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.
Wellies
Billy Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you'd be in the hospital or infirmary
cause you'd have a dose ae the flu or even plurisee
if ye didnae have your feet in your wellys.
wellys they are wonderful
wellys they are swell cause they keep out the water
and they keep in the smell.
you can always tell when some bugger takes aff his wellys.
If it wisnae fur yer wellys where wid ye be
you'd be in the hospital or infirmary
cause you'd have a dose ae the flu or even plurisee
if ye didnae have your feet in your wellys.
Or when your out walkin' in the country wae a bird
and your strollin' over fields just like a farmers herd
and somebody shouts keep aff the grass
and you think how obsurd
and Squelch you find why farmers all wear wellys
If it wisnae fur yer wellys where wid ye be
you'd be in the hospital or infirmary
cause you'd have a dose ae the flu or even plurisee
if ye didnae have your feet in your wellys.
theres fishermen and firemen theres farmers an all
men out diggin' ditches and workin' in the snow
this country it wid grind to a halt and no a thing wid grow
if it wisnae fur the workers in their wellys.
If it wisnae fur yer wellys where wid ye be
you'd be in the hospital or infirmary
cause you'd have a dose ae the flu or even plurisee
if ye didnae have your feet in your wellys.
now Edward Heath and wilson
they hivnae made a hit
they are ruinin' this country
mare than just a bit
if they keep on the way their goin'
we'll all be in the sh!t
so you better git your feet in your wellys.
If it wisnae fur yer wellys where wid ye be
you'd be in the hospital or infirmary
cause you'd have a dose ae the flu or even plurisee
if ye didnae have your feet in your wellys.
* ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ *
ADDED BY DEBBIE (aka ~Henriks Ghirl~) and CHRIS (aka Figo)
The lyrics to Billy Connolly's song "Wellies" are an ode to the humble Wellington boot, or "welly." The song highlights the importance of the footwear in protecting one's feet from various maladies, such as the flu or pleurisy, and keeping out water and bad smells. Connolly also mentions how farmers wear wellies to walk through the fields without damaging crops, and how different workers such as fishermen, firemen, and ditch diggers all rely on their wellies to do their jobs.
The final verse of the song takes a slightly political turn, with Connolly referencing then-Prime Minister Edward Heath and opposition leader Harold Wilson. He suggests that if things continue the way they are, the country will be "in the sh!t" and urges listeners to put on their wellies and prepare for the worst.
Line by Line Meaning
If it wisnae fur yer wellys where wid ye be
If it weren't for your Wellington boots where would you be?
you'd be in the hospital or infirmary
You would be in the hospital with an illness.
cause you'd have a dose ae the flu or even plurisee
This illness could be the flu or even pneumonia.
if ye didnae have your feet in your wellys.
If you didn't have your feet protected in the boots.
wellys they are wonderful
Wellington boots are amazing protective wear.
wellys they are swell cause they keep out the water
They're great as they prevent water from soaking your feet.
and they keep in the smell.
They retain unpleasant odors.
and when yur sittin' in a room
When you're indoors.
you can always tell when some bugger takes aff his wellys.
You can always tell when someone removes their boots.
Or when your out walkin' in the country wae a bird
Or when you're out for a walk in the countryside with someone.
and your strollin' over fields just like a farmers herd
And you're walking in a field, just like a farmer with livestock.
and somebody shouts keep aff the grass
And someone shouts to stay off of the grass.
and you think how obsurd
And you think about how ridiculous it is.
and Squelch you find why farmers all wear wellys
And you realize why farmers wear boots when your foot sinks into the mud.
theres fishermen and firemen theres farmers an all
There are fishermen, firemen, and farmers.
men out diggin' ditches and workin' in the snow
There are men shoveling snow and digging ditches.
this country it wid grind to a halt and no a thing wid grow
This country would stop and nothing would grow.
if it wisnae fur the workers in their wellys.
If it weren't for the workers wearing their protective boots.
now Edward Heath and wilson
Now Edward Heath and James Harold Wilson.
they hivnae made a hit
They haven't made a favorable impression.
they are ruinin' this country
They are damaging the country.
mare than just a bit
More than just a little bit.
if they keep on the way their goin'
If they continue acting in the same way.
we'll all be in the sh!t
We will face a big problem.
so you better git your feet in your wellys.
So, it's better to put on your Wellington boots.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamietemperley460
This was played at my grandads funeral today, he was a broad and proud scotsman living in northumberland, Rip grandad
@tricia5792
❤Respect to your granddad❤. Try singing this south of county bloody Durham and they look at you like you're from another planet! Proper music! May I recommend for your viewing pleasure a clip of Billy Connolly - titled Don't Drink The Tap Water In Ibiza? I had tears of laughter watching it.
@ShirotheWiseWolf
My grandad, a proud glasweigian also spent his last days in Northumberland, can't be too far from Scotland now can ye, aha~
@medievalladybird394
How can you not love this man?
@fionawelsh
He was the best
@josephodonnell8649
I played this song to about 20 plus pensioners last night and after the first chord was struck they joined in and knew every single word of the song..Billy you make everyone laugh ..
@staceymcbride410
Best guy in Scotland 💙🏴
@douglaspatrick868
The Big Yin, lovely and hilarious fella, glad he's still with us and not doing too poorly all in all, Parkinson's is utter bollocks!
@joannp5806
I just watched his colonoscopy skit cause it poked up in my you tube feed,I lmao,such a talented guy,now I'm searching for all his other skits,and just read your comment,so sad to hear he has Parkinsons,I didn't know😢
@KaiLindason-cn6lv
Still as funny as ever! Respect! ✌️