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.
The Lollipop Man
Brian Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You go to the girl's school
And I go to the boy's school
Both seperated by a lollipop man
I must cross the street to
Get around to meet you
Therefore I have to pass a lollipop man
Lollipop man, there's a lollipop man
Who stands in the middle of the street
(Ain't he sweet)
There's a lollipop man, yeah a lollipop man
Hey, good golly there's a lollipop man
He carries out his duty
Isn't he a cutie
There in the middle with his lollipop pole
Opposite the high school
Right in front of my school
He's so incredible
He's really got soul
Lollipop man, lollipop man
Lollipop man, lollipop man
He won't let the traffic come between us
We can be together very soon
But he will make the traffic stop
With his giant lollipop
Looking just a little like a moon man
In a yellow rain coat
And a pair of gum boots
There in the midst of an incredible jam
Any kind of weather
Bringing us together
There stands a funny little lollipop man
Lollipop man, there's a lollipop man
Who stands in the middle of the street
(Ain't he sweet)
A lollipop man, there's a lollipop man
Hey, good golly there's a lollipop man...
"The Lollipop Man" by Brian Connolly is a playful and catchy song about the experience of two people who attend different schools but are separated by a lollipop man, a crossing guard who stands in the middle of the street. The singer, attending the boys' school, must cross the street in order to meet the girl who attends the girls' school. They express their admiration for the lollipop man, referring to him as a cutie and incredible, commenting on his dedication to his duty. Despite the inconvenience of having to cross the street, the lollipop man becomes a symbol of unity for the two individuals, as he ensures their safety by stopping the traffic with his giant lollipop.
The lyrics emphasize the lollipop man's distinct appearance, describing him as wearing a yellow raincoat and gum boots. They also compare him to a moon man, further highlighting his uniqueness. The repeated phrase "there's a lollipop man, ain't he sweet" emphasizes the singer's affection and appreciation for the lollipop man.
Overall, "The Lollipop Man" celebrates the role of the lollipop man in bringing people together, showcasing a lighthearted and playful perspective on the experience of crossing the street. The song captures the joy and excitement of young love, symbolizing how even something as small as a lollipop man can facilitate connections and act as a link between different worlds.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to the girl's school
You attend a school for girls
And I go to the boy's school
And I attend a school for boys
Both separated by a lollipop man
Our schools are divided by a traffic controller
I must cross the street to
I have to traverse the road
Get around to meet you
In order to reach you
Therefore I have to pass a lollipop man
I have to go past the traffic controller
Lollipop man, there's a lollipop man
Hey, there is a traffic controller
Who stands in the middle of the street
Someone positioned in the center of the road
(Ain't he sweet)
(Isn't he pleasant)
There's a lollipop man, yeah a lollipop man
There exists a traffic controller
Hey, good golly there's a lollipop man
Wow, oh my goodness, there is a traffic controller
He carries out his duty
He fulfills his responsibility
Isn't he a cutie
He is quite adorable
There in the middle with his lollipop pole
Standing in the center with his lollipop-shaped sign
Opposite the high school
Across from the secondary school
Right in front of my school
Directly in front of my own educational institution
He's so incredible
He is extremely remarkable
He's really got soul
He truly possesses spirit
Lollipop man, lollipop man
Traffic controller, traffic controller
He won't let the traffic come between us
He prevents the vehicles from separating us
We can be together very soon
We can meet each other soon
But he will make the traffic stop
However, he will halt the flow of vehicles
With his giant lollipop
Using his large lollipop-shaped sign
Looking just a little like a moon man
Appearing somewhat similar to an astronaut
In a yellow rain coat
Wearing a raincoat that is yellow
And a pair of gum boots
Along with some rubber boots
There in the midst of an incredible jam
Standing amidst a chaotic traffic situation
Any kind of weather
Regardless of the weather conditions
Bringing us together
Uniting us
There stands a funny little lollipop man
There is an amusing, small traffic controller
Lollipop man, there's a lollipop man
Hey, there is a traffic controller
Who stands in the middle of the street
Someone positioned in the center of the road
(Ain't he sweet)
(Isn't he pleasant)
A lollipop man, there's a lollipop man
There exists a traffic controller
Hey, good golly there's a lollipop man
Wow, oh my goodness, there is a traffic controller
Writer(s): Albert Louis Hammond, Mike Hazlewood
Contributed by Cooper C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.