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.
Fool's Errand
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will it send me after you?
Did I go on a fool's errand?
Or do u really love me to?
You greet me with a smile
What pretty things you say
But when I want your lips
Did my heart send me on a fool's errand?
Will it send me after you?
Did I go on a fool's errand?
Or do u really love me to?
I'm dancing close to you
And someone else cuts in
Why does your face light up?
When you're with him
Did my heart send me on a fool's errand?
Will it send me after you?
Did I go on a fool's errand?
Or do u really love me to?
Have I been just a fool?
From the first day we met
Or is it just that your
Playing hard to get?
Did my heart send me on a fool's errand?
Will it send me after you?
Did I go on a fool's errand?
Or do u really love me to?
Do you really love me to?
Do you really love me to?
Do you really? Come on and love
me, do!
The song "Fools Errand" by Billy Fury is a classic love song that delves into the confusion and uncertainty that often comes with falling in love. The first few lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics, as the singer wonders if his heart has sent him on a fool's errand by pursuing the object of his affection. He questions whether his love interest really has feelings for him or if he is merely wasting his time and putting himself through emotional turmoil for no reason.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his frustration and confusion as he tries to understand the mixed signals he is receiving from his love interest. She greets him with a smile and says all the right things, but when he tries to kiss her, she turns away. He dances with her, but then someone else cuts in and he wonders why her face lights up when she is with the other person.
The repeated refrain of "Did I go on a fool's errand? Or do u really love me to?" highlights the singer's uncertainty and vulnerability as he grapples with the emotions that come with falling in love. He wonders if he has been a fool from the first day they met or if his love interest is simply playing hard to get.
Overall, "Fools Errand" is a poignant and relatable song that captures the confusion and uncertainty that often come with falling in love. The lyrics speak to anyone who has ever wondered if their feelings are reciprocated or if they are simply chasing after something that may never come to fruition.
Line by Line Meaning
Did my heart send me on a fool's errand?
Am I being foolish by following my heart?
Will it send me after you?
Will my heart lead me to chase after you?
Did I go on a fool's errand?
Did I make a mistake by pursuing you?
Or do u really love me to?
Do you have genuine feelings for me?
You greet me with a smile
You seem happy to see me
What pretty things you say
You compliment me with sweet words
But when I want your lips
When I try to kiss you
You turn away
You reject my advances
I'm dancing close to you
I'm dancing intimately with you
And someone else cuts in
Another person interrupts our dance
Why does your face light up?
Why do you seem happier with the other person?
When you're with him
When you're spending time with him
Have I been just a fool?
Have I made a mistake by pursuing you?
From the first day we met
Since the day we first met
Or is it just that your
Or are you
Playing hard to get?
Deliberately making it difficult for me to win your affection?
Do you really love me to?
Are your feelings for me genuine?
Do you really love me to?
Do you truly love me?
Do you really?
Is your love for me real?
Come on and love
Show me your love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosina
I absolutely adore Billy Fury .I'm 42 so obviously wasn't around at the time . But I can day my late father was. And he was his absolute number one fan. We played Half Way To Paradise. At his funeral as I know he would have love it as it was his most favourite song of Billy's..may they rest in peace ..and God bless to all who listens and had parents who listened to Billy xx
Pippa Jones
A great song. Can't wait for the present crisis to pass and to be able to go on another Billy Fury Appreciation Weekend.
Lin Rubyred
I can't understand why after all this time I can still cry over Billy Fury. I don't think I knew or cared at the time how very sick he was. This song in particular, yet I can't stop listening to it???
Tim Berge
Billy was fantastic for as in England love ❤ the guy fantastic song 🎵 👏 🎶 ❤
Neil Thomas
As a singer in a rockabilly band, I find this brilliant artist Billy is more charismatic than people know / knew such a star and right up there with Elvis or dare I say, better. Amazing talent.
Philip Chance
I rate this as one of billys best so catchy great drums backing singers and of course the kind warm nice guy billy
Tim Berge
Love this song 🎵 💜
steven willis
A few years before my time, so to speak, but what a talent and what a voice, Brilliant.
Ritchiegmail Ritchiegmail
Thanks for posting great song from Billy fury
whatsthisall
underated singer,thanks for posting