The group includes Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle (the trio from Cambridge, who are all taller than all the other members of the group, and known as the more "aggressive" half of the group), Terry Jones (from Wales), Michael Palin (from Oxford) and Terry Gilliam (Minnesota in the United States). Chapman wrote the sketches with Cleese, Jones wrote with Palin, Idle wrote alone and Gilliam did the animations. Neil Innes and Carol Cleveland have both on occasion been mentioned as the "7th Python".
Graham Chapman, widely known as "The Dead One", died of cancer on October 4, 1989, the day before Python's 20th anniversary (thus being called "the greatest party pooper of all time" by Terry Jones), is tagged as the greatest actor among the group by his fellow Pythons. He had problems with alcohol and was a dedicated smoker of the pipe (he appears with a pipe in his hand in most of the Python sketches). He was known for his outstanding and abstract sense of humour; Cleese states that during their sketch-writing partnership Chapman did not say much, but when he said something it was often brilliant. The term "pepperpot" which is used to describe middle-aged ladies was found by Chapman.
John Cleese, probably the most famous Python on the other side of the Atlantic, is most widely known for his silly walk - the famous walk that he invented for Monty Python's Flying Circus, and repeated in one episode of Fawlty Towers, where he tries very hard not to remind his German visitors of the World War II by doing impersonations of Hitler. He lives in the USA. He played the lead as Basil Fawlty in "Fawlty Towers". He has been reported to be the first man to say "shit" on British TV and the first man to say "fuck" at a British memorial service.
Eric Idle is the composer of most Python songs (along with Neil Innes) such as the Python anthem "Always Look on the Bright Side Of Life" (which is also played after Iron Maiden's shows). His outstanding linguistic abilities have earned him the name "Master of the One-Liner". He created the Beatles parody "The Rutles" along with Neil Innes, and recently adapted the Python movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" as a Broadway musical called "Monty Python's Spamalot". His most famous Python role is the character he plays in the "Nudge Nudge" sketch. He is the self-acclaimed third tallest and sixth nicest Python.
Terry Gilliam was the only American in the group and has one of the most successful post-Python careers among the six, as he is the director of hugely popular movies like Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and The Fisher King. His part was instrumental in helping Python gain their reputation as a unique comedy group, his animations helping them link sketches (which, of course, don't have punch lines) in an unprecedented manner. He has become a British citizen in early 2006 and renounced his American citizenship shortly afterwards. He acknowledges The Goon Show, a radio show aired in the 1950s on BBC radio, written by Spike Milligan and performed by Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers, as the main reason he chose Britain as his homeland.
Terry Jones is the most successful actor of the woman role (as demonstrated in the Spam sketch, which is only one of numerous occasions in which he has voiced the trademark of a high-pitched female impersonation). He is the director (or co-director) of all Python movies. He has also written, directed and appeared in a few more movies which featured some of his Python mates; despite the fact that these movies aren't quite a match for his work in the Flying Circus, they include some hilarious scenes, such as the singing scene in Erik the Viking. He is the writer of such excellent songs as "I'm So Worried" and "Traffic Lights". He has done a few historical documentaries, and in one of them he briefly acts the part of King Richard III (called "Ring Kichard the Thrid" by the Eric Idle character "the man who speaks entirely in anagrams", which prompts Michael Palin the interviewer to suggest that "Ring Kichard is surely a spoonerism and not an anagram", which results in Eric Idle's character leaving the studio, saying "If you are going to split hairs, I'm going to piss off" (which can serve as a pointer to the Eric Idle-John Cleese movie "Splitting Heirs")).
Michael Palin, known as the nicest python, and the favorite Python to work with for John Cleese, has done numerous travel documentaries during his post-Python career. His amazing sense of humour has inevitably permeated into what would otherwise be just ordinary documentaries (occasions like the Polushka Pole incident and thanking the goddess for her "nice mountain", to name a couple). This nice man, who finds it very difficult to say "no", is the only one who said "no" to a reunion in their 30th year. He is the inventor of the threat "If you don't cooperate, I will get nasty and start using some Dutch words".
As admitted on several occasions, the group likes to dress up as women.
Having said all that, Terry Jones is actually Welsh.
Crocodile
Monty Python Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And over to Brian Goebbels in Paris
Hello! Well, you join us here in Paris
Just a few minutes before
The start of today's
Big event: the final of the Mens'
Being Eaten By A Crocodile event i'm standing
(crunching, screams, splashing)
-Oh, merde! (siren)
Ah well, I'm afraid we've
Lost Brian Goebbels
So while they they're sorting
It out, we have a report
From Barry Loathesome in Loughborough
On the British preparations for
This most important event
Here at Loughborough are five
Young men chosen last
Week to be eaten for Britain this summer
Obviously, the most important part
Of the event is
The opening sixty yard sprint
Towards the crocs
And 22-year-old Nottingham
Schoolteacher Gavin worolowe is rated
By some pundit's not only the fastest
But also the tastiest British
Morsel since Barry
Gordon got a bronze at Helsinki
In charge of the team is
Sergeant Major Harold Duke
(Now you not only gotta get
Into that pit first
You gotta get eaten first! When you land in
Front of your croc and he opens up
His mouth, i wanna see you right in
There! Rub your head up
Against his taste buds! And when those
Teeth bite into your flesh
Use the purchase to thrust
Yourself down his throat)
Duke's trained every British team since 1928
And it's his blend of gymnastic
Knowhow, reptilian expertise
And culinary skill that's turned many an
Unappetizing novice into a crocodilic banquet
(Well, our chefs have been
Experimenting for many years
To find a sauce most likely to
Tempt the crocodile in the
Past we've concentrated
On a fish based veloutƩ sauce
But this year we're reverting
To a simple bƩarnaise)
The British team are worried
Because Olympic regulations allow
Only the competitor's heads to be sauced
(Yes, well, I mean ahem- you know
Four years ago
Everyone knew the Italians were
Coating the insides
Of their legs with bolognaise the
Russians were being marinated themselves
One of the germans, Biolek, was actually
Caught putting, uh
Remoulade down his shorts and the Finns
Were using tomato-flavoured running shoes i
Think it should either
Be unrestricted garnishing
Or a simple Olympic-standard mayonnaise)
Gavin, does it ever worry you
That you're actually going
To be chewed up by a bloody great crocodile?
(The only thing that worries me, Jim
Is being being the first
One down that gullet)
Well, the way things are
Going here at Loughborough
It looks as though Britain
Could easily pick up
A place in the first seven hundred
But nothing's predictable in this tough
Harsh, highly competitive world
Where today's champion
Is tomorrow's crocodile shit and back
To you, in the studio, norman!
The lyrics to Monty Python's song "Crocodile" depict a comedic sports commentary on a fictional event called the Mens' Being Eaten By A Crocodile competition. The setting is in Paris, and the lyrics transition between the commentator in Paris and a reporter in Loughborough, UK, who provides insight into the British team's preparations for the event.
The song satirizes the absurdity of this fictional competition, with athletes willingly participating in a dangerous and unique event. The opening sprint towards the crocodiles is highlighted as a crucial part of the event, and there is humor in the description of the athletes' strategies to get eaten by the crocodiles successfully. The commentator emphasizes the importance of being the first to enter the crocodile's mouth and even instructs the athletes on how to use the teeth as leverage to go down the throat.
The song also pokes fun at the regulations and concerns of the British team. Olympic rules dictate that only the competitors' heads can be sauced, leading to worries about missing out on the full flavor potential. The lyrics mention the controversial strategies employed by other countries in the past, such as coating their legs with bolognaise or marinating themselves, adding to the absurdity and satire of the event.
Overall, the song "Crocodile" showcases Monty Python's trademark comedic style, using satire and absurdity to lampoon sports competitions and the dedication of athletes.
Line by Line Meaning
And right now, it's time for athletics
We are about to begin the athletic event
And over to Brian Goebbels in Paris
Now we go to Brian Goebbels in Paris for a live report
Hello! Well, you join us here in Paris
Greetings! We are in Paris at the moment
Just a few minutes before
It is just a short time before
The start of today's
The beginning of today's event
Big event: the final of the Mens'
The significant event is the final of the Men's
Being Eaten By A Crocodile event i'm standing
Where I am currently standing, it is the event where men are eaten by crocodiles
Now by the crocodile pit where-
Now I am near the pit where the crocodiles are
(crunching, screams, splashing)
Sounds of crunching, screams, and splashing are heard
-Oh, merde! (siren)
Oh, shit! (siren)
Ah well, I'm afraid we've
Unfortunately, we have
Lost Brian Goebbels
Lost contact with Brian Goebbels
So while they they're sorting
While they are resolving the situation
It out, we have a report
We have a report
From Barry Loathesome in Loughborough
Barry Loathesome is reporting from Loughborough
On the British preparations for
Regarding the preparations of the British team for
This most important event
This highly significant event
Here at Loughborough are five
At Loughborough, there are five
Young men chosen last
Young men who were selected last
Week to be eaten for Britain this summer
To be sacrificially eaten by crocodiles for Britain this summer
Obviously, the most important part
Undoubtedly, the crucial aspect
Of the event is
Of this event is
The opening sixty yard sprint
The initial sixty yard race
Towards the crocs
Heading towards the crocs
And 22-year-old Nottingham
A 22-year-old man from Nottingham
Schoolteacher Gavin worolowe is rated
Gavin Worolowe, a schoolteacher, is considered
By some pundit's not only the fastest
By some experts to be not only the fastest
But also the tastiest British
But also the most appetizing British
Morsel since Barry
Morsel of food since Barry
Gordon got a bronze at Helsinki
Gordon won a bronze medal at Helsinki
In charge of the team is
Leading the team is
Sergeant Major Harold Duke
Sergeant Major Harold Duke
(Now you not only gotta get
(Now you not only need to reach
Into that pit first
The pit before anyone else
You gotta get eaten first! When you land in
You must also be consumed first! When you arrive in
Front of your croc and he opens up
Front of your assigned crocodile and it opens its mouth
His mouth, i wanna see you right in
Its mouth, I want to see you inside immediately
There! Rub your head up
There! Rub your head against
Against his taste buds! And when those
Its taste buds! And when those
Teeth bite into your flesh
Teeth sink into your flesh
Use the purchase to thrust
Utilize the grip to forcefully push
Yourself down his throat)
Yourself down its throat)
Duke's trained every British team since 1928
Duke has trained every British team since 1928
And it's his blend of gymnastic
His combination of gymnastic skills
Knowhow, reptilian expertise
Knowledge and expertise in reptilian behavior
And culinary skill that's turned many an
And culinary expertise that has transformed many
Unappetizing novice into a crocodilic banquet
Unappetizing novice into a satisfying meal for crocodiles
(Well, our chefs have been
(Our chefs have been
Experimenting for many years
Conducting experiments for numerous years
To find a sauce most likely to
To discover a sauce that is highly likely to
Tempt the crocodile in the
Entice the crocodile
Past we've concentrated
Previously, we focused
On a fish based veloutƩ sauce
On a veloutƩ sauce made from fish
But this year we're reverting
But this year, we are returning
To a simple bƩarnaise)
To a basic bƩarnaise sauce)
The British team are worried
The British team is concerned
Because Olympic regulations allow
Due to Olympic regulations permitting
Only the competitor's heads to be sauced
Only the heads of competitors can be garnished with sauce
(Yes, well, I mean ahem- you know
(Yes, well, I mean um- you know
Four years ago
Four years ago
Everyone knew the Italians were
It was common knowledge that the Italians were
Coating the insides
Applying a coating to the insides
Of their legs with bolognaise the
Of their legs with bolognese, while
Russians were being marinated themselves
The Russians were marinating themselves
One of the germans, Biolek, was actually
One of the Germans, Biolek, was actually
Caught putting, uh
Caught inserting, uh
Remoulade down his shorts and the Finns
Remoulade sauce down his shorts, and the Finns
Were using tomato-flavoured running shoes i
Were using running shoes flavored with tomato. I
Think it should either
Believe it should either
Be unrestricted garnishing
Permit unrestricted garnishing
Or a simple Olympic-standard mayonnaise)
Or a straightforward Olympic-standard mayonnaise)
Gavin, does it ever worry you
Gavin, are you ever concerned
That you're actually going
That you are actually going
To be chewed up by a bloody great crocodile?
To be devoured by a large and fierce crocodile?
(The only thing that worries me, Jim
(The only thing that concerns me, Jim
Is being being the first
Is being the very first
One down that gullet)
One to go down its throat)
Well, the way things are
Well, considering the current circumstances
Going here at Loughborough
Taking place here at Loughborough
It looks as though Britain
It seems that Britain
Could easily pick up
Could likely achieve
A place in the first seven hundred
A ranking within the top seven hundred
But nothing's predictable in this tough
However, nothing can be predicted in this challenging
Harsh, highly competitive world
Severe and fiercely competitive world
Where today's champion
Where the current champion
Is tomorrow's crocodile shit
Becomes nothing more than crocodile excrement in the future
And back to you, in the studio, norman!
And now back to you, Norman, in the studio
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRAHAM CHAPMAN, JOHN CLEESE, TERRY GILLIAM, ERIC IDLE, TERRY JONES, MICHAEL EDWARD PALIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DH-cj7nm
My uncle gave me this in cassette as a child. Loved it
@WitherSweat
Thanks for uploading this, we have to save monty python from being deleted off this platform
@TheCodbutt
"the only thing that worries me Jim, is being the first one down that gullet".
@anonemuss5616
"where today's champion is tomorrow's crocodile shit" - sounds like my work life.
@duckduckgoismuchbetter
That is messed up. I love it! š
@MixedBag27
They should have used this in the Olympic Closing Ceremony.
@user-gv5fh7yb7f
nice sequel to Eisenhower's Farewell Address, 1961.
@kwaggavoetpad
Search using the words "Drame a Yamassoukrou" for another video on this subject.
@seivaDsugnA
This reminds me of the bovine attempt to monopolize the aviation industry throughout the 1980's. I bought one of those sheep. Let's just say, we don't keep in touch.