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.
Run To My Lovin' Arms
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the sounds of this cruel world Are ringing in your ears
Darling, when the night surrounds you
And there′s darkness all around you
Baby, baby, don't you worry
I′ll be there, and you can Run to my loving arms
They'll keep you warm and hold you tight
If you just run to my loving arms
And there′s no one who's got time
To sit and wonder why
When you need someone to hear you
To say a word or just be near you
Baby baby, I will always be close by
And you can Run to my loving arms
They′ll keep you warm and hold you tight
If you just run to my loving arms
They'll take you in and make things right Run to my loving arms (x3)
The lyrics of "Run to My Lovin' Arms" by Billy Fury are about offering comfort and support to someone who is going through a difficult time. The song speaks to the concept of being someone's safe haven, where they can run to whenever they are in need of emotional support. The first verse sets the tone of the song, describing the harsh realities of the world that surround the person the song is addressed to. However, the chorus offers a message of hope and reassurance that the person will always have a place to go where they can find warmth and love. The line "they'll take you in and make things right" emphasizes that the person offering support will do everything they can to ease the pain and help make things better.
The second verse of the song reinforces the idea that the person offering support will always be there for the one they care about. This verse acknowledges the feeling of loneliness and isolation that many people experience when going through a difficult time, but the message of the song is clear: you are not alone, and there is always someone who cares and wants to help. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song reinforces the idea that no matter what happens, the person in need can always "run" to someone who will love and support them.
Overall, "Run to My Lovin' Arms" is a song about the power of love and support, and the importance of having someone there for you when times get tough.
Line by Line Meaning
When your pretty eyes are filled with tears
When you're upset and crying
And the sounds of this cruel world Are ringing in your ears
When everything around you is messed up and noisy
Darling, when the night surrounds you
When you feel alone, in despair and it's dark
And there's darkness all around you
When there's no light and you're in a bad state
Baby, baby, don't you worry
Hey, it's okay to feel like that, don't fret
I'll be there, and you can Run to my loving arms
I'm here for you and you can come to me for comfort
They'll keep you warm and hold you tight
I'll embrace you and hold on to you tight
If you just run to my loving arms
Just come to me
They'll take you in and make things right
I'll make everything better for you
When you're feeling like you wanna cry
When you're sad and overwhelmed
And there's no one who's got time
When nobody has time to listen
To sit and wonder why
To ponder over the situation
When you need someone to hear you
When you need a listening ear
To say a word or just be near you
To speak something comforting or be present with you
Baby baby, I will always be close by
I'll be there for you always
Run to my loving arms
Come to me for comfort
They'll keep you warm and hold you tight
I'll give you a warm embrace and hold on to you tight
If you just run to my loving arms
Just come to me
They'll take you in and make things right
I'll make everything better for you
Run to my loving arms (x3)
Come to me for comfort
Writer(s): Fischoff Powers
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulmichaelcamilleri6618
Billy Fury lives on and his songs are superb - it was a pity that he died so young.
@john111257
+Paul Michael Camilleri my hero,
@paulmichaelcamilleri6618
Perpetual songs for all ages!!!
@THEBLUEBULLY
Superb! Never see the likes of him again! Gone forever, but his Music lives on.
@Mr_Lupine
Yayyyyyyy its back, thanks so much for posting this great great track : ) Rip BILLY FURY - gone but NEVER forgotten !
@doowopftw
In my opinion the best UK-Rock-'N'-Roller - looks, voice and charisma.
@john111257
my ex wife saw him at a workingmens club and had a pound note signed,she loved elvis,he was my favourite,picked all his old singles up as a kid in the 70s from second hand shops,the rest they say is history
@martinpalmer5204
pure class
@kaisnova
billy was gorgeous n had a great voice
@ianbn3
brilliant billy sorry i never saw him live