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.
Cripple Creek
Billy Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Married her up by the light of the moon.
We live down on Cripple Creek.
We've been there about a week.
[Chorus]
I'm a-goin' down to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run.
Goin' down to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
Goin' down to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
Now Cripple Creek girl's about half-grown,
Jump on a man like a dog on a bone.
Roll my pants up to my knees,
Cross on Cripple Creek a-when I please.
[Chorus]
Well I'm goin' to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run.
I'm a-goin' to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
[Chorus]
I'm a-goin' to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run,
Goin' to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
The song "Cripple Creek" by Billy Connolly is a cheerful and upbeat tune that describes the joys of going to the titular town for some relaxation and fun. The lyrics describe the singer's newlywed status and his recent move to Cripple Creek with his wife. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm a-goin' down to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run. Goin' down to Cripple Creek to have some fun," emphasizing the singer's eagerness to explore and have a good time in the new town.
The second verse talks about the town's women and how they are eager for male company, comparing them to a dog on a bone. The singer seems to appreciate the attention, saying he will cross on Cripple Creek "when I please" - a confident statement that suggests he is enjoying himself and seizing the opportunity to have some fun.
Overall, "Cripple Creek" is a lighthearted song that celebrates the joys of exploration and enjoying life. Through the lyrics, Billy Connolly evokes a sense of adventure, excitement, and carefree attitude that makes the song a perfect choice for anyone looking to have a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I married a wife in the month of June,
In the month of June, I got married to a woman.
Married her up by the light of the moon.
We got married at night, when the moon was bright.
We live down on Cripple Creek.
We currently reside near Cripple Creek.
We've been there about a week.
We have been living here for only one week.
[Chorus] I'm a-goin' down to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run. Goin' down to Cripple Creek to have some fun. Goin' down to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run. Goin' down to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
I'm heading to Cripple Creek to have a good time.
Now Cripple Creek girl's about half-grown,
The young women in Cripple Creek are around half my age.
Jump on a man like a dog on a bone.
These girls eagerly pursue men with great enthusiasm.
Roll my pants up to my knees,
I'm preparing to cross the creek by rolling up my pants.
Cross on Cripple Creek a-when I please.
I'll cross the creek whenever I want to.
[Chorus] Well I'm goin' to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run. I'm a-goin' to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
I am once again heading towards Cripple Creek to enjoy myself.
[Chorus] I'm a-goin' to Cripple Creek, I'm goin' on a run, Goin' to Cripple Creek to have some fun.
I am heading off to Cripple Creek for a good time once again.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: J BAIRD, TRADITIONAL, PD TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thevintagefetcher
Whatched this over and again while mourning my mother who was raised about 10 miles down river near New river gorge. Connolly shows the roots of mountain music and how it fits hand in hand with the old country.seamlessly.thanks billy.
@wasteyelo1
This is one of the best versions of Cripple Creek on Youtube.
@Motty1066
This is the best version of ANYTHING on YouTube. Or indeed anywhere
@inversboy
Billy originally started his entertainment career as a folk musician playing in the pubs of Glasgow telling a few jokes between sets. But the the jokes started getting longer than the sets he was playing!
@Texicus_Reddicus
Him and Gerry Rafferty have a few great bluegrass(ish) albums together
@patthemilkman403
I remember my father telling me this fact about the big yin, when I was a kid (give or take 10 yr old). I remember one weekend morning, he put on an old tape of “big banana feet” from that moment, I realised as a working class kid from a council estate in south London, we have something worth far more than money, something that carried me across the world…British humour.
@slightlybrnt
I gotta watch this at least once a day, this and the granny song. I love watching this guy, and everything he does, be it, acting, stand up.....etc. A real renaissance man.
@davisx2002
the world needs more Billy "the banjo" Connolly type folk
@snapstring
This is my favorite version of Cripple Creek.
@inversboy
The Humblebums- Billy, and Tam Harvey released one album "First Collection of Merry Melodies" in Feb 69 Billy and Tam parted company,then Gerry Rafferty joined Billy and released another two albums "The New Humblebums" Sept 69, followed by "Open Up The Door" June 70. Gerry Rafferty formed his own group "Stealers Wheel" in '72 which was responsible for the hits "Baker Street" and "Stuck in the Middle with You"