At age 18 Brian moved to Middlesex and replaced singer Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath fame) in a band called Wainwright's Gentlemen which included drummer Mick Tucker. Wainwright's Gentlemen split up in 1968 without releasing any recordings.
Connolly and Tucker remained together and then recruited guitarist Frank Torpey and bassist Steve Priest, they named the new band Sweetshop. The group recorded several singles and eventually shortened their name to Sweet. Over the next 13 years Brian recorded albums with Sweet until his drinking problem caused him to leave the band in 1979.
After leaving Sweet Brian launched a solo career that had little success. In 1981 he survived multiple heart attacks in a single night but his health was permanently affected. Despite this Connolly toured with his backing bands New Sweet and Brian Connolly's Sweet. In 1988 Connolly reunited with former bandmates Andy Scott, Steve Priest and Mick Tucker to rework studio versions of "Action" and "Ballroom Blitz". The four reunited again in 1990 for the promotion of a video music documentary. By the late 1990s Brian's previous drinking problem had taken a toll on his body and he died of liver failure on February 9, 1997.
Run Run Run
Brian Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before
OK you think you got a pretty face
But the rest of you is out of place
You looked all right before
Fox on the run
Take a run and hide yourself away
Fox on the run
F-foxy, foxy on the run and hideaway
You-you talk about just every band
But the names you drop are second hand
I've heard it all before
I don't want to know your name
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Brian Connolly's Sweet's song Fox on the Run describe the encounter of the singer with a woman who appears to have changed her appearance and personality from their previous meeting. The singer expresses disinterest in knowing her name because she no longer looks the same as she did before. Although she may have a pretty face, the rest of her is out of place. The lyrics express a sense of nostalgia for the person she was before, and a reluctance to engage with the person she has become.
The chorus of the song, "Fox on the run, you screamed and everybody comes a-running, take a run and hide yourself away, fox on the run, F-foxy, foxy on the run and hideaway" suggests that the singer sees this woman as a fox who is being hunted by everyone. He advises her to run and hide herself away. The repetition of the word "foxy" seems to indicate that the singer finds her attractive despite his reservations about her.
The song reflects the attitude of the time towards people who changed themselves for the sake of fitting in with the crowd. The lyrics express a sense of nostalgia for the past, and a reluctance to accept people who change themselves to fit in with the current trend. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody have made it a classic rock anthem, truly representing the sound of the 1970s.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to know your name
I have no interest in getting to know you on a personal level
'Cause you don't look the same
Your appearance has changed, making it difficult for me to recognize you
The way you did before
Your current look is different from what I remember
OK you think you got a pretty face
You are under the impression that you have an attractive face
But the rest of you is out of place
However, the rest of your physical features are not proportionate or attractive
You looked all right before
I remember you looking decent in the past
Fox on the run
The subject is compared to a fox on the run
You screamed and everybody comes a-running
Your cries for attention have attracted the attention of others
Take a run and hide yourself away
It's best for you to hide and avoid further attention
F-foxy, foxy on the run and hideaway
Reinforcing the comparison to a fox on the run
You-you talk about just every band
You constantly talk about numerous bands
But the names you drop are second hand
However, the information you provide about these bands has been obtained second-hand (from someone else)
I've heard it all before
Your conversation topics are not new or interesting to me
Chorus
Repeating the comparison to a fox on the run
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN FRANCIS CONNOLLY, STEPHEN NORMAN PRIEST, MICHAEL THOMAS TUCKER, ANDREW SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mask Monkey Airbrush Studio
Its horrible to see Brian like this 2 years before he passed away.` Thanks for your talent, songs and memories and I still listen to them today and always will. RIP Brian and see you in the next life.
Adrian Trott
Breaks my heart to see Brian in this condition... God Bless you Brian.
Reality Check
It’s called aging
irocit z
Freaking life has a way of taking its toll
stormy tempest
Spot on, hate your heroes when your a kid looking like that, anyway, loved them, RIP Brian.
Casey Muni
To bad his voice suffered so much along with his health.
David Guadeloupe
This was the first band i ever saw. My mum took me and my brother to watch them down at the Dome in Brighton. What an impact! Still remember that presentation, like a beam of light. Beautiful band. Life never dies.... see you.
NCC1701
Feel the same way :-)) My youth in the 70's was the best time... they were GODS to me!... like the heavenly SLADE with the one and only Noddy Holder and also Marc Bolan's mighty T.REX! Greetz from Cologne
Nucky Thompson
He was one of the best voices of his generation,and always be.
kingchrisclay
I love The Sweet, heard them since i was young and do so today.......but one of the best voices of his generation.....I dont think so....