so very long ago it could have been St. Paul.
It's been such a long time that I can't be sure if it was in Baton Rouge or somewhere else like St. Paul.

At any rate she kissed me with a rare and magic glance,
Regardless, there was a moment when she kissed me with a magical look in her eyes.

And I commenced to court and spark as if I had a chance,
I began to pursue her ardently, as if there were a chance for us.

As if I had a chance.
But in reality, it was a futile pursuit.

Her ankle it was curved just so, I never glanced her knee,
I admired her perfectly shaped ankle, yet I never let my gaze move up past her knee.

My heart began to patter should her dappled mare I see.
If I saw her spotted mare, my heart would start racing.

And passing I would leave a note, tucked neatly in her tack,
As I walked by her horse's gear, I would leave her messages in a discreet spot.

And hope I would that she would read, much more to send one back,
I hoped that she would find my notes and reply with one of her own.

Much more to send one back.
And hopefully, we could continue this exchange and grow closer.

And this she did! I'll ne'er forget, that lovely spring-time morn,
To my delight, she did reply! I remember it was a beautiful spring morning.

When rising with the early bells I found a scented form,
As I woke up with the early morning church bells, I discovered a fragrant note from her.

All pink and blue and violets, the message a cool draught--
The note was adorned with pink, blue, and violet colors and was refreshing to read.

"My love," she said, "my love for you it grows and grows by half,
In her message, she confessed her growing love for me, which increased by half each day.

"Each day it grows by half."
Her love for me was growing at an exponential rate.

From thince the time flew quickly, and the bricks rose from the floor,
Time passed quickly as I worked on building and laying the bricks.

I would stand upon my scaffold, watch my love pass thru the door.
As I worked on the scaffolding, I would glimpse her passing through the door.

Our notes would fly, like Luna moths, around the growing flame,
Our notes would pass like Luna moths, drawn to the intensity of the growing flame of our love.

In every one she'd add a half, and I would do the same,
In every message she sent, she continued to express her ever-growing love, which I reciprocated.

And I would do the same.
I returned her expressions of love as intensely as she gave them.

The summer passed to autumn, and the hotel it was done.
As the seasons changed, our love continued to grow, and we completed the hotel construction.

Where once there had been half the bricks there now was not a one.
We had used all of the bricks we had started with and had built a solid hotel structure.

And where her arrow once was seated well and to the mark,
Once, her affections were securely aimed at me, and we were making progress.

I'd seen it fly until it came to rest inside my heart,
However, her attention had waned, and I knew that her feelings for me had come to a halt.

To rest inside my heart.
Despite this, my love for her refused to abate and continued to lie dormant in my heart.

But then she told me sadly, that it was ne'er to be--
She eventually told me, with a heavy heart, that we could never be together.

She had learned in mathematics that tis falseness that we see--
She explained that in mathematics, half represents a falseness, and that our love was never meant to be.

For when an arrow's started it must go by half, not all,
She convinced herself that if love started growing exponentially, it would never work out in the end.

And from that it follows clearly that it cannot start at all,
She concluded that love must start at a slow and constant pace, or it will never take off.

Oh, it cannot start at all.
In her mind, love between us was doomed from the start.

Each building that I've started has been finished in the end,
I've always succeeded in finishing every building project that I've started.

Each brick I've laid has kept its place spite of the stoutest wind.
The bricks I've laid have remained secure, even in the face of the strongest winds.

I've heard the lady's married to some attorney from Dubuque,
I've heard that she's married some attorney from Dubuque and has children and a dog named Duke.

With several lively children and a terrier named "Duke."
She has a full life with her spouse, children, and a beloved dog.

But I--I've long departed, tho I'm not sure if I've went.
I've moved on from that chapter of my life, but I'm uncertain whether I did so physically or just emotionally.

The road is long and winding, but the journey isn't spent.
Although my journey has been long and winding, I still have much distance to cover.

I've never loved another like the girl who kept my heart,
While I've never found a love that compares to hers, the memory of her still remains in my heart.

And I've cursed the mathematics, that tore us all apart.
I've blamed mathematical principles for causing our love to dissipate and leaving us apart.

It tore us all apart.
In the end, the exponential growth of our love turned out to be our undoing.

I've seen some things would make you laugh, and some would make you care.
Over the course of my travels and experiences, I've come across both humorous and heartwarming circumstances.

And some would make you care.
Together, these experiences have left me with a deep appreciation for the value of human connection and intimacy.

Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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