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.
Since You’ve Been Gone
Billy Fury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Early in the mornin'
Before the crack of dawn,
Sittin' here thinkin'
Oh why was I born?
So broken hearted,
How can I go on?
I was so happy
With you by my side,
You told me you loved me,
But honey you lied.
You left me here cryin',
How can I go on?
Since you've been gone, since you've been gone.
The night seems like a million years, mmhm,
Waitin' 'til the break of day appears, oh oh oh.
All night long weepin' like a willow,
Tossin' and turnin' on my tear stained pillow,
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears.
Gonna go walkin'
By the railroad track,
I'm gonna let the choo-choo cross over my back.
Life ain't worth livin',
How can I go on?
Since you've been gone, since you've been gone.
The night seems like a million years,
Waitin' 'til the break of day appears, mmm.
All night long weepin' like a willow,
Tossin' and turnin' on my tear stained pillow,
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears.
Gonna go walkin'
By the railroad track,
I'm gonna let the choo-choo cross over my back.
Life ain't worth livin',
How can I go on?
Since you've been gone, since you've been gone,
Since you've been go-o-o-o-one.
Ya ya, ya ya ya ya ya ya.
Since you've been gone...
The lyrics to Billy Fury's "Since You've Been" speak of the heartbreak and pain that comes with a love lost. The song starts with the singer expressing how early in the morning, before the crack of dawn, he can't help but think of why he was born since he is so broken-hearted. He then goes on to talk about how he was so happy with his lover by his side and how he was told he was loved, but ultimately betrayed when he was left crying. The singer sings with anguish about how he can't go on since his lover has been gone.
The chorus of the song talks about how the night feels like millions of years, and he's waiting for the morning to come. The singer is weeping like a willow and tossing and turning on his pillow, unable to find any comfort even in his dreams. He's drowning in his own tears, and he's about to give up on life by walking on the railroad track and waiting for the train to cross over him.
The song is a classic heartbreak ballad, and it touches on the raw emotions experienced when a love is lost. It speaks of the feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and sadness that come with the realization that someone you loved has left you.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the mornin'
It's still very early in the day
Before the crack of dawn,
It's so early that the sun hasn't risen yet
Sittin' here thinkin'
The singer is pondering something
Oh why was I born?
He's questioning the purpose of his life
So broken hearted,
He's filled with sadness and grief
How can I go on?
The singer is struggling to continue living
Since you've been gone, since you've been gone.
The source of his pain is the absence of someone
I was so happy
In the past, the singer was filled with joy
With you by my side,
The girl he's singing about used to be a part of his life
You told me you loved me,
She expressed affection for him
But honey you lied.
She was being insincere
You left me here cryin',
The girl is gone and he's still sad about it
The night seems like a million years, mmhm,
He's been thinking and feeling this way for a long time
Waitin' 'til the break of day appears, oh oh oh.
He's waiting for time to pass
All night long weepin' like a willow,
He's been crying excessively
Tossin' and turnin' on my tear stained pillow,
He can't sleep because he's so upset
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears.
He feels like he's overwhelmed by his emotions
Gonna go walkin'
He's going to take a walk
By the railroad track,
He's heading to a particular location
I'm gonna let the choo-choo cross over my back.
He seems to be contemplating taking his own life
Life ain't worth livin',
He doesn't see the point in living anymore
Since you've been gone, since you've been gone.
The girl leaving is the reason for his despair
Since you've been go-o-o-o-one.
She's left and hasn't returned
Ya ya, ya ya ya ya ya ya.
This is just a meaningless filler
Since you've been gone...
He's still just as sad about her leaving
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valxavier7498
Point one, amazing that he wrote such an 'authentic' blues in the first place. Second, his tone is amazing. Third, the piano is awesome, Joe Brown plays like he's from Memphis and all involved were spot on. What an album. I also love that they didn't put a pin-up type shot of Billy on the cover.
@jowaldock5045
Amazing that he was so young when he wrote this song. Sound of Fury album is brilliant. Love it!
@TOBERT001
I need to get this album. This is fantastic.
@nechronomicon1
BILLY SINGS FROM THE HEART JUST WONDERFUL
@SpeedTriple59
King Rocker..The man Fury was this countrys best..
@mrcjrowe
LEGEND
@user-gp9un5ds6y
Billy Fury was singing the blues before the Rolling Stones.
@45alany
@5151emily I'm in agreement with that and you're very welcome
@b1llyfury
Come and join us on Facebook Group 'Friends of Billy Fury'.