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.
Rick Rack
Billy Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the train go along the track
When I grow up I want to be an engine driver
But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver.
My father says that I must always work on the land
And I never disagreed when I'd see him lift his hand
Mother thinks that I should be a carpenter to trade
Rick rack, rickety rack
See the train go along the track
When I grow up I want to be an engine driver
But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver.
I look at the skies, see the birds that can fly, and I feel like cryin'
Like a bird on the tree I just want to free so I'll keep on tryin'.
Rick rack, rickety rack
See the train go along the track
When I grow up I want to be an engine driver
But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver.
My brother says that I must pay attention at the school
Because I've never won a prize, he thinks that I'm a fool
Teacher always asks me why I look so far away
It's just that I find nothing in the words he has to say.
Rick rack, rickety rack
I'm leaving home and I'm never coming back
I'm on my way to be an engine driver
But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver.
The song "Rick Rack" by Billy Connolly is a story about a young boy who daydreams about his future and his aspirations. He wants to be an engine driver when he grows up but his father wants him to work on the land, and his mother thinks he should be a carpenter. The song also touches on how his brother thinks he is a fool for not winning any prizes at school and how he feels like he never really connects with his teacher. Despite these obstacles, he is determined to reach his dreams, and if he can't be an engine driver, then he will be a deep sea diver.
The lyrics of the song show the struggles of a young boy who is trying to find his place in the world. He has big aspirations but is constantly told what he should be doing with his life. The song illustrates the importance of following your heart and chasing your dreams, even if others don't understand or approve of them. The chorus of the song is catchy and repetitive, making it easy to sing along to and emphasizing the theme of the song - following your dreams no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Rick rack, rickety rack
The sound of a train moving on the tracks.
See the train go along the track
Observing the train move along the tracks as it makes its journey.
When I grow up I want to be an engine driver
Expressing a desire to become a train driver as an adult.
But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver.
If becoming a train driver is not an option, then being a deep-sea diver would be an attractive alternative.
My father says that I must always work on the land
The artist's father insists that he pursue a career in agriculture.
And I never disagreed when I'd see him lift his hand
The singer's fear of his father's discipline prevented him from disagreeing with his father's expectations.
Mother thinks that I should be a carpenter to trade
The singer's mother believes that he should pursue a career as a carpenter.
That I could fill my house with the things that I had made.
The mother believes that carpentry would be a useful skill, enabling her son to create furniture and other household items for his own use.
I look at the skies, see the birds that can fly, and I feel like cryin'.
Observing birds in flight causes the artist to feel emotional, as if he is missing out on something wonderful.
Like a bird on the tree I just want to free so I'll keep on tryin'.
The metaphor of a bird that longs to fly free is used to express the artist's desire to chase his dreams and achieve his goals.
My brother says that I must pay attention at the school
The singer's brother is encouraging him to take his studies seriously.
Because I've never won a prize, he thinks that I'm a fool
The lack of recognition for academic achievement makes the artist's brother believe he is foolish for pursuing such goals.
Teacher always asks me why I look so far away
The singer's teacher takes note of his distracted state and inquires about it.
It's just that I find nothing in the words he has to say.
The singer is disinterested in the content of his teacher's instruction.
I'm leaving home and I'm never coming back
The singer has made the decision to leave home and never return.
I'm on my way to be an engine driver
The artist's chosen destination is to become a train driver.
But if I can't be that I'll be a deep sea diver.
The artist is open to other career paths, including becoming a deep-sea diver, should the opportunity arise.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GERRY RAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shardric
on The evil Scotsman
It's not Billy Connolly.
It's actually called "Trouble"
It was written by George Allen and Garry Desmond and perormed by The Rockin' Jock.