Folk music
In 1965, together with Tam Harvey, Connolly started a group called the Humblebums. At their first gig, Connolly introduced them both to the audience by saying, "My name's Billy Connolly, and I'm humble. This is Tam Harvey, he's a bum." The band would later include Gerry Rafferty. Connolly sang, played banjo and guitar, and entertained the audience with his humorous introductions to the songs.
In his World Tour of Scotland, Connolly reveals that at a trailer show during the Edinburgh Festival, the Humblebums took to the stage just before the late Yehudi Menuhin.
The trio broke up in 1971, at which point Connolly went solo. His first solo album in 1972, Billy Connolly Live! on Transatlantic Records, features Connolly as a singer, songwriter, and musician.
His early albums were a mixture of comedy performances with comedic and serious musical interludes. Among his best known musical performances were "The Welly Boot Song", a comical ode to the working class which became his theme song for several years; "In the Brownies", a parody of the Village People classics "Y.M.C.A." and "In the Navy" (for which Connolly filmed a music video); "Two Little Boys in Blue", a tongue-in-cheek indictment of police brutality done to the tune of Rolf Harris' "Two Little Boys"; and the ballad "I Wish I Was in Glasgow" which Connolly would later perform on a guest appearance on the 1990s American sitcom Pearl (which starred Rhea Perlman). He also performed the occasional Humblebums-era song such as "Oh, No!" as well as straightforward covers such as a version of Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" which was included on his Riotous Assembly album.
In November 1975, his spoof of the Tammy Wynette song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" had a one-week spell as the UK's No. 1 single. Wynette's original was about parents spelling out words of an impending marital split to avoid traumatizing their young child. Connolly's version "D.I.V.O.R.C.E.", on the other hand, played off of the fact that many dog owners use the same tactic when they do not wish their pet to become upset about an impending trip to the veterinarian. His song is about a couple whose marriage is ruined by a bad vet visit (spelling out "W.O.R.M." or "Q.U.A.R.A.N.T.I.N.E.", for example.)
His song "No Chance" was a parody of J.J. Barrie's "No Charge".
In 1985 he sang the theme song to Supergran, which was released as a single and in 1996 he performed a cover of Ralph McTell's In The Dreamtime as the theme to his World Tour of Australia. By the late 1980s, Connolly had all but dropped the music from his act, though he still records the occasional musical performance. In 1998 he covered The Beatles' "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" on the George Martin tribute, In My Life and he also recorded a rewritten version of Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" entitled "The Evil Scotsman". Most recently, he sang a song during the film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Connolly is among the artists featured on Banjoman, a tribute to American folk musician Derroll Adams, released in 2002. He plays one song, "The Rock".
Stand-up comedy
It is as a stand-up comedian that Connolly is best known. His observational comedy is idiosyncratic and often off-the-cuff. He talks about himself, who he is, where he's been, what he thinks and how he reacts to the world around him. He has outraged audiences, critics and, of course, the media with his free use of the word "fuck". He has used masturbation, blasphemy, defecation, flatulence, sex, his father's illness and his aunts' cruelty to entertain. By exploring these subjects with humour, Connolly has done much to strip away the taboos surrounding them. Yet he does not tell jokes in the conventional way. At the end of a concert the audience can be convulsed with laughter but few can remember a specific "funny" line.
One of Connolly's most famous comedy skits is "The Crucifixion", an early 1970s recording in which he likens Christ's Last Supper to a drunken night out in Glasgow. The recording was banned by many radio stations at the time. Around this same time, a joke told during a television talk show appearance (about a murderer and his bike) became a sensation that, reportedly, people still remember three decades after the appearance. (A transcript of the complete joke can be found here).
Billy Connolly also performed a sketch broadcast on TV, when talking about national anthems, and comparing the UK's slow tune to the lively ones of many other nations, Billy suggested that it should be replaced by the theme tune to The Archers.
Connolly's style has changed over the years to be less controversial and more observational. Including topics such as himself aging, stories about where he has been and other aspects of his life. He also exclaims "Oh, I must tell you!" and vocalises whatever thought occurs to him. Another feature is his ability to break off onto a tangent mid-topic and return to it later -- sometimes as long as an hour later.
Awards
Connolly was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of Glasgow on 11 July, 2001. This particularly bemused his wife, who noted that she had studied for six years to obtain her Ph.D., whereas Billy merely had to turn up and collect his. 2003 saw him presented with a BAFTA Lifetime Achievement award and a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
On 4 July 2006, Connolly was awarded an honorary doctorate by Glasgow's Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) for his service to performing arts [5].
Trivia
* While being interviewed with his wife on the Irish Late Late Show, Connolly proved how easily he forgets many great lines that other comedians could only hope to think of. The presenter was trying to get Connolly to reproduce a funny line he had read in "Bravemouth" about Connolly knowing of an organism that lives on a human eyelid that has two penises. He asked Connolly "What was it called?" to which Connolly replied "Some latin name that I can't remember". His wife then interrupted "But the translation means lucky bastard, right", to which Connolly broke down in a fit of laughter. When he complemented his wife on the line, she had to remind him that it was his own original line which he had forgotten.
* Connolly is a lifelong supporter of Glasgow football team, Celtic, and is often seen at their home games.
* Connolly came second in The Glasgow Herald's poll, "The Most Scottish Person In The World". Number one was Wee Jimmy Krankie (see The Krankies), while third place went to Russ Abbott's impersonation of a Scotsman.
All The Best People Do It
Billy Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To me that doesn't mean so much
You're tryin' hard to be so cool
But you will always be the fool.
All the best people do it
There ain't nothin' to it
Just keep turning every little thing into a lie.
You think you know just what to say
The words you use give you away
There's always something lets me know
That I'm up high and you're down low.
All the best people do it
There ain't nothin' to it
Just keep turning every little thing into a lie.
Why do you always just pretend
You're gonna lose out in the end
One day you'll wake up and you'll find
That I have left you far behind.
All the best people do it
There ain't nothin' to it
Just keep turning every little thing into a lie.
You say that I am out of touch
To me that doesn't mean so much
You're tryin' hard to be so cool
But you will always be the fool.
All the best people do it
There ain't nothin' to it
Just keep turning every little thing into a lie.
The song “All the Best People Do It” by Billy Connolly is a sarcastic take on individuals who are trying too hard to fit in and be considered cool. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been criticized for being out of touch, but they do not seem affected by this. In contrast, the singer believes that the ones who try too hard to be cool are actually making themselves look like fools.
Throughout the song, the singer makes reference to the fact that the cool, popular people are always lying or pretending to be something they are not. The repetition of "All the best people do it" is a sarcastic remark that suggests that only the cool people can get away with lying and pretending. The singer is calling out this type of behavior and is not impressed by it, making it clear that they would rather be true to themselves than conform to the norms of the cool crowd.
The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is not concerned with being left behind as they move on from these individuals with their shallow personas. The overall message of the song is that it is better to be honest and true to oneself than to try to fit in with a crowd that has no substance.
Line by Line Meaning
You say that I am out of touch
You claim that I am unable to connect with what's currently popular or what is commonly accepted as correct.
To me that doesn't mean so much
However, in my opinion, this does not really matter or affect me.
You're tryin' hard to be so cool
You are making an effort to appear popular or trendy.
But you will always be the fool.
Despite these efforts, you will remain a foolish person.
All the best people do it
The most successful individuals engage in a certain behavior or action.
There ain't nothin' to it
It's a simple task or process to engage in this behavior or action.
Just keep turning every little thing into a lie.
By continuously twisting small details into falsehoods, one becomes a better liar.
You think you know just what to say
You believe that you are knowledgeable about how to communicate effectively.
The words you use give you away
However, your choice of words reveals your true intentions or emotions.
There's always something lets me know
There are always signs or indications that allow me to recognize the truth.
That I'm up high and you're down low.
These signs reveal that I am in a more favorable or superior position compared to you.
Why do you always just pretend
Why do you consistently fake or act like something you are not?
You're gonna lose out in the end
Inevitably, you will suffer negative consequences because of your dishonesty or inauthenticity.
One day you'll wake up and you'll find
At some point in time, you will realize or discover something important.
That I have left you far behind.
You will realize that I have surpassed or outpaced you in some capacity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GERRY RAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaeltroster9059
We had the privilege of seeing Billy when he hit London, Ontario. He put on a three hour show without a break. We never laughed so hard in our lives, and I’m not exaggerating. The funniest man on the planet.
@susannahhayward6861
I'm a Londoner and I'm with you Michael. I have seen Billy perform live 3 times and he makes me laugh until I hurt. And I grew up with some of the funniest comedians in the UK - Billy is still the funniest.
@MCOult
Can you imagine having Billy Connolly as a dinner guest? You'd never want the evening to end. Amazing talent!
@ewestre1
...I would starve to death!
@Markgeoghegan100
Billy is an absolute legend...... Just being himself on a talk show is all he needs to do....!
@traceytaylor2706
Every time Billy goes on a talk show the host is always in stitches!!!! The man is an absolute legend
@purplerainsimpson9834
He always has me in stitches 😄
@62PeeJay
Without a doubt.
@susannahhayward6861
So true. I'm an expat Londoner and also pretty old. I remember Billy as a folk singer. He was bloody funny even back then. As a comedian he s the best; he makes me laugh until I hurt.
@sum12see
Ive loved him for decades..Can play manybroles and still be himself..What a great interview...God speed y'all!