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Queen - White Man

Queen - White Man Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: A Day At The Races
Released: 1976

White Man Lyrics

I'm a simple man
With a simple name
From this soil my people came
In this soil remain
Oh yeah, oh yeah

We made us our shoes
We trod soft on the land
But the immigrant built roads
On our blood and sand
Oh yeah, oh yeah

White Man, White man
Don't you see the light behind your blackened skies
White man, White man
You took away the sight to blind my simple eyes
White man, White man
Where you gonna hide
From the hell you've made ?

Oh the Red man knows war
With his hands and his knives
On the bible you swore
Fought your battle with lies
Oh yeah

Leave my body in shame
Leave my soul in disgrace
But by every God's name
Say your prayers for your race
Oh yeah

White man, White man
Our country was green and all our rivers wide
White man, White man
You came with a gun and soon our children died
White man, White man
Don't you give a light for the blood you've shed
Oooh yeah

Oh White man, White man (White man)
White man, White man
Fought your battle with lies, yeah
White man, White man - but weren't too civilized yeah
White man, White man
Take a look around
Every skin and bone
Hey

What is left of your dream ?
Just the words on your stone
A man who learned how to teach
Then forgot how to learn
Oh yeah

Writer/s: BRIAN HAROLD MAY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

White Man

This song was written by Queen guitarist Brain May. The lyrics are about the wars between colonists and Native Americans.

In a 1976 interview on Capital Radio, Freddie Mercury was asked how he managed to get such a loud noise on one record. He replied: "I don't know, it's down to Mike Stone our engineer. We're very bad in the studio for that actually, the poor engineer has to really suffer because we really want as much level as possible. We keep pushing the phasers up and he keeps looking at the meters and going 'Oh it'll never cut'. Then we give him the added task of going over to New York or wherever and saying 'Make sure that cuts as loud as possible'."

Queen - You Take My Breath Away

Queen - You Take My Breath Away Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: A Day At The Races
Released: 1976

You Take My Breath Away Lyrics

Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh take it take it all away
Ooh ooh ooh ooh - ooh take my breath away - ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh You Take My Breath Away

Look into my eyes and you'll see
I'm the only one
You've captured my love
Stolen my heart
Changed my life
Every time you make a move
You destroy my mind
And the way you touch
I lose control and shiver deep inside
You take my breath away

You can reduce me to tears
With a single sigh
(Please don't cry anymore)
Every breath that you take
Any sound that you make
Is a whisper in my ear
I could give up all my life for just one kiss
I would surely die
If you dismiss me from your love
You take my breath away

So please don't go
Don't leave me here all by myself
I get ever so lonely from time to time
I will find you
Anywhere you go, I'll be right behind you
Right until the ends of the Earth
I'll get no sleep till I find you to tell you
That you just take my breath away

I will find you
Anywhere you go
Right until the ends of the Earth
I'll get no sleep till I find you to
Tell you when I've found you -
I love you

Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath, take my breath
Take my breath away.

Writer/s: FREDDIE MERCURY
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

You Take My Breath Away

This song was written by Freddie Mercury and is based on the Japanese pentatonic scale. According to Brian May, Japan was a big influence on Queen, as we can hear through songs like "Teo Torriatte" from the same album.

This song is probably about Freddie Mercury's female lover Mary Austin, whom he lived with for 6 years and remained friends with until his death. Austin and Mercury split up in 1980 when Mercury decided he preferred male partners. Upon his death in 1991, Mercury left Austin his house in London.

Freddie Mercury in an interview on Capital Radio: "This one I did myself, I multi tracked myself. So the others weren't used on this for the voices. I played piano and basically, I don't know how we managed to stay this simple you know, with all our over dubs and things. People seem to think that we're over complexed, and it's not true. It depends on the individual track really, if it needs it - we do it. So this is pretty sparse actually by Queen and our standards."

Queen - Was It All Worth It

Queen - Was It All Worth It Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

Was It All Worth It Lyrics

Oooh, oooh
Ah ah ah ah ah oh

What is there left for me to do in this life
Did I achieve what I had set in my sights
Am I a happy man, or is this sinking sand
Was It All Worth It, was it all worth it
Yeah, now hear my story, let me tell you about it
We bought a drum kit, I blew my own trumpet
Played the circuit, thought we were perfect
Was it all worth it, ooh giving (hey yeah) all my heart and soul and
Staying up all night, was it all worth it (hey yeah)
Living breathing rock 'n' roll (ah), a Godforsaken life
Was it all worth it, was it all worth it (hey) all these years

Put down our money without counting the cost
It didn't matter if we won - if we lost
Yes we were vicious, yes we could kill
Yes we were hungry, yes we were brill - ha ha haa
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
We served a purpose, like a bloody circus
We were so dandy (yeah) we love you madly
Was it all worth it
Living breathing rock 'n' roll, this Godforsaken life
Was it all worth it yeah, was it all worth it
When the hurly burly's done

We went to bali, saw God and dali
So mystic, surrealistic
Was it all worth it yeah yeah, giving all my heart and soul
Staying up all night, was it all worth it
Ooh living breathing rock 'n' roll this never ending fight
Was it all worth it, was it all worth it
Yes it was a worthwhile experience
Ha ha ha ha haa
It was worth it
Ha ha
Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE/DEACON, JOHN RICHARD/TAYLOR, ROGER MEDDOWS
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Was It All Worth It

Freddie Mercury wrote this with lyrical ideas by the other 3 band members. The song is semi-autobiographical.

Mercury did the orchestral interludes note-by-note done on a Korg M1 keyboard.

Queen - Bijou

Queen - Bijou Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

Bijou Lyrics

You and me
We are destined
You'll agree
To spend the rest of our lives
With each other
The rest of our days
Like two lovers
Forever yeah, forever

My Bijou

Writer/s: Deacon, John / May, Brian Harold / Mercury, Freddie / Taylor, Roger
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Bijou

This song was the result of a one-hour session between pianist Freddie Mercury and guitarist Brian May. Mercury wrote most of the song, being responsible for the title, the lyrics and the orchestral parts (done on keyboards). The guitar lines were written by both of them and influenced by Jeff Beck.

Freddie and Brian decided to make the song "inside-out," in the sense that it was instrumental in the parts verses would normally be, and it would have vocals in the section where guitar solos generally go. This could have been influenced by Pink Floyd. Mercury's driver confirmed that Freddie listened a lot of their music while he was in the car, and some of their pieces ("In The Flesh," "Is There Anybody Out There?") include the same structure.

Queen - Ride The Wild Wind

Queen - Ride The Wild Wind Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

Ride The Wild Wind Lyrics

Ride The Wild Wind
(Push the envelope, don't sit on the fence) hey hey hey hey
Ride the wild wind
(Live life on the razors edge) hey hey hey
Gonna ride the whirlwind
It ain't dangerous - enough for me

Get your head down baby - yeah - we're gonna ride tonight
Your angel eyes are shining bright
I wanna take your hand - lead you from this place
Gonna leave it all behind
(Check out) Check out of this rat race
Ride the wild wind (hey hey) hey hey hey hey
Ride the wild wind (hey hey) hey hey hey
Gonna ride the whirlwind
It ain't dangerous - enough for me

Tie your hair back baby - we're gonna ride tonight - yeah
We got freaks to the left - we got jerks to the right
Sometimes I get so low - I just have to ride
Let me take your hand
Let me be your guide
Ooh ride the wild wind
(Don't sit on the fence) (hey hey) hey hey hey hey
Ooh ride the wild wind
(And live life on the razors edge) hey hey hey
Gonna ride the whirlwind
It ain't dangerous - enough for me

Yeah ride the wild wind (hey hey) hey hey hey
Ooh ride the wild wind hey hey hey hey hey hey
Ha ha ha haa
Gonna ride the - ride the whirlwind
It ain't dangerous - enough for me
Ride the wild wind
Ride the wild wind
Hey hey hey
The wild wind
Hey hey hey
The wild wind
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE/MAY, BRIAN HAROLD/TAYLOR, ROGER MEDDOWS
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Ride The Wild Wind

Queen drummer Roger Taylor wrote this. He sang it on the demo but in the released version it's a duet between Freddie Mercury and himself.

Queen - Don't Try So Hard

Queen - Don't Try So Hard Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

Don't Try So Hard Lyrics

If you're searching out for something
Don't Try So Hard
I you're feeling kind of nothing
Don't try so hard
When your problems seem like mountains
Feel the need to find some answers
You can leave it for another day
Don't try so hard

But if you fall and take a tumble
It won't be far
If you fail you mustn't grumble
Thank your lucky stars
Just savor every mouthful
And treasure every moment
When the storms are raging round you
Stay right where you are
Oh don't try so hard
Oh don't take it all to heart
It's only fools they make these rules
Don't try so hard

One day you'll be a Sergeant Major
Oh you'll be so proud
Screaming out your bloody orders
Hey but not too loud
Polish all your shiny buttons
Dressed as lamb instead of mutton
But you never had to try
To stand out from the crowd

Oh what a beautiful world
Is this the life for me
Oh what a beautiful world
It's the simple life for me

Oh don't try so hard
Oh don't take it all to heart
It's only fools they make these rules
Don't try so hard
Don't try so hard
Don't try so hard

Writer/s: Deacon, John / May, Brian Harold / Mercury, Freddie / Taylor, Roger
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Don't Try So Hard

Freddie Mercury wrote this, but it was credited to the band due to an agreement they had some years before.

The atmospheric noises in the intro are the preset sound of the Korg M1 keyboard each time it is turned on. The notes that the Korg M1 plays are: E A D G B E, which are the notes on any 6 string guitar in Italian tuning. The notes are played one octave higher.

Queen - Headlong

Queen - Headlong Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

Headlong Lyrics

And you're rushing Headlong you've got a new goal
And you're rushing headlong out of control
And you think you're so strong
But there ain't no stopping and there's nothin'
You can do about it
There's nothin' you can do
No there's nothin' you can do about it
No there's nothin' you can, nothin' you can
Nothin' you can do about it

And you're rushing headlong you've got a new goal
And you're rushing headlong out of control
And you think you're so strong
But there ain't no stopping no there's nothin'
You can do about it
Yeah

Hey, he used to be a man with a stick in his hand
Hoop diddy diddy - hoop diddy do
She used to be a woman with a hot dog stand
Hoop diddy diddy - hoop diddy do
Now you've got soup in the laundry bag
Now you've got strings, you're gonna lose your rag
You're gettin' in a fight
Then it ain't so groovy when you're screaming in the night
Let me out of this cheap 'B' movie
Headlong down the highway and you're rushing
Headlong out of control
And you think you're so strong
But there ain't no stopping and you can't stop rockin'
And there's nothin' you can, nothin' you can
Nothin' you can do about it

When a red hot man meets a white hot lady
Hoop diddy diddy - hoop diddy do (ho)
Soon the fire starts a raging gets 'em more than half crazy
Hoop diddy diddy - hoop diddy do
Oh, now they start freaking everyway you turn
You can't start walking 'cos your feet got burned
It ain't no time to figure wrong from right
Cause reasons out the window
Better hold on tight - you're rushing headlong
Headlong out of control, yeah
You think you're so strong
There ain't no stopping and there's nothin' you, nothin' you
Nothin' you can do about it at all
Yeah yeah alright go
And you're rushing headlong down the highway
And you're rushing headlong out of control
And you think you're so strong
But there ain't no stopping
There's nothin', nothin', nothin' you can do about it, yeah
Oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh
Ha ha
Headlong
Headlong
Rushing rushing, rushing rushing
Yeah yeah yeah
Rushing rushing, rushing rushing
Headlong
Yeahaw
Headlong

Gnoldaeh gnoldaeh gnoldaeh gnoldaeh
Writer/s: TAYLOR, ROGER / DEACON, JOHN / MAY, BRIAN / MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Headlong

Guitarist Brian May wrote this for his solo album but when he listened to Freddie Mercury singing it, he decided to give it away to the band. Then the 4 of them re-wrote it together.

This song is about rushing into things without proper preparation. Rushing into something headlong is like jumping into something head first without thinking about consequences.

Queen - Innuendo

Queen - Innuendo Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

Innuendo Lyrics

One two three four

Ooh ooh

While the sun hangs in the sky and the desert has sand
While the waves crash in the sea and meet the land
While there's a wind and the stars and the rainbow
Till the mountains crumble into the plain

Oh yes, we'll keep on trying
Tread that fine line
Oh, we'll keep on trying
Yeah
Just passing our time

Ooh ooh

While we live according to race, colour or creed
While we rule by blind madness and pure greed
Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion
Through the eons and on and on

Oh, yes, we'll keep on trying, yeah
We'll tread that fine line
Oh oh we'll keep on trying
Till the end of time
Till the end of time

Through the sorrow all through our splendor
Don't take offence at my Innuendo

Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh
Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh

You can be anything you want to be
Just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be
Be free with your tempo, be free, be free
Surrender your ego - be free, be free to yourself

Ooh ooh, yeah

If there's a God or any kind of justice under the sky
If there's a point, if there's a reason to live or die
Ha, if there's an answer to the questions we feel bound to ask
Show yourself - destroy our fears - release your mask
Oh yes, we'll keep on trying
Hey, tread that fine line
(Yeah) yeah
We'll keep on smiling, yeah
(Yeah) (yeah) (yeah)
And whatever will be - will be
We'll just keep on trying
We'll just keep on trying
Till the end of time
Till the end of time
Till the end of time
Writer/s: TAYLOR, ROGER / DEACON, JOHN / MAY, BRIAN / MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Innuendo

Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor wrote the lyrics to this song as a tribute to Led Zeppelin. When Robert Plant joined the three surviving members of Queen at Freddie Mercury's memorial concert at Wembley Stadium, they played a full version of this song, which included parts of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" and "Thank You."

The music was started off by Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon jamming in the studio in Montreux. From then on Freddie Mercury composed the song and added the long interlude. The melody is Mercury's as well. Lyrics were started off by Mercury but completed by drummer Roger Taylor.

The orchestra in the middle part was completely done with synthesizers; by Freddie Mercury and the producer David Richards.

Yes guitarist Steve Howe played the Spanish guitar solo in the middle because, admittedly, Brian May couldn't do it. Steve dropped by in the studio to say hi to producer David Richards, then Freddie invited him to join them on the track.

This was Queen's third #1 in the UK after "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Under Pressure."

Chris Daughtry performed this song on the fifth season of American Idol. Simon Cowell called his performance "indulgent" and asked why he didn't sing one of the great Queen songs instead.

Queen - Sail Away Sweet Sister

Queen - Sail Away Sweet Sister Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The Game
Released: 1980

Sail Away Sweet Sister Lyrics

Hey little babe you're changing
Babe are you feeling sore?
It ain't no use in pretending
You don't wanna play no more

It's plain that you ain't no baby
What would your mother say?
You're all dressed up like a lady
How come you behave this way?

Sail Away Sweet Sister
Sail across the sea
Maybe you'll find somebody
To love you half as much as me
My heart is always with you
No matter what you do
Sail away sweet sister
I'll always be in love with you

Forgive me for what I told you
My heart makes a fool of me
You know that I'll never hold you
I know that you gotta be free

Sail away sweet sister
Sail across the sea
Maybe you'll find somebody
To love you half as much as me
Take it the way you want it
But when they let you down my friend
Sail away sweet sister
Back to my arms again

Hot child don't you know you're young
You got your whole life ahead of you?
And you can throw it away too soon
Way too soon

Sail away sweet sister
Sail across the sea
Maybe you'll find somebody's
Gonna love you half as much as me
My heart is always with you
No matter what you do
Sail away sweet sister
I'll always be in love with you

Writer/s: MAY, BRIAN HAROLD
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Sail Away Sweet Sister

Queen guitarist Brian May wrote this, and though he usually played piano on his own songs, this time he asked Freddie Mercury do record it because of his perfect timing and rhythm sense. Mercury sings the middle eight of the song as well, while Brian sings the verses and choruses.

Queen - Coming Soon

Queen - Coming Soon Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The Game
Released: 1980

Coming Soon Lyrics

Ooh
Oh Oh Oh
I get some headaches when I hit the heights
Like in the morning after crazy nights
Like some mother in law in her nylon tights
They're always
They're always
They're always
They're always
Coming Soon
Coming soon on the outside of the tracks
You take 'em
The same old babies with the same old toys
The neighbors screaming when the noise annoys
Somebody naggin' you when you're out with the boys
They're always
They're always
They're always
They're always
Coming soon
Coming soon on the outside of the track

They're always
They're always
They're always
They're always
Coming soon
Coming soon on the outside of the track
Coming soon
Coming soon on the outside of the track
Yeah yeah yeah

Writer/s: TAYLOR, ROGER MEDDOWS /
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Coming Soon

Written by Queen drummer Roger Taylor, this was the first song they recorded using synthesizers (June 1979). The keyboard in question belonged to Roger and was an Oberheim OBX.

Queen - Dragon Attack

Queen - Dragon Attack Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The Game
Released: 1980

Dragon Attack Lyrics

Ooh yeah, ha, yeah
Take me to the room where the red's all red
Take me out of my head -'s what I said
Yeah, ow
Hey, take me to the room where the green's all green
And from what I've seen it's hot, it's mean
Eh

Gonna use my stack
It's gotta be Mack
Gonna get me on the track
Got a dragon on my back

Take me to the room where the beat's all round
Gonna eat that sound yeah yeah yeah yeah
Take me to the room where the black's all white
And the white's all black, take me back to the shack shack

She don't take no prisoners
She gonna give me the business
Got a dragon on my back
Hey it's a Dragon Attack

Get down, I said so, wooh
Hey hey, alright, yeah, oh yeah eah eah eah

Low down - she don't take no prisoners
Go down - she gonna give me the business
No time - yeah chained to the rack
Show time - got a dragon on my back
Show down - go find another customer
Slow down - I gotta make my way
From me yeah oh
Oh wrong way yeah
Oh wrong way
Hey
Alright
Oh look out

Writer/s: MAY, BRIAN HAROLD
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Dragon Attack

Most of the track evolved from a jam session the band had at the studio while they were bladdered. That's how the basic loop of bass and drums came out. Brian May then added lyrics and melody, the latter being surprisingly similar to "We Will Rock You" (compare "Buddy you're a boy make a big noise playing in the street" with "Take me to the room where the red's all red take me").

It came as quite the musical surprise in the running order on the album - both that the rock-orientated May wrote it (as opposed to the more funk/disco leaning Deacon and Mercury) and after the very traditionally Queen "Play The Game." However, it does work on easing the listener in to "Another One Bites The Dust".

"Dragon Attack" is one of several songs on The Game which best demonstrates Queen's experimentation with more minimal recording techniques during this period. They had a new producer, Mack, and were working in high-tech studios in Munich, away from their regular producer Roy Thomas Barker (with whom they had developed their hugely complex sound) for the first time.

Brian May spoke about this new approach: "Yeah, that was when we started trying to get outside what was normal for us. We turned our whole studio technique around in a sense, because Mack had come from a different background from us. We thought there was only one way of doing things, like doing a backing tracks: We would just do it until we got it right. If there were some bits where it speeded up or slowed down, then we would do it again until it was right. We had done some of our old backing tracks so many times, they were too stiff. Mack's first contribution was to say, 'Well you don't have to do that. I can drop the whole thing in. If it breaks down after half a minute, then we can edit in and carry on if you just play along with the tempo.' We laughed and said 'Don't be silly. You can't do that.' But in fact, you can. What you gain is the freshness, because often a lot of the backing tracks is first time though. It really helped a lot. There was less guitar on that album, but that's really not going to be the same forever; that was just an experiment."

Queen - Mother Love

Queen - Mother Love Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Made In Heaven
Released: 1995

Mother Love Lyrics

I don't want to sleep with you
I don't need the passion too
I don't want a stormy affair
To make me feel my life is heading somewhere
All I want is the comfort and care
Just to know that my woman gives me sweet
Mother Love ah ha

I've walked too long in this lonely lane
I've had enough of this same old game
I'm a man of the world and they say that I'm strong
But my heart is heavy, and my hope is gone

Out in the city, in the cold world outside
I don't want pity, just a safe place to hide
Mama please, let me back inside

I don't want to make no waves
But you can give me all the love that I crave
I can't take it if you see me cry
I long for peace before I die
All I want is to know that you're there
You're gonna give me all your sweet
Mother love ah ha (mother love)

My body's aching, but I can't sleep
My dreams are all the company I keep
Got such a feeling as the sun goes down
I'm coming home to my sweet
Mother love

(Mother love mother love love love love love)
God works in mysterious ways
Eeeeh dop, de dop, dep dop
I think I'm goin' back to the things I learnt so well in my youth

Writer/s: May, Brian Harold / Mercury, Freddie
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Mother Love

This was the last song Freddie Mercury recorded. May explained in the Days of our Lives documentary that "Freddie would say 'give me words, I will sing' so there I was writing on scraps of paper these lines of 'Mother Love.' I would give him a line, he would sing it, then sing it again, then sing it again - so we only had three takes of everything. After he'd finished the second verse, he said 'Oh I don't feel too well, I'm going to go home and we'll finish it tomorrow'... and he never did. That was the last time I saw Freddie in the studio."

The final verse was written and sung by Brian May a couple of years after Mercury died in November 1991.

Roger Taylor is a particular admirer of this song. He notes in the Days of our Lives documentary: "I'm hearing the voice (Freddie's voice) getting... weaker. But I mean he still hits all the notes. There's an absolutely spine-chilling note in the middle of "Mother Love" ("out in the city, in the cold world outside, I don't want pity, just a safe place to hide") which is just a great bit of singing."

The lyrics were co-written by Freddie Mercury and Brian May. It is one of the few times in song that Mercury seems to admit his inner pains and struggles of dealing with AIDS ("I'm a man of the world and they say I am strong, but my heart is heavy and my hope is gone") - the other key one being "The Show Must Go On."

The random bursts of sound throughout the song and the strange end sounds are small segments of every Queen track ever recorded sped very fast through a tape machine and mashed together. They combine at the end with samples of Mercury's famous 'deh-doh!' vocal interludes with the crowd from Live at Wembley 1986, the synth intro to "One Vision," and a sample from his very first single, "Goin' Back" in 1972, which he performed vocals on under the pseudonym of Larry Lurex. In the context of the song it is obviously meant to show the cyclical nature of life and death, and a man looking back across the entire spectrum of his life and career.

Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye

Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Queen II
Released: 1974

Seven Seas of Rhye Lyrics

Open up your mind and let me step inside
Rest your weary head and let your heart decide
It's so easy when you know the rules
It's so easy all you have to do
Is fall in love
Play the game
Everybody play the game of love
Ooh yeah

When you're feeling down and your resistance is low
Light another cigarette and let yourself go
This is your life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game - yeah
Everybody play the game of love
Ooh yeah

My game of love has just begun
Love runs from my head down to my toes
My love is pumping through my veins
Play the game
Driving me insane
Come come come come come play the game
Play the game play the game play the game

Play the game
Everybody play the game of love
This is your life - don't play hard to get
It's a free free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game
Yeah play the game of love
Your life - don't play hard to get
It's a free free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game yeah everybody play the game of love

Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Seven Seas of Rhye

This was Queen's first entry in the UK single chart. Brian May in Q magazine March 2008: "Our first breakthrough, made with the idea that if radio was going to play it, everything had to explode. And it did work."

As the song fades out, part of a British seaside song called "Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside," is sung. (thanks, Tom - Trowbridge, England, for above 2)

Freddie Mercury penned the song basing it on a fantasy world called Rhye that he had created with his sister, Kashmira. They were brought up on the African island of Zanzibar in the Zoroastrianism religion, founded in Iran, and these fuelled Mercury's flights of fancy. Several other of the Queen singer's early songs feature the mysterious land of Rhye, including Lily Of The Valley, My Fairy King and The March Of The Black Queen.

The song's success enabled Mercury to quit his day job working at a stall in London's Kensington Market.

The success of the single earned Queen their first ever appearance on Top of the Pops, the musical variety show that The Beatles, and many other British bands, aspired to be on when they started. Judging by In the Days of our Lives documentary Queen appears to have mixed view on their appearance. Roger Taylor was critical: "There was a strike on at the BBC so we recorded it in the weather studio. It was rubbish, no one actually played, just some aging disc jockeys. And the drums were plastic, so they made this 'dook' noise when you hit them."

Brian May on the other hand was more positive: "it was an exciting experience, because hey here you are on Top of the Pops and it's all happening."

Queen - The Show Must Go On

Queen - The Show Must Go On Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Innuendo
Released: 1991

The Show Must Go On Lyrics

Empty spaces, what are we living for
Abandoned places, I guess we know the score
On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore
The Show Must Go On
The show must go on, yeah
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
I guess I'm learning (I'm learning learning learning)
I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning (turning turning turning)
Round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free
The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah yeah
Ooh, inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

Yeah yeah, whoa wo oh oh

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly, my friends
The show must go on (go on, go on, go on) yeah yeah
The show must go on (go on, go on, go on)
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On, with the show

Ooh, I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the show
On with the show
The show, the show must go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on

Writer/s: TAYLOR, ROGER / DEACON, JOHN / MAY, BRIAN / MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

The Show Must Go On

Guitarist Brian May wrote this while lead singer Freddie Mercury was dying of AIDS. It was Mercury's last official album with Queen, and when it was released, very few people knew he had the disease.

The lyrics are about the need to press on and make the most out of life while you can still enjoy it. It is inevitably a comment on Mercury's worsening condition, and his attitude towards life - May noted his incredible courage in the Days of our Lives documentary. "He never moaned, he never said 'my life is s--t, this is terrible, I hate it,'" said May. "He had an incredible strength and peace."

The song's placing as the final track on Innuendo is notable, as it's likely that the band thought that this might be the last album Mercury would be healthy enough to perform on before his death. In the sessions, he made enough recordings to provide the band with material to release the posthumous 1995 album Made In Heaven.

This was used in the movie Moulin Rouge. It is performed in an operatic style by Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman in a scene that sets up the climax of the movie. (thanks, daphne - Saint John)

In a 2005 poll by digital TV channel Music Choice where 45,000 adults across Europe were asked which song they would like played at their funeral, this was the favorite. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

The video is mainly just clips of old Queen videos and a few live performances, but it is so cleverly edited and spliced together that it works as a video of it's own. (thanks, Mjn Seifer - England)

This song was performed in dramatic style in 1997 with Elton John on guest vocals with an Italian ballet trope. It would be John Deacon's last performance with the band, and last public appearance - he retired from music after the performance.

Queen - One Vision

Queen - One Vision Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: A Kind Of Magic
Released: 1985

One Vision Lyrics

God works in mysterious ways, mysterious ways
Hey, one man one goal ha, one mission
One heart one soul just one solution
One flash of light yeah, one God, One Vision

One flesh one bone
One true religion
One voice one hope
One real decision
Wowowowowowo gimme one vision
Hey

No wrong no right
I'm gonna tell you there's no black and no white
No blood no stain
All we need is one world wide vision

One flesh, One bone
One true religion
One race, One hope
One real decision
Wowowowowo woh yeah oh yeah oh yeah

I had a dream
When I was young
A dream of sweet illusion
A glimpse of hope and unity
And visions of one sweet union
But a cold wind blows
And a dark rain falls
And in my heart it shows
Look what they've done to my dream, yeah

One vision
So give me your hands
Give me your hearts
I'm ready
There's only one direction
One world one nation
Yeah one vision

No hate, No fight
Just excitation
All through the night
It's a celebration
Wowowowowowo yeah
One one one one one one one
One vision hey one vision one vision one vision one vision

One flesh, One bone
One true religion
One voice, One hope
One real decision

Gimme one light, yeah
Gimme one hope, hey
Just gimme, ha
One man one man
One bar one night
One day hey hey
Just gimme gimme gimme gimme
Fried chicken vision vision vision vision vision

Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE/MAY, BRIAN HAROLD/DEACON, JOHN RICHARD
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

One Vision Song Chart

Queen was inspired to write this by their Live Aid appearance in 1985 - millions of people sharing one vision of a better world.

When the band was approached to perform at Live Aid, they were in a rut and reticent to appear. But after their show-stopping performance, they re-entered the studio with renewed energy. They were back in Munich (a place they had previously hit trouble during the Hot Space sessions), but this time spent a lot of time working in the studio, not being distracted by drugs or other distractions - unlike the earlier sessions.

All four band members helped write this. Most Queen songs were written separately, mostly out of a desire to keep writing credits to themselves - Brian May has often hinted in interviews that he was quite possessive of his own songs. But this also made sure their songs didn't all sound alike.

The idea of writing a song together came from Freddie Mercury. He rang the other three members and asked them to come to the studio, where the writing and recording sessions were taped.

The band decided that the song would be credited to all four of them, but it was basically composed by Brian May (chords) and Roger Taylor (lyrics). Freddie Mercury was in charge of production and arrangements, and he polished what the others composed.

This was one of the first times that the band distributed a joint songwriting credit; for their entire career songs had been credited to the original band member who wrote them, even if other band members contributed. For One Vision, the band decided on a joint credit, which would become the norm from next album The Miracle onwards.

The synth part in the intro was played by guitarist Brian May. The weird voice at the start actually says "God moves in mysterious ways," although is often misheard as "on the city streets today." (thanks, Sebas - Tokyo, Japan, for above 3)

The video was the first that Austrian duo The Torpedo Twins directed for Queen. They have worked on many Queen videos since.

In sports videos, this is often used as background music.

This was released as a single before the album was finished.

This was used in the 1986 movie Iron Eagle, starring Louis Gossett, Jr. It was like Top Gun, but not nearly as good.

The final line is an in-joke from Freddie Mercury, where he shouts "Fried chicken!" instead of "one vision." It's likely that this was merely a humorous aside rather than a caustic social commentary.

A documentary was made around the recording of this track, showing the band members working on the song in the studio with producer Mack (who had been working with the band since 1980). It shows the lyrics coming together (Taylor and Mercury discussing various ideas which "won't fit" before coming on "one true religion"), and a hilarious guide vocal take where Mercury sings the alternate lyrics "one dump, one turd, two tits, John Deacon!" in the chorus.

The band were reportedly unhappy with having a documentary crew around, feeling that it forced them to act up to the camera and didn't act naturally as themselves in the studio. Nevertheless, it has been included on many video compilations and the re-release of the A Kind of Magic album.

"One Vision" became the band's de facto opening song for the 1986 Magic tour, agreed by many to be the band's finest ever live shows.

Queen - Play The Game

Queen - Play The Game Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: The Game
Released: 1980

Play The Game Lyrics

Open up your mind and let me step inside
Rest your weary head and let your heart decide
It's so easy when you know the rules
It's so easy all you have to do
Is fall in love
Play The Game
Everybody play the game of love
Ooh yeah

When you're feeling down and your resistance is low
Light another cigarette and let yourself go
This is your life
Don't play hard to get
It's a free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game - yeah
Everybody play the game of love
Ooh yeah

My game of love has just begun
Love runs from my head down to my toes
My love is pumping through my veins
Play the game
Driving me insane
Come come come come come play the game
Play the game play the game play the game

Play the game
Everybody play the game of love
This is your life - don't play hard to get
It's a free free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game
Yeah play the game of love
Your life - don't play hard to get
It's a free free world
All you have to do is fall in love
Play the game yeah everybody play the game of love

Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Play The Game Song Chart

Freddie Mercury wrote this song for his lover Tony Bastin after they broke up. The topic for the song, with the narrator taking the perspective of someone looking back on past memories of an old relationship/former love, is one Mercury would revisit on "It's A Hard Life" (The Works) and "You Don't Fool Me" (a song made up of sections of lyrics Mercury recorded before his death, and included on the posthumous Made in Heaven album in 1995).

All four members of Queen contributed songs, resulting in a constantly changing sound.

The song starts with a series of rushing noises played on an Oberheim OB-X synthesiser. The Game album was a significant turning point for the band - for many years, they proudly noted on their album sleeves that no synthesizers were used on their records - many would assume that to be the case due to the complex instrumentation and sounds the band would achieve via recording tricks and guitar effects/overdubs.

From The Game onwards, the band started to experiment more explicitly with synths, starting with this song and the likes of "Another One Bites The Dust." Session musician Fred Mandel, who played the famous solo in "I Want To Break Free" on a Roland synth keyboard, joked about this in the Days of Our Lives documentary: "The old records used to say prominently 'no synthesizers'. And then I come in like another schmuck and put synthesizers on everything!"

The cover of the single was the first time Mercury displayed his soon-to-be-famous moustache, which would become a huge part of his look for many years - although at the time hardcore Queen fans didn't like the change of image, even going as far as to send him disposable razors to shave it off.

The B-side to the single for "Play The Game" was "A Human Body," one of Queen's rarest compositions for many years - only being available on the original vinyl releases until it was finally included on the Singles Collection Volume 2 and on the bonus disc to the 2011 CD re-issue of The Game.

This song was covered by Jon Brion for the 2005 Queen tribute album Killer Queen. (thanks, Rachel - South Point, OH)

Queen - Radio Ga Ga

Queen - Radio Ga Ga Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: The Works
Released: 1984

Radio Ga Ga Lyrics

Radio, I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio

You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds; invaded by Mars
You made 'em laugh, you made 'em cry
You made us feel like we could fly
Radio

So don't become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio

All we hear is Radio ga-ga
Radio goo-goo
Radio ga-ga
All we hear is Radio ga-ga
Radio blah blah
Radio, what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you

We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
How music changes through the years

Let's hope you never leave, old friend
Like all good things, on you we depend
So stick around because we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio

All we hear is Radio ga-ga
Radio goo-goo
Radio ga-ga
All we hear is Radio ga-ga
Radio goo-goo
Radio ga-ga
All we hear is Radio ga-ga
Radio blah blah
Radio, what's new?
Someone still loves you

Radio ga-ga
Radio ga-ga
Radio ga-ga
Radio

You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio

Writer/s: Taylor, Roger / Aitken, Roger
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Radio Ga Ga Song Chart

Queen drummer Roger Taylor wrote this song. When it charted, all four members of the group had written at least one Top-10 hit.

Roger Taylor wrote this as a critique of radio stations, which were becoming commercialized and playing the same songs over and over (and this was before radio was deregulated, allowing companies to own multiple stations in a market, resulting in more corporate ownership, less competition and generally bad radio).

Taylor claimed that he was inspired to write this after watching MTV. He noticed that lots of kids were watching the channel instead of listening to the radio.

The video is based on the 1926 movie Metropolis, directed by Fritz Lang. Queen had to pay the German government to use clips of it in the video.

An extended version was released as a 12" single at the same time.

Originally, this was "Radio Ca-Ca," which was something Roger Taylor's part-French son Felix exclaimed one day in trying to say the radio was bad ("radio, CACA!). The phrase stuck with Taylor and inspired the anti-commercial radio themes in the lyrics.

Taylor liked the title, but the rest of the group objected and asked for a re-write. As a result, it went from a song condemning radio ("Ca-Ca") to praising it ("Ga Ga"). Interestingly however, even in the final recorded version, the phrase "Ca-Ca" is present - maybe as a compromise for Taylor?

Queen stole the show at Live-Aid when Freddie Mercury, battling laryngitis, got everybody in Wembly Stadium singing the chorus of this song.

The extras in the video got the clapping sequence right on the first try, but it took practice for the members of Queen to get it down. Director David Mallet was surprised the extras picked up the routine so easily, considering they'd never heard the song, which hadn't been released yet. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

The rock band Electric Six recorded this on their 2005 album Señor Smoke. In the video, their lead singer Dick Valentine is shown as the ghost of Freddie Mercury appearing in front of his grave, which caused controversy amongst Queen fans. Valentine was quick to stress that it was meant in tribute, not to denigrate the group - the band were massive Queen fans. (thanks, Logan - Troy, MT)

Lady Gaga took her name from this song. Born Stefani Germanotta, she started using the moniker when she needed a stage name. Who came up with the name is a matter of dispute, as her former producer Rob Fusari claims that he originated it, while the singer says it was given to her by her co-workers in her burlesque days.

When director David Mallet was coming up with the concept for the music video, he wanted to stray from the usual performance pieces full of guitar solos and drum fills. "And even [guitarist] Brian May agreed to that," Mallet told the documentary series Video Killed the Radio Star. Freddie Mercury suggested the Metropolis concept, but Mallet wanted to make sure the band still played a key role in the clip. "So we built that funny car and them flying through the air, and used the wide shots from Metropolis ... All I was trying to do is find some way of fitting Metropolis into a different setting, and I thought, what if we make the whole video a period - wartime, for instance, or semi-wartime, and it would tie it all together. And it did."

Some critics feel the choreography in the hand-clapping scene is a reference to Nazis, an idea that Mallet dismisses: "It didn't really have any bearing on Nazi rallies at all." Roger Taylor added: "That section was meant to sort of portray the mind control of the workers in the movie Metropolis."

Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: The Game
Released: 1979

Crazy Little Thing Called Love Lyrics

This thing called love, I just can't handle it
This thing called love, I must get round to it
I ain't ready
Crazy Little Thing Called Love

This thing (this thing)
Called love (called love)
It cries (like a baby)
In a cradle all night
It swings (woo woo)
It jives (woo woo)
It shakes all over like a jelly fish
I kinda like it
Crazy little thing called love

There goes my baby
She knows how to rock 'n' roll
She drives me crazy
She gives me hot and cold fever
Then she leaves me in a cool cool sweat

I gotta be cool, relax, get hip
And get on my track's
Take a back seat, hitch-hike
And take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I'm ready
Crazy little thing called love

I gotta be cool, relax, get hip
And get on my track's
Take a back seat (ah hum), hitch-hike (ah hum)
And take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I'm ready (ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love

This thing called love, I just can't handle it
This thing called love, I must get round to it
I ain't ready
Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Crazy little thing called love
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah

Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Crazy Little Thing Called Love Song Chart

Freddie Mercury wrote this while Queen were recording The Game in Germany. He wrote it while taking a bubble bath in his room at the Munich Hilton. Peter Hince, the head of Queen's road crew, recalled to Mojo magazine September 2009: "The idea for the song came to him while he was in the bath. He emerged, wrapped in a towel, I handed him the guitar and he worked out the chords there and then. Fred had this knack of knowing a great pop song."

Freddie acknowledged that perhaps his limited talent on the guitar helped shape the song: "'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' took me five or ten minutes. I did that on the guitar, which I can't play for nuts, and in one way it was quite a good thing because I was restricted, knowing only a few chords. It's a good discipline because I simply had to write within a small framework. I couldn't work through too many chords and because of that restriction I wrote a good song, I think."

This sounded a lot more like Elvis Presley than Queen. It was a different sound for the group, but their fans loved it.

This was the first song on which Freddie Mercury played rhythm guitar. He was keen to keep the song minimal, despite his limited guitar knowledge, and producer Mack claimed that he rushed into the studio to record it "before Brian could get there!"

He also played the guitar solo on the original recording, but the tapes were lost so Brian May played the solo instead, using a Fender Telecaster to achieve the period sound. May didn't seem to like playing another guitar, and even when playing live, after performing the solo on the Telecaster he would immediately switch back to his Red Special.

At first, this was not released in the US. Since the album was not out yet, radio stations there started playing import copies of the single. This led Queen's record company to release it in America, about 3 months after it came out in England.

Mercury's name is in the lyrics. He sings, "Are you ready," and the band sings, "Ready Freddie."

This section took on a poignant edge after Mercury's death when the song was performed with guest singers, as the lyric was never altered regardless of the vocalist. Fans would take this opportunity to bellow the 'Ready, Freddie!' lyric back at the band in remembrance of the singer.

On stage, this was an important part of the show. Brian May often used three different guitars during the song: the first verse was played by Freddie alone with his guitar, then Brian joined with another Ovation Acoustic; before the third verse he had already switched to a Telecaster on which he performed the solo. During the singalong part (famous for its "ready Freddie" line) Brian again changed instruments to his homemade Red Special. From 1984 onwards Mercury replaced the acoustic with another Telecaster.

The single was very successful for the band, hitting #2 in the UK and becoming their first US #1 hit, There's an unconfirmed legend (commented on by Roger Taylor on the radio show In The Studio, and by Brian May on his website) that declares John Lennon was inspired by this song to go back to the music business. Whether it's true or false is still unknown, but it is a fact that Lennon listened to Queen and he did try new influences on his Double Fantasy album. (thanks, Sebas - Tokyo, Japan, for above 2)

Josh Kelley recorded this for the 2005 Queen tribute album Killer Queen. (thanks, Rachel - South Point, OH)

Queen - Bicycle Race

Queen - Bicycle Race Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Jazz
Released: 1978

Bicycle Race Lyrics

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like

You say black I say white
You say bark I say bite
You say shark I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
You say Rolls I say Royce
You say God give me a choice
You say Lord I say Christ
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is

Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my
Bicycle Races are coming your way
So forget all your duties oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls
They'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties oh yeah
On your marks, get set, go!
Bicycle race bicycle race bicycle race
Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
Bicycle bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want a bicycle race

Hey
You say coke I say caine
You say John I say Wayne
Hot dog I say cool it man
I don't wanna be the President of America
You say smile I say cheese
Cartier I say please
Income tax I say Jesus
I don't want to be a candidate for
Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I wanna do is

Bicycle (yeah) bicycle (eh) bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle (c'mon) bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like

Writer/s: MERCURY, FREDDIE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Bicycle Race Song Chart

Freddie Mercury wrote this in France after watching the Tour de France bicycle race ride by his hotel. The band were recording Jazz in the French countryside mainly as a tax break - Roger Taylor claimed in the Days of our Lives documentary that they were being taxed as much as 98% on royalties on previous albums, hence why they defected to France and later Montreux in Switzerland to record future albums.

This was released as a double A-side single with "Fat Bottomed Girls." They ran back to back on the album, and many radio stations played them together. The "Fat Bottomed Girls" are mentioned in this song's lyrics.

Wherever Queen played, bicycle shops sold out of bells bought by fans who brought them to the show to ring them during this song.

Queen staged a bicycle race around Wimbledon stadium in England to promote the single. 65 professional models were hired to race nude, with special effects hiding the nudity in the original video; a photo from the race was used on the cover of the single and images from the race were used for the video.

Queen rented 65 bicycles for the race. When the company found out what they were used for, they refused to take the bikes back unless the band paid for new seats.

The album contained a poster of the women in the bicycle race. It was left out of some copies for stores that did not want to carry it, but fans could mail order the poster if they desired. A bikini bottom was digitally added to the cover of the single, and on some US releases a bra was also added.

At a 1978 concert in Madison Square Garden, Queen re-created the video by having women with very little clothing ride bicycles around the stage.

Queen had a lot of success the year before with another double A-side, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions."

Be Your Own Pet covered this for the 2005 Queen tribute album Killer Queen. (thanks, Rachel - South Point, OH)

The song features surprisingly complex instrumentation, and the Jazz album as a whole perhaps represents the apex of Queen's experimentation. It features an imaginative solo played exclusively on bicycle bells, unusual chord progressions, shifts in time signature (from 4/4 to 6/8) and a whole host of pop culture references in the lyrics, including mentions of religion, the Watergate scandal, drugs, Jaws, Star Wars and Frankenstein.

Queen - Tie Your Mother Down

Queen - Tie Your Mother Down Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: A Day At The Races
Released: 1976

Tie Your Mother Down Lyrics

Ooh, ooh yeah, ooooh yeah
Get your party gown
Get your pigtail down
Get your heart beatin' baby
Got my timin' right
Got my act all tight
It's gotta be tonight my little
School babe

Your Mamma says you don't
Your Daddy says you won't
And I'm boilin' up inside
Ain't no way I'm gonna lose out this time - oh no

Tie Your Mother Down
Tie your mother down
Lock your daddy out of doors
I don't need him nosin' around
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight

You're such a dirty louse
Go get outta my house
That's all I ever get from your
Family ties, in fact I don't think I ever heard
A single little civil word from those guys
But you know I don't give a light
I'm gonna make out all right
I've got a sweetheart hand
To put a stop to all that
Snipin' an' grousin' goin' on all night

Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Take your little brother swimmin'
With a brick (that's all right)
Tie your mother down - yeah yeah
Tie your mother down
Or you ain't no friend of mine - ooh no friend of mine -
No no, ow, yeah, bad guy

Ooh, your Mammy and your Daddy gonna
Plague me till I die
They can't understand it, I'm just a
Peace lovin' guy

Ooh, tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Get that big big big big big big daddy out of doors
Tie your mother down - yeah
Tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight
All your love tonight

Give me every inch of your love - ooh
All your love tonight
Yeah, gotta get my timin' right hey
Ooh, all your love
Tie your mother down

Writer/s: MAY, BRIAN
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Tie Your Mother Down Song Chart

Queen guitarist Brian May wrote this song. In a 1976 interview on Capital Radio, Freddie Mercury was asked "why tie your mother down?" The Queen frontman replied: "Well this one in fact is a track written by Brian (May) actually, I dunno why. Maybe he was in one of his vicious moods. I think he's trying to out do me after 'Death On Two Legs' actually."

The video, which is comprised of concert footage of the band, was shot in Nassau Coliseum in Long Island during Queen's 1977 US tour. Queen discovered the power of music videos two years earlier when TV shows started playing the video they made for "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Brian May clearly has a lot of affection for this song - it was included in the setlist of almost all Queen shows, as well as his solo tours in the 1990s, the reunited Queen + (Paul Rogers and Adam Lambert) tours, and even on his various performances with Kerry Ellis. On the Acoustic by Candlelight tour with Ellis, he performed a slowed-down, Country-style version of the song to better fit the acoustic performance.

If Brian May and occasionally Roger Taylor guest with other bands, this is commonly the song May will play with the band - they have performed it numerous times with the Foo Fighters and The Darkness.

Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen performed this when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins from The Foo Fighters played with them.

After Freddie Mercury died of AIDS in 1991, a concert was held in his honor in Wembley Stadium in London. At the show, Joe Elliott from Def Leppard sang this with Slash from Guns N' Roses on guitar. The concert drew 72,000 fans and raised money to fight AIDS.

Queen commonly used explosions for effect during live and video performances of this song. During the video shoot, Roger Taylor was blown off his stool and off the stage due to an explosion placed in a bucket on his riser. While watching certain versions of the video you can see the part cut out, where Freddie turns around to face the back of the stage almost immediately. The recording had to be stopped for a moment because Roger was on the floor. Luckily, he was fine, though Brian May states clearly in video commentary, "Nearly killed Roger, it has to be said!" (thanks, Lorena - Miami, FL)

This song was covered by Shinedown for the 2005 Queen tribute album Killer Queen. (thanks, Rachel - South Point, OH)

Guns N' Roses has covered this song live with guitarist Brian May in concert. (thanks, Jonathon - Clermont, FL)

In the documentary Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story, we learn that his close circle of male friends all had female nicknames, and Freddie's was mother. (thanks, Becky - Locust Grove, GA)

On the TV show Al Murray's Happy Hour, on each episode a band would appear and have to cover a Queen song in the outro of the show. The Welsh rock band Stereophonics chose this song to perform, with vocalist Kelly Jones singing the chorus hook and guitarist Adam Zidani handling the rest of the vocals. Pretty good version it is too!