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.
Two Little Boys In Blue
Billy Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when they were wee, it was plain to see, what they'd grow up in to
They were kicking other waens, bashing in their brains, and shopping everybody too
They didn't reform, now they're in uniform, they're two little boys in blue
Do you think I could leave you lying, when I could lie my arse off too
If somebody squaks, in the witness box, I'll cover up for you
I'll tell a pack of lies, pull the wool over their eyes, the way the Sargeant taught us to
Before you count to three, we'll be off Scot free, we're two little boys in blue.)
Now the duty Sergeant said, tuck the prisoners in to bed, but before you take the cocoa through
Keep them in the cells and him them where it tells, but don't leave them black and blue
You can kick them in the balls, bounce their head off the walls, bash them on the kidneys too
Beat them on the legs and thighs, but don't give them black eyes, or you'll be a prisoner too
So if you see them on the beat, as they swagger down your street, here's a piece of advice for you
Don't trust your luck, turn round, run like... the clappers
From the two little boys in blue
Https://g.co/kgs/54bwZq
The song 'Two Little Boys in Blue' by Billy Connolly, despite its playful melody, depicts the harsh reality of police brutality and corruption that exists in society. The lyrics describe two young boys who grew up with violent tendencies and became police officers. They continue to inflict violence on people, and if caught, they lie under oath to cover their crimes. They take pleasure in torturing prisoners and are taught by their superiors how to inflect the most damage to a person without drawing blood so that they can escape incarceration.
Billy Connolly's song is a satirical take on the insidious nature of police corruption and how the system is not geared to punish those who exploit their authority. The song resonates across different societies, where people from marginalized communities are subjected to excessive use of force by the law enforcement agencies. It highlights the need for accountability in the police force and calls on society to be vigilant against the police who abuse their power.
Line by Line Meaning
Two little boys had two little toys, a whistle and a helmet blue
Two young boys had a couple of toys, a whistle and a blue helmet, when they were children, it was obvious what they would become when they grow up.
And when they were wee, it was plain to see, what they'd grow up in to
When they were children, it was clear what they will become in the future.
They were kicking other Waens, bashing in their brains, and shopping everybody too
They used to hit other kids, damage their brains and steal things from everyone.
They didn't reform, now they're in uniform, they're two little boys in blue
Rather than reform, they joined the police and now they are the two little boys in blue.
Do you think I could leave you lying, when I could lie my arse off too
Do you think I would let you take the blame when I can lie as well?
If somebody squaks, in the witness box, I'll cover up for you
If someone tells on us in the court, I will protect you and lie for you.
I'll tell a pack of lies, pull the wool over their eyes, the way the Sargeant taught us to
I will deceive them and mislead them just like our sergeant instructed us.
Before you count to three, we'll be off Scot-free, we're two little boys in blue.
Before you even think, we'll have absconded, thanks to our status as two little boys in blue.
Now the duty Sergeant said, tuck the prisoners into bed, but before you take the cocoa through
The duty Sergeant ordered us to put the prisoners to bed, but before you do that,
Keep them in the cells and hit them where it tells, but don't leave them black and blue
Keep the prisoners in the cells and hit them in the right places, but make sure you don't leave them with any visible bruises.
You can kick them in the balls, bounce their head off the walls, bash them on the kidneys too
You can target their private parts with kicks, bounce their heads off the walls or hit them in the kidneys.
Beat them on the legs and thighs, but don't give them black eyes, or you'll be a prisoner too
Beat them on their legs and thighs, but don't give them bruises around their eyes or you'll also be in trouble.
So if you see them on the beat, as they swagger down your street, here's a piece of advice for you
So if you see them patrolling on your street, swaggering around,
Don't trust your luck, turn round, run like... the clappers, from the two little boys in blue.
Don't take your chances, just turn around and run to escape from the two little boys in blue.
Contributed by Jasmine O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jamespitman2373
4:34.
They made me a Canon.
They made a Monsignor.
I went to Paris to study. I was there for five years, and I became a Bishop.
Ten years later, I was an Archbishop!
They send from Rome for me!
I went to the Vatican to study at the feet of the HOLY FATHER!!!
They made me a Cardinal!
I was in the Jury WHO ELECTED THE LAST POPE!!!
😀😃😄😁😆😅🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😆😅🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😅😆😆😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@meastwood5966
Billy, I hope you see this. There has never a darkened and black dog day, that you have not saved me from. I will always be grateful. With love and Thank you.
@thomaswilkinson3241
Nothing better than listening to Billy go Off in one of His Programms. Fucking Hilarious is what He is. ❤❤❤
@TeamLNE
Best comedian ever and one if not the greatest storyteller to ever grace this miserable world that needs laughter now more than ever!
@calum1741
Definately
@keithdavidson9102
I completely agree. He's a living legend and a one-off. Never again shall we see his like.
@cavannaro1
Amen to all of that.
@calum1741
@@cavannaro1 aye
@alanlawrence2954
Billy was a genius actor/playwright... Why actor/playwright...?
Because he could draw you into his personal universe, his mini play with special effects, costumes, cast, crew and screen writing you can genuinely relate to. The Cardinal is a theatrical masterpiece... full stop.
@elizabethfairlie8296
I became a fan when he skipped naked through stonehenge
@dianeforth-eglon5183
My Dad, actor Ted Webster, was in Just Another Saturday, with Billy Connolly, in 1975. Amazingly its turned into a dvd. Dad passed away in Australia In 2018, so I might buy it, so I can have a live memory of a dad.