William "Billy" Connolly, CBE, (born 24 November 1942) is a comedian, music… Read Full Bio ↴William "Billy" Connolly, CBE, (born 24 November 1942) is a comedian, musician, presenter, and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname "The Big Yin" (The Big One), a reference to his height. Any male visitor to Glasgow above average height may be addressed as "Big Yin" by the locals; Billy, however, is The Big Yin. An early irreverent sketch, The Crucifixion, is an example of his often controversial humour, and his style, in story and song, is known for being somewhat vulgar, and for being very critical towards respected institutions.
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.
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.
Those of You That Live Alone
Billy Connolly Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Billy Connolly:
All The Best People Do It You say that I am out of touch To me that…
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite For the benefit of Mr. Kite There will be a…
Blood And Glory Don't you feel like talkin' to a man who's fed…
Coconut Tree I live under the coconut tree I lie in the sun…
Cripple Creek Well I married a wife in the month of June, Married…
Cruisin' I'm cruisin', I'm on a river of blue I'm cruisin', I'm…
D.I.V.O.R.C.E Our little dog is six years old, and he's smart…
D.I.V.O.R.C.E. Some weeks ago I heard this song This song I'm about…
Glasgow Oh I was born in Glasgow, near the centre of…
Her father didn The coat she wore still lies upon the bed The book…
I Can Every time I'm away I think about you I wish that…
I Wish I Was in Glasgow Oh I wish I was in Glasgow With some good…
If It Was 'Nae for Your Wellies Chorus If it wisnae fur yer wellies Wherewud you be? You'd b…
in the brownies Young man, are you tired of the scouts, I said…
Keep It To Yourself I walk along the street and wonder what to do I'd…
Leo McGuire's Song Ah wis headin' wi ma cromack up frae Gretna Green…
Look Over The Hill And Far Away Look over the hill and far away We'll see the start…
Near You NEAR YOU I could sing you sad songs, Sing you songs, to…
Oh Oh dear, what can the matter be? I'm scaird tae go…
Please Sing A Song For Us Walk in, sit down, open up your case Tune up, and…
Rick Rack Rick rack, rickety rack See the train go along the track Whe…
Sergeant Where's Mine? I'm lyin' in bed, I'm in room twenty-six Thinkin' on things…
Shoe Shine Boy Shoeshine boy, he's makin' his money workin' dowtown on Main…
Song For Simon Walk in, sit down, open up your case Tune up, and…
Steamboat Row My daddy was a miner, said there was nothing finer Than…
Talkin' Blues Telah ku cuba memintal kasihmu Biar menjadi ikatan abadi Nam…
Tell Laura I Love Her Billy Connolly: Tell Laura I Love Her ----------------------…
the C Our little dog is six years old, and he's smart…
The evil Scotsman If your looking for trouble, Your in the right place, Don'…
The Jobbie Weecha !!!! / Please Help Me, I'm Falling las garras de un terrible ser desplumaban un angel en el…
The Short Haired Police Cadet Ah'll be yer short haired police cadet fae Maryhill, I'll ca…
The Welly Boot Song Wellies they are wonderful, oh wellies they are swell, Cau…
Three Men From Carntyne Three men fae Carntyne went tae join the parish Three men…
Two Little Boys In Blue Two little boys had two little toys, a whistle and…
Wellies If it wisnae fur yer wellys where wid ye be you'd…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@JohnDoe-bo5yk
Slightly off balanced drunk. Fuckin hell, perfect.
Used to drink a fuck tonne as a kid and I got a fairly large tolerance(not now, 2 beers and I'm done)
But I'd be sitting there downing a box of bourbons and be fine, chatting away, not feeling particularly hammered.
It's when ya decide to go home you feel it. I'd get up say my goodbyes starr walking, everything is fine, don't feel dizzy or anything and then after a few minutes I can feel my body pulling me off the fuckin sidewalk and it kicks off, for the fuckin life of me I can't keep my fuckin balance and I'm teetering back and forth as I walk.
Annoying as shit cause my head feels fine like I've barely drunk at all but my bodies telling me that it might be time to sleep it off 😂😂
@ramboette2014
I know,these videos are old, but talk about laughing till you can't breathe,tears running down your face. Billy Connelly is the best!
@Genekellystand
I agree totally, shit couple of months but this man is the king of stand up bar none, billy thank you for being around when I could appreciate you and not have to listen to old folk saying you should have seen billy connelly,, well I did , cheers big yin, x
@ragnarlothbrok8026
I'm wiping the tears as I type this🤣 billy and george Carlin never fail to have my sides splitting
@thecanadianmacadamian3018
This joke is gold
@pascaledowling6309
And never a script
@trishlangford5773
Totally agree 💯❤❤
@peterwinthorpe5152
How many a man would just like to sit down and have a talk with billy about life. Must be millions ❤️🧐
@Jahaderajraj
I'd pay to watch a show of Billy do the forward-leaning walk for 2 hours, that is just too damn funny.
@ragnakh
Man, no other comedian has ever done this to me and consecutively, too!
In '98 my (Irish) dad gave me a tape of Billy at Albert Hall with the zebra-striped suit. I watched the tape but my understanding of the dialect wasn't good, it was terrible so I didn't understand it.
After some years I re-watched it, I kid you not, I was under the table, laughing, crying and my 2 best mates were there on the floor alongside me.
I couldn't understand how he could bring his material so profoundly, like a grandfather telling his life experiences and perceptions.
Until this day, and until my last, this man will be my all-time favorite comedian, I thank you, Sir Connolly.
@wafaalmasri2891
Those 17-dislikes are probably by the same fwd-leaning ppl Billy is talking about 😂