Billy Fury from Liverpool, England began music lessons, on the piano, at age 11. He got his first guitar at age 14. By 1955, the skiffle music boom had begun in England and Fury was leading his own local group, while still working on a tugboat and/or as a stevedore. By 1958, he had won a talent competition and had begun to write his own songs.
In a story which was legend among the British youth of the period, Fury was discovered by impressario Larry Parnes on October 1, 1958. That night, Fury attended a performance of The Larry Parnes Extravaganza, hoping to offer his songs to Marty Wilde, one of the featured performers and a well-known rock-&-roll star because of his appearances on the television series, "Oh Boy!" Fury did get backstage, and was seen by Parnes while performing one of his own songs for Wilde. Parnes booked Fury to appear on the Extravaganze that same night and the rest, as they say, is history - the applause which Fury received earned him a permanent spot on the tour and Parnes as his agent. Parnes' established proceedure was to give his singers stage names representing emotions and attributes: Marty Wilde, Johnny Gentle, Vince Eager. Thus, Ronald Wycherley became Billy Fury.
By the British standards of the day, Fury's early performances were so suggestive that a curtain was brought down on one of his shows. This forced Fury to restrain himself from his more overtly sexual stage moves. Fury's recording career began in early, 1959, with "Maybe Tomorrow," a song which he had written and which charted soon after its release. Fury's television debut came soon after in "Strictly For Sparrows." After that, Fury became a fixture on musical showcases such as "Oh Boy!"
After a string of hit singles, Fury cut his debut album, "The Sound of Fury," in 1960. Fury's back-up players included Joe Brown, one of England's few serious rockabilly players at that time, and drummer Andy White, who later played on the original release version of The Beatles' debut single "Love Me Do." The album sold well and has been re-released a half-dozen times since, including a CD version in the early 1990s. In an interview during the '70s, Keith Richards declared "The Sound of Fury" one of the greatest rock 'n roll albums of its era.
In 1960, DECCA Records decided to soften Fury's sound, at least on his singles, and Fury's early 60's recordings took on a more sophisticated air. "Talkin' In My Sleep" and "Don't Worry," backed by The Four Kestrels, were two results of this change. "Halfway to Paradise," in 1961, began Fury's brief assault on the top of the charts. The orchestrated "Halfway to Paradise" hit #3. A few months later, "Jealousy" reached #2; "I'd Never Find Another You" reached #5. By 1962, Fury was England's top rock-n-roll attraction, backed by the legendary Tornadoes of "Telstar" fame, appearing regularly on television. During this time, he also ventured to America where he got to meet Elvis Presley on the set of "Girls, Girls, Girls." (Many considered Fury to be the closest that England came to producing its own Elvis Presley, capable of dark, brooding, sexual performances, as well as gentle, vulnerable ballads.)
It was the arrival of another group from Liverpool, The Beatles, which ended Fury's dominance of the British teen music scene. (Interesting aside - The Beatles had tried, and failed, to become Fury's back-up during one of his tours.) Nonetheless, Fury continued to chart records into 1964. During that summer, he starred in a semi-autobiographical movie, "I've Got a Horse." Later the same year, he got his own television show. By 1965, however, Fury's health had begun to deteriorate and his records seldom charted better than the mid-20s.
Fury left DECCA Records in 1966 and signed a five-year contract with EMI's Parlophone Records. During those five years, Fury saw some very modest success but nothing like the frenzied stardom of his first seven years in music.
Fury underwent heart surgery in 1970 and in 1971, but resumed performing in 1972. England's rock-n-roll revival during the mid-70s saw the re-release of "The Sound of Fury," as well as other parts of Fury's catalog. During those years, Fury toured England with his one-time idol Marty Wilde. When he wasn't performing, Fury looked after his other interests, including wildlife preservation.
Another heart operation, in 1976, essentially ended Fury's musical career although there were still occasional recordings and television appearances. In 1978, Fury re-recorded his classic songs for K-Tel; in the early '80s he recut his old hits yet again for Polydor, which, by that time, owned DECCA Records. In 1981, a single, "Be Mine Tonight," just missed the British charts.
On March 4, 1982, Fury collapsed and nearly died while working on his farm. Nonetheless, that summer, he again went back on tour and placed the singles "Love Or Money" and "Devil Or Angel" on the English charts. Plans were made for a new album and a national tour, but Fury was found unconscious in his home on January 28, 1983. He died that same day in hospital.
A posthumous single, "Forget Him," charted in England later that same year. Numerous re-issues, as well as releases of previously unreleased material, have continued to appear in the compact disc era, most recently the "40th Anniversary Anthology," a double CD set and Beat Goes On's two-on-one CD of "We Want Billy" and "Billy."
On 10 April 1983, a tribute concert for Billy was held at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Middlesex. All the artists performed for free and the money raised was donated to the Billy Fury memorial fund for research into heart disease. On the bill were such names as Marty Wilde with his daughter Kim Wilde, Joe Brown, Alvin Stardust, Dave Berry, Helen Shapiro, and John Miles.[citation needed]
In 1999 a TV documentary about Billy called Halfway to Paradise was broadcast on the BBC channel. It was narrated by Ian Dury.
Between 1999 and 2000 the song "Wondrous Place", a favourite of Fury's (he re-recorded it at least three times during his career), later received wide airplay on British television when it was used as the theme for a Toyota Yaris car advertisement.
On 19 April 2003 a bronze statue of Fury was unveiled by Jack Good at the National Museum of Liverpool Life. The sculpture, by Tom Murphy, a Liverpool sculptor, was donated by 'The Sound of Fury' fan club after the money was raised by fans.
In 2005 Spencer Leigh from BBC Radio Merseyside published a biography book about Billy Fury called Wondrous Face – The Billy Fury Story.
In 2008 a biographical documentary film Billy Fury His Wondrous Story was released on DVD.
Eight of his EMI recordings remained unreleased on mainstream CD until June 2010, when they appeared on a 29-track issue, The Complete Parlophone Singles, released by Peaksoft (PEA009). The singer's estate licensed the tracks to benefit his memorial fund, which finances equipment purchases for hospital heart units.
In November 2011, further co-operation between the estate and Peaksoft resulted in the issuing of a second CD, The Lost Album (PEA014), which attempted to construct the format of an album recorded by Fury in 1967–71, but which was never released.
In 2010 Camden Council, London, named a small formerly nameless road Billy Fury Way in his honour. It starts just off Finchley Road near Finchley & Frognal station and runs to West Hampstead Station. He had recorded at the nearby Decca Studios. The alleyway was decorated with a large mural of his face (at the West Hampstead end), which was unveiled and blessed on Friday 29 July 2011.
Play It Cool was released for the first time on DVD on 10 February 2014.
Baby How I Cried
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You looked so happy by his side
You promised me there'd be no other
Baby, Baby how I cried, I cried
You said we'd always be together
You promised me we'd never part
You left me lonely days forever
I know that I won't find a new love
Someway I'll get by
But you're the only girl I'll ever think of
Baby, Baby how I cried, I cried
Baby, Baby how I cried
My life no longer has a mеaning
My lonely heart just cries for you
Of you my dеar, I'm always dreaming
Baby, Baby I'm so blue over you
I know that I won't find a new love
Someway I'll get by
But you're the only girl I'll ever think of
But Baby, Baby how I cried, I cried
Baby, Baby how I cried
In "Baby How I Cried" by Billy Fury, the lyrics depict a story of heartbreak and longing. The singer experiences the pain of seeing their love interest walking with someone else, appearing happy in their new relationship. The singer recalls the promises made by their love interest that there would be no other, but those promises have been broken. This realization leads to intense emotional turmoil, as the singer expresses their sadness through tears.
The lyrics continue with the singer reminiscing about the promises of everlasting togetherness and the assurance that they would never be apart. However, their love interest has left them feeling lonely and abandoned, causing their heart to break. The singer acknowledges that they will eventually move on and find a new love, but deep down, they know that this person is the only one they will ever truly think of.
The song paints a picture of a person whose life has lost its meaning since the departure of their love interest. Their heart continuously yearns for the person they have lost, and they constantly dream of being with them again. The bluesy and melancholic tone of the song further amplifies the sense of longing and sorrow felt by the singer.
Overall, "Baby How I Cried" captures the raw emotions and heartache associated with lost love and the struggle to cope with the pain of a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you walking with another
I witnessed you strolling alongside someone else
You looked so happy by his side
You appeared extremely joyful being next to him
You promised me there'd be no other
You made a pledge that there would be no one else
Baby, Baby how I cried, I cried
Oh darling, oh darling, the tears I shed were abundant
You said we'd always be together
You assured me that we would forever be united
You promised me we'd never part
You pledged that we would never separate
You left me lonely days forever
You abandoned me in eternal days of solitude
Left me with a broken heart
Left me with a heart shattered into pieces
I know that I won't find a new love
I am aware that I will not discover a new romance
Someway I'll get by
In some manner, I will manage to continue
But you're the only girl I'll ever think of
However, you are the sole girl who occupies my thoughts
Baby, Baby how I cried, I cried
Oh darling, oh darling, the tears I shed were abundant
Baby, Baby how I cried
Oh darling, oh darling, the tears I shed were abundant
My life no longer has a meaning
My existence now lacks purpose
My lonely heart just cries for you
My desolate heart simply mourns for you
Of you my dear, I'm always dreaming
I am constantly dreaming of you, my beloved
Baby, Baby I'm so blue over you
Oh darling, oh darling, I am so melancholic because of you
I know that I won't find a new love
I am aware that I will not discover a new romance
Someway I'll get by
In some manner, I will manage to continue
But you're the only girl I'll ever think of
However, you are the sole girl who occupies my thoughts
But Baby, Baby how I cried, I cried
But oh darling, oh darling, the tears I shed were abundant
Baby, Baby how I cried
Oh darling, oh darling, the tears I shed were abundant
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Floyd Cramer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sladlad
what a talent!
TheSmithChannel
Awesome
Oliver Barlow
Joe brown on guitar
Eric Barker
Billy's Fan Club The Sound of Fury is FREE to join. Email them and ask for your name to be included.
Pastor Dave
THE MAN. NOT Britain's answer to Elvis but Billy Fury.