1. Death On Two Legs(Dedicated To...)
2. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon
3. I'm In Love With My Car
4. You're My Best Friend
5. 39'
6. Sweet Lady
7. Seaside Rendezvous
8. The Prophet's Song
9. Love Of My Life
10. Good Company
11. Bohemian Rhapsody
12. God Save The Queen
Recorded August to November 1975 at Sarm, Roundhouse, Olympic, Rockfield, Scorpio and Lansdowne Studios After the huge sucess of 'Sheer
Heart Attack' Queen went back to the studios knowing that there was going to be
a lot of expectation for their next album. The recording sessions were made in
different studios, sometimes with one member of the band playing on his own.
Queen already gained a lot of popularity
on the last year, but seems to be like that wasn't enough for them. They wanted
to inmortalize themselves because they were concerned of how much talent they had,
and that was the reason why 'A Night At The Opera' is one of the best albums ever...
Of course there was a song called 'Bohemian Rhapsody' that had a lot to do with that.
UK release: 21st November 1975
Highest Chart Position: 1 (50 weeks on chart)
Award status: Platinum
USA release: 2nd December 1975
Highest Chart Position: 4 (56 weeks on chart)
Highest Japanese Chart Position: 9 (52 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 1
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen
Engineered by Mike Stone and Gary Lyons
Cover Concept by Freddie
Death On Two Legs(Dedicated to...)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
One of Queen most controversial songs. The song is dedicated to Jack Nelson, one of Queen's first managers when they had a deal with Trident. Nelson according to Freddie, stole a lot money from Queen, and then fleed to the United States leaving the band with a lot of debts. On the Live Killers video you can hear Freddie saying; -"This song is dedicated to a motherf@cker of a gentleman".
You suck my blood like a leech, you break the law and you preach
Screw my brain till it hurts, you've taken all my money
And you want more...
Misguided old mule with your pig headed rules
With your narrow minded cronies, who are fools of the first division
Death on two legs, you're tearing me apart
Death on two legs, you've never had a heart of your own
Kill joy, bad guy, big talking, small fry
You're just an old barrow boy
have you found a new toy to replace me? Can you face me?
But now you can kiss my ass goodbye
Feel good, are you satisfied? Do you feel like, suicide?(I think you should)
Is your conscience all right Does it plague you at night?
Do you feel good feel good?
You talk like a big business tycoon, you're just a hot air balloon
So no-one gives you a damn, you're just an overgrown schoolboy
Let me tan your hide
A dog with disease, you're the king of the 'sleaze'
Put your money where your mouth is, mister know-all
Was the fin on your back part of the deal? (Shark)
Death on two legs, you're tearing me apart
Death on two legs, You've never had a heart (you never did)
of your own (Right from the start)
Insane you should be put inside
You're a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride
Should be made unemployed, then make yourself null and void
Make me feel good I feel good
Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Another old fashioned styled song by Freddie.
I go out to work on Monday morning
Tuesday I go off to honeymoon
I'll be back again before it's time for sunnydown
I'll be lazing on a Sunday afternoon
Bicycling on every Wednesday evening
Thursday I go waltzing to the Zoo
I come from London town , I'm just an ordinary guy
Fridays I go painting in the Louvre
I'm bound to be proposing on a Saturday night (There he goes again)
I'll be lazing on a Sunday, lazing on a Sunday
Lazing on a Sunday afternoon
I'm In Love With My Car
Words and music by Roger Taylor
This is a song that shows Roger's great passion for cars. It's dedicated to John Harris, one of Queen's early roadies.The 'Jazz' album is also dedicated to him.
The machine of a dream, such a clean machine
With the pistons a pumping, and the hub caps all gleam
When I'm holding your wheel, all I hear is your gear
When my hand's on your grease gun, Oh it's like a disease son
I'm in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile
Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar, such a thrill when your radials squeal
Told my girl I'll have to forget her, rather buy me a new carburetor
So she made tracks saying, this is the end now
Cars don't talk back, they're just four wheeled friends now
When I'm holding your wheel, all I hear is your gear
When I'm cruising in overdrive
Don't have to listen to no run of the mill talk jive
I'm in love with my car, gotta feel for my automobile
I'm in love with my car, string back gloves in my automolove
You're My Best Friend
Words and music by John Deacon
Released on May 18th 1976
Highest UK Chart Position: 7 (8 weeks on chart)
Highest USA Chart Position: 16
Highest Australian Chart Position: 35 (4 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 9 (8 weeks on chart)
Highest Japanese Chart Position: 90 (4 weeks on chart)
John: electric piano
First Queen single written by John. This is a very nice tune that John made for his best friend, and wife, Veronica.
Oooh you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me, It's you, you're all I see
Oooh you make me live now honey, Oooh you make me live
Oh you're the best friend that I ever had,
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine and I want you to know
That my feelings are true, I really love you
Oh you're my best friend, Oooh you make me live
Oh I've been wandering round, but I still come back to you
In rain or shine, you've stood by me girl
I'm happy at home, you're my best friend
Oooh you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me, I got you to help me forgive
Oooh you make me live now honey, Oooh you make me live
You're the first one, when things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely, you're my only one
And I love the things, I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend, Oooh you make me live
I'm happy at home, You're my best friend
Oh you're my best friend, Oooh you make me live
You're my best friend
39'
Words and music by Brian May
This is a nice folked styled ballad written by Brian. It has a lot to be with astrology, which was Brian's major before turning into music. The idea might have come from the short story 'The Poet' by Herman Hesse from the collection "Strange News From Another Star". 39' is a beautiful song although it's kinda hard to understand it's meaning.
In the year of thirty-nine' assembled here the volunteers
In the days when lands were few
Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
The sweetest sight ever seen.
and the night followed day, and the story tellers say
That the score brave souls inside
For many a lonely day sailed across the milky seas
Never looked back, never feared, never cried
Don't you hear my call, though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you, write your letters in the sand
For the day I'll take your hand, in the land that our grand-children knew
In the year of thirty-nine', came a ship from the blue
The volunteers came home that day, and they bring good news
Of a world so newly born, though their hearts so heavily weigh
For the earth is old and grey, little darling we'll away
But my love this cannot be...
Oh so many years have gone, though I'm older than a year
Your mothers eyes from your eyes cry to me
Don't you hear my call, though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand, for the day I'll take your hand
In the land that our grand-children knew
Don't you hear my call, though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you, all your letters in the sand
Cannot heal me like your hand, for my life still ahead... pity me
Sweet Lady
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
This is some kind of love/hate song with a heavy taste
You call me up, and treat me like a dog
You call me up, and tear me up inside
You've got me on a lead, Oooh you bring me down
you shout around, You don't believe that I'm alone
Oooh you don't believe me
Sweet lady, sweet lady
Sweet lady... stay sweet
You say, you call me up and feed me all the lines
You call me sweet like I'm some kind of cheese
Waiting on the shelf
You eat me up, you hold me down
I'm just a fool to make you a home
Oooh you really, do and you say
Sweet lady, sweet lady
Sweet lady, oooh c'mon... stay sweet
My sweet lady, though it seems like we wait for ever
Stay sweet baby, believe and we've got everything we need
Sweet lady, sweet lady, sweet lady... stay sweet
Stay sweet, sweet lady
Oh runaway come on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sweet lady
Seaside Rendezvous
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
This is a song with a lot of french on it, but that's exactly what gives that romantic touch, since most people think that french is the language of love. Freddie must be very inspired when writing this song, and after having it all done... VOILA! Ces't Seaside Rendezvous.
Seaside, whenever you stroll along with me
I'm merely contemplating what you feel inside
Meanwhile I ask you to be my Clementine
You say you will if you could but you can't
I love you madly
Let my imagination (run away) with you gladly
A brand new angle highly commendable
Seaside rendezvous
I feel so romantic can we do it again?
Can we do it again sometime, (I'd like that)
Fantastic, c'est la vie mesdames et messieurs
And at the peak of the season
The Mediterranean (this time of year) it's so fashionable.
I feel like dancing in the rain Can I have a volunteer?
(Just keep right on dancing) What a damn jolly good idea
It's such a jollification as a matter of fact
So 'tres charmant' my dear
Underneath the moonlight, together we'll sail across the sea
Reminiscing every night, meantime I ask you to be my Valentine
You say you'd have to tell your daddy if you can
I'll be your Valentino, we'll ride upon an omnibus and then the casino
Get a new facial start a sensational Seaside rendezvous (so adorable)
Seaside rendezvous (oooh), Seaside rendezvous
Give us a kiss!
The Prophet's Song
Words and music by Brian May
Toy koto, Brian May
If you thought that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was the only masterpiece in this album, you were wrong. The Prophet's Song is one of those tunes that could only be made only one band in the world, and Queen knew nobody could ever imitate that kind of chorus. Similar to the opera section in 'Bohemian Rhapsody', this song was made by a cappella chorus layers put one after the other in a recording studio.
Oh oh people of the earth, listen to the warning the seer he said
Beware the storm that gathers here, listen to the wise man
I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair, spreading his hand to the multitude there
A man who cried for a love gone stale, and ice cold hearts of charity bare
I watched as fear took the old man's gaze, hopes of the young in troubled graves
'I see no day' I heard him say, so grey is the face of every mortal
Oh oh people of the earth! 'Listen to the warning' the prophet he said
For soon the cold of night will fall, Summoned by your own hand
Ah ah children of the land, quicken to the new life take my hand
Fly and find the new green bough, return like the white dove
He told of death as a bone white haze, taking the lost and the unloved babes
Late too late all the wretches run, these kings of beasts now counting their days
From mother's love is the son estranged, married his own his precious gain
The earth will shake in two will break, and death all round will be your dowry
Oh oh people of the earth, listen to the warning the seer he said
For those who hear and mark my words, Listen to the good plan
Oh oh oh oh, and two by two, my human zoo, (they'll be)
Running for to come, running for to come, out of the rain
Oh flee for your lives who heed me not, let all your treasures make
Oh you fear for your life, deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you...
Ah people can you hear me?
And now I know, and now I know
And now I know, and now I know
That you can hear me
And now I know and now I know
And now I know now I know
Now I know, now I know
Now I know, now I know
Now I know
The earth will shake, in two will break
Death all around, around, around, around
Around, around, around, around
Now I know, now I know
Now I know, now I know
Now I know, now I know
Now I know, now I know
Now I know, now I know
Now I know
Wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo
Listen to the wise, listen to the wise, listen to the wise
Listen to the wise, listen to the wise, man
La, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la
La, la
La, la
Come here, I hear you
Come here, I hear you
Come here, I hear you
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Listen to the man, listen to the man, listen to the man, listen to the mad man
God gave you grace to purge this place
And peace all around may be your fortune
Oh oh children of the land, love is still the answer take my hand
The vision fades a voice I hear, listen to the madman!
But still I fear and still I dare not, laugh at the madman!
Love Of My Life
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Released on June 29th 1979
Harp by Brian
Highest UK Chart Position: 63 (2 weeks on chart)
Highest Brazilian Chart Position: 1 (52 weeks on chart)
Highest Argentinian Chart Position: 1
'Love Of My Life' is one of Queen's softest and most famous ballads. Although it wasn't very successful in Europe as a single, it had quite a lot of radio airplay. The song was number one in different countries in South America, and it's so popular there that when Queen had their first South American tour, the whole crowd chanted the complete song, even though english wasn't their language.
Love of my life, you've hurt me
You've broken my heart, and now you leave me
Love of my life, can't you see...
Bring it back, bring it back, don't take it away from me
Because you don't know, what it means to me
Love of my life, don't leave me
You've taken my love, you now desert me
Love of my life can't you see...
Bring it back bring it back, don't take it away from me
Because you don't know, what it means to me
You will remember, when this is blown over
And everything's all by the way
When I grow older I will be there at your side to remind you
How I still love you (I still love you)
Back hurry back, please bring it back home to me
Because you don't know, what it means to me
Love of my life, Love of my life, Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, Ooh
Good Company
Words and music by Brian May
Brian May: genuine aloha ukelele (made in Japan) and guitar jazz band
Here's Queen showing again that they weren't just a rock band. In this song they adopt a Hawaiian style, which gives 'Good Company' a nice moving taste.
Take good care of what you've got, my father said to me
As he puffed his pipe and baby B, He dandled on his knee
Don't fool with fools who'll turn away, Keep all good company
Oohoo oohoo
Take care of those you call your own and keep good company
Soon I grew and happy too, my very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J, the girl from number four
And very soon I begged her, won't you keep me company?
Oohoo oohoo, oohoo oohoo, come marry me for evermore
We'll be good company
Now marriage is an institution sure
My wife and I our needs and nothing more
All my friends by a year, by and by, disappeared
But we're safe enough behind our door
I flourished in my humble trade my reputation grew
The work devoured my waking hours but when my time was through
Reward of all my efforts, my own Limited Company
I hardly noticed Sally as we parted company
All through the years in the end it appears
There was never really anyone but me
Now I'm old I puff my pipe but no-one's there to see
I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
Bohemian Rhapsody
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Released on October 31st 1975
Operatic vocals: Roger, Brian and Freddie
Highest UK Chart Position: 1 - for 9 weeks (17 weeks on chart)
Highest USA Chart Position: 9
Highest Australian Chart Position: 1 - for 2 weeks (23 weeks on chart)
Highest Japanese Chart Position: 48 (19 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 1 - for 3 weeks (13 weeks on chart)
1991 'Freddie Tribute' reissue & 1992 'Wayne's Worls reissue'
Highest UK Chart Position: 1 - for 5 weeks (14 weeks on chart)
Highest Australian Chart Position: 5 (14 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 2 (11 weeks on chart)
Highest USA Chart Position: 2 (17 weeks on chart)
There are so many things to say about this song, that I could make an entire home page like this talking just about it, but I want to be as brief as possible. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is if not the best, at least one of the best songs of all time. Just check all those polls that are being made to choose the best song of the century, and you will find out that 'Bo Rap' has a very high place on them. This is the song that inmortalized Queen, and wherever you are, you will always listen to it.
Is this the real life, is this just fantasy
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes , look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go, little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me
...to me
Mama, just killed a man, put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama oooh... Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come, sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama oooh (any way the wind blows)
I don't want to die, I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, scaramouche, will you do the Fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening me
Galileo (Galileo)
Galileo (Galileo)
Galileo figaro (Magnifico)
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go, will you let me go
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go, let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go, let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go, let me go
Will not let you go, let me go
Will not let you go let me go
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby, can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here
Nothing really matters, anyone can see
Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me
Any way the wind blows....
God Save The Queen
Music by Henry Carey
Arranged by Brian May
The only song that wasn't written by any of the members of the band to be featured on an studio album. This song shows the patriotism and pride that Queen had for their homeland and made an excellent finale for every Queen gig since 'A Night At The Opera'
