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.
Finland Song
Monty Python Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The country where I want to be
Pony trekking or camping or just watch T.V.
Finland , Finland , Finland
It's the country for me
You're so near to Russia
So far away from Japan
Lots of miles from Vietnam
Finland , Finland , Finland
The country where I want to be
Eating breakfast or dinner
Or snack lunch in the hall
Finland , Finland , Finland
Finland has it all
You're so sadly neglected
And often ignored
A poor second to Belgium
When going abroad
Finland , Finland , Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your mountains so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland , Finland , Finland
Finland has it all
Finland , Finland , Finland
The country where I quite want to be
Your moantians so lofty
Your treetops so tall
Finland , Finland , Finland
Finland has it all
Finland has it all...
Monty Python's "Finland Song" is a satirical tribute to Finland, a country that the band professes to love. The song's lyrics seem to be a parody of a typical tourist advertisement for Finland, in which an idealized version of the country is depicted. The opening lines of the song emphasize the singer's desire to be in Finland and enjoy its various leisure activities, including pony trekking, camping, and watching TV. The repetition of the chorus, "Finland, Finland, Finland, the country where I want to be", underscores the singer's love for the country.
The song's second stanza highlights Finland's geographic location, being close to Russia, far from Japan, and distant from Cairo and Vietnam. The rhyme scheme of the stanza emphasizes the contrast between Finland and these other countries.
The third stanza of the song humorously suggests that Finland is often ignored and neglected compared to other European countries like Belgium. Finally, the repetition of "Finland has it all" in the last verse reinforces the singer's assertion that Finland is an amazing place to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Finland , Finland , Finland
Repeatedly, the singer joyously exclaims the name of Finland, expressing their enthusiasm for the country.
The country where I want to be
The singer declares their desire to be in Finland, suggesting an affinity towards the country.
Pony trekking or camping or just watch T.V.
The singer lists various activities that could be enjoyed in Finland, ranging from outdoor adventure to indoor relaxation.
It's the country for me
The singer affirms that Finland is their chosen country, indicating a strong preference and fondness for it.
You're so near to Russia
The singer notes Finland's proximity to Russia, positioning the country geographically.
So far away from Japan
The singer highlights Finland's distance from Japan, underscoring the vastness of the world and putting Finland's location into perspective.
Quite a long way from Cairo
The singer comments on Finland's distance from Cairo, further emphasizing how far it is from Africa and the Middle East.
Lots of miles from Vietnam
The singer points out how distant Finland is from Vietnam, conveying a sense of distance and separation.
Eating breakfast or dinner or snack lunch in the hall
The singer suggests various times and places where one might eat in Finland, highlighting the country's dining options.
Finland has it all
The chorus repeats the phrase 'Finland has it all', reiterating the country's excellence and expressing the singer's admiration for it.
You're so sadly neglected
The singer laments how often Finland is overlooked or ignored, suggesting that the country deserves more attention and appreciation.
And often ignored
The singer restates the previous line, further emphasizing how Finland is disregarded by others.
A poor second to Belgium
The singer compares Finland unfavorably to Belgium, positioning Finland as inferior or less notable by comparison.
When going abroad
The singer relates Finland's inferior status to other countries, specifically when traveling internationally.
Your mountains so lofty
The singer compliments Finland's tall mountains, conveying an appreciation for the country's natural features.
Your treetops so tall
The singer further extols Finland's height by mentioning tall treetops, highlighting the country's vegetation and scenery.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL PALIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dangerman5617
Finland just won happiest country of the world again for the sixth year in the row. Finland, Finland, Finland!
@MacT74
@@robertfry6783 It's Norway that's got oil, not Finland. In fact, Finland is mostly covered in forests that consume carbon dioxide. "Finland is the most forested country in Europe. More than 75% of Finland's land area is covered by forest. "
@robertfry6783
@@MacT74 doh! Good point.
@JohnK1409
@@MacT74 jeah and here the Greenies are worried about our forrests being cut can asure you that they grow faster then we cut and its the growing tree that consumes carbon we have an advanced rotation of forrests its a cycle.
@NxDoyle
Michael Palin is a global comedic treasure. He bleeds funny. "All together, Finnephiles!"
@videowilliams
Oh THAT'S what he yelled! Even their captions left it out.
@christianbreuer4975
Finally, after years and years of guessing and mishearing...
@rexsexson5349
Thank you!
@greggrimer354
He yells "All together, Finlandphiles!"
@xorsyst1
Really? I always heard "All together, vive la France!"