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.
Nothin' Shakin'
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And everyday I flee when school is out
I see my baby I get weak in the knees
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
My daddy told me thered be times like these
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
I meet the gang and go to rockin Joes
The cats are stompin on there heels and toes
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
Why must you be such a darn gone tease?
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
Shes got a way that makes me act like a fool.
Spends all my money then she treats me cruel.
Im begging for her kisses on my bended knees.
Why dont ya give me some loving, baby?
Please please please.
Well I keep trying hard to make her mine,
Some days the wind will blow the sun will shine.
Until that day she puts my heart at ease.
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
My daddy told me thered be times like these
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
Shes got a way that makes me act like a fool.
Spends all my money then she treats me cruel.
Im begging for her kisses on my bended knees.
Why dont ya give me some loving, baby?
Please please please.
Well I keep trying hard to make her mine,
Some days the wind will blow the sun will shine.
Until that day she puts my heart at ease.
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
My daddy told me thered be times like these
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
In Billy Fury's song "Nothin' Shakin'", the lyrics revolve around the theme of love and the struggles that come along with it. The singer is experiencing young love and is infatuated with his girl, to the extent that he gets weak in the knees every time he sees her. He spends his days at school, but his mind is always preoccupied with thoughts of his love interest. He even mentions that he goes to "rockin Joes" and finds his baby there, and gives her a squeeze, indicating that they may go to the same hangout spot or have mutual friends.
The singer's father seems to have warned him about the ups and downs of love, as he acknowledges that "there'd be times like these". Despite his love for her, he conveys that the girl is a tease who spends all his money and treats him cruelly. He pleads with her to give him some love on his bended knees. The lyrics end on a hopeful note when he says, "Some days the wind will blow the sun will shine, until that day she puts my heart at ease, there's nothin' shakin' but the leaves on the trees".
Overall, the lyrics of "Nothin' Shakin'" convey the struggles and excitement of young love, and the singer's perseverance in the face of the difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm finding out what love is all about
I'm in a new relationship and trying to understand what it means to truly love someone.
And everyday I flee when school is out
Every day after school, I can't wait to go see my baby.
I see my baby I get weak in the knees
Whenever I see my baby, I feel overwhelmed with emotion and my legs feel like they might give out.
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
Although I'm excited to see my baby, there's no excitement or activity happening around me, just the rustling of leaves.
My daddy told me thered be times like these
My dad warned me that sometimes things in life won't be very eventful or exciting, like now.
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
I'm reiterating that there's not much going on around me, just the sound of leaves rustling.
I meet the gang and go to rockin Joes
I go out and hang with my friends at a place called Rockin Joes.
The cats are stompin on there heels and toes
Everyone at Rockin Joes is dancing and having a good time.
I find my baby inside I give her a squeeze
When I find my baby at Rockin Joes, I give her a hug.
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
Despite the fun happening around me, there's still not much going on in my personal life.
Why must you be such a darn gone tease?
I'm frustrated with my partner for playing games and not giving me the attention I want.
Theres nothing shakin but the leaves on the trees
Again, I'm acknowledging that nothing is happening around me besides the sound of leaves rustling.
Shes got a way that makes me act like a fool.
My partner has a strong hold on me, and I act foolishly because of it.
Spends all my money then she treats me cruel.
My partner takes advantage of my affection and spends my money, only to then treat me poorly.
Im begging for her kisses on my bended knees.
I'm desperate for my partner's affection and affectionately beg for her to give me attention.
Why dont ya give me some loving, baby? Please please please.
I'm pleading with my partner to show me love and give me the attention I crave.
Well I keep trying hard to make her mine,
I'm really putting in effort to make things work with my partner and keep her by my side.
Some days the wind will blow the sun will shine.
Some days things are better and brighter, but other days are still dull and lifeless.
Until that day she puts my heart at ease.
I'm waiting for the day when my partner finally gives me the love and attention I need to feel secure in our relationship.
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
Once again, despite everything that's happening around me, there's still not much going on personally in my life.
My daddy told me thered be times like these
I'm reminding myself of what my dad said about having uneventful moments in life.
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
I'm repeating that there's not much going on around me besides the rustling of leaves.
Theres nothing shaking but the leaves on the trees
Once again, despite everything that's happening around me, there's still not much going on personally in my life.
Contributed by Hannah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.