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.
Glasgow
Billy Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wouldd take you there and show you, but they've pulled the building down.
And when I think about it, it always makes me frown,
They bulldozed it all to make a road.
[CHORUS]
And that great old place I miss so much has seen much better days,
Oh, but Glasgow gave me more than it ever took away,
And prepared me for life on the road.
[REPEAT CHORUS]
My granny was a cleaner, my grandad drove a tram,
My father an engineer, made me all I am.
They have seen the city come and go, still they give a damn,
There's so much to learn along the road.
And Glasgow gave me more than it ever took away,
And prepared me for life on the road.
The lyrics of Billy Connolly's song "Glasgow" are nostalgic and reminiscent of the past, as he reflects on his birthplace and the changes that have taken place since. He starts by describing his birthplace, near the center of the town, and how he wishes he could show it to someone, but the building has been demolished to make way for a road. He mentions his displeasure at this and how he misses the place, which has seen better days.
The chorus is a reflection of how people still talk about the great old place despite going their separate ways. Connolly acknowledges that Glasgow gave him more than it took away and prepared him for life on the road. He makes references to his family history, describing his grandmother and grandfather's professions and his father's profession, which he believes shaped him into who he is. Even though the city has gone through changes and challenges, these people still care about it, and there is always something to learn along the road.
Overall, the lyrics of "Glasgow" are a tribute to the city and the experiences that have shaped its people. The city has gone through its ups and downs, but it remains a source of pride and inspiration for those who call it home.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I was born in Glasgow, near the centre of the town,
I came into the world in Glasgow, a stone's throw from the core,
I would take you there and show you, but they've pulled the building down.
I'd show you where I hail from if they hadn't demolished the home ground.
And when I think about it, it always makes me frown,
Whenever I recall it, it twists my face into a frown,
They bulldozed it all to make a road.
They razed it all to pave the way for a thoroughfare.
And that great old place I miss so much has seen much better days,
That magnificent old locale, which I sincerely miss, was once more glorious,
And still we talk about it as we go our separate ways.
Yet we reminisce about it even as we part ways.
Oh, but Glasgow gave me more than it ever took away,
Oh, but Glasgow bestowed upon me more than it deprived me of,
And prepared me for life on the road.
And equipped me to thrive on my worldly sojourns.
My granny was a cleaner, my grandad drove a tram,
My grandmother made a living sweeping, my grandfather drove a tramcar,
My father an engineer, made me all I am.
My dad, an engineer, sculpted me into the man I am today.
They have seen the city come and go, still they give a damn,
They've witnessed the urban landscape wane and wax, yet they still care,
There's so much to learn along the road.
There's a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned on this lifelong journey.
And Glasgow gave me more than it ever took away,
And Glasgow gave me more than it ever took away,
And prepared me for life on the road.
And prepared me for life on the road.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Trayolphia
Heโs an awesome guy, I had the privilege of meeting him after a show a few years back, and he teared up a bit and hugged me as heโd already read the letter I left with a roadie...
Iโd said in the letter that we knew from his shows how he didnโt get along the best with his own father...and after my mum left my dad, Iโd borrowed some of his DVDs from a friend, and dad was a fan and we watched them together, then as his world tour shows came out we watched them together.
I credited him with the strengthened relationship I attained with my own father, thanking him for being a catalyst for us to grow closer as he went thr ugh heartbreak and I went through the rough teen years.
Everyone was jealous cos they got a handshake and he hugged me.
Was a highlight of my life to last
ConradMullen1
Billy is the only person that I'm aware of (28 years old and lived in Glasgow my whole life) that can bring the whole city together - its sad because it feels like we're getting to the end of his career. A living legend who will have a statue with a cone on the head one day ๐
sanderson
Kevin Bridges is the newer generation.
Andrew Murray
Billy can bring the whole world together. Glasgow has given the world a lot of great things but Billy tops them all.
knjaz Mimster
With a banjo i hope, i think he would like that. ๐
gpo746
Billy would LOVE a cone on the head on his statue...he would see the hilarious side
Jimbo Jumbo
Agree Conrad
John Charles
Billy's gift and the reason so many Glasgow people love him is that he made them feel the beauty in their culture and ways even with all the flaws, if only every other culture, country, belief system had a Billy Connolly
Susannah Hayward
Born and bred Londoner here. I agree @johncharles9996. I think Billy put Glasgow on the map and as it turns out he made Scotland's most violent, deprived city seem cool. Only, we all know that's not how it was for Billy when he was growing up.
Simon Mombrun
Doesnโt matter when you are from, Ireland Northern Ireland, England , Wales, Scottish. This man is hilarious. The Glasgow sense of humour is priceless.
Charlie Ross
There's a clip elsewhere from the film Rob Roy and some posts are trying to insult Scots as a joke. All they get back is funnier things from actual Scots. It's really hard to get a rise out of any folks in the isles. It's their way of passing time among friends.