A Night At The Opera
(Later released on the
DVD-Audio
format and later reissued as a 30th
Anniversary CD & DVD set.
See also the 2006 DVD 'The
Making Of 'A Night At The Opera'')
Released 21 November 1975, reached no 1, on chart for 50 weeks, achieved Platinum status
Album Length 43:11
Death On Two Legs | Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon | I'm In Love With My Car | You're My Best Friend | '39 | Sweet Lady | Seaside Rendezvous | The Prophet's Song | Love Of My Life | Good Company | Bohemian Rhapsody | God Save The Queen
The Hollywood Records 1991 remaster also adds I'm In Love With My Car (1991 Remix) and You're My Best Friend (1991 Remix).
Produced by Queen and
Roy Thomas Baker
Engineered by Mike Stone with additional engineering by Gary
Lyons
Recorded at Sarm, Roundhouse, Olympic, Rockfield, Scorpio and
Lansdowne Studios, August - November 1975
Mixed at Sarm Studios
Cast: Freddie Mercury: vocals, vocals, Bechstein Debauchery and
more vocals
Brian May: guitars and orchestral backdrops
Roger Taylor: percussion
John Deacon: electric bass
Equipment supervision - John Harris
Art direction - David Costa
Special thanks to Rick Curtin & Brian Palmer
No synthesisers!
Original sound recordings made by Queen in 1974
All titles composed, arranged and performed exclusively by Queen
Singles: (first two singles are on 'Greatest Hits')
Download Singles:
Death
On Two Legs (Dedicated
To....)
Track 1. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 3:43
Alternate Versions: (The Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. The Eye Version 1 (0:38) (on 'The Eye' disc 5) (in
'The Final Domain') (a straight edit upto the piano start)
2. The Eye Version 2 (3:05) (on
'The Eye' disc 5) (an instrumental
version, from 0:39 onwards) (click
here for lyrics)
3. The Eye Version 3 (0:19) (on
'The Art Of Queen The Eye' CD-Rom only) (an
edit of 0:10 to 0:28, mixed with a Freddie Singalong) (click here
for details)
4. Live Version (3:22) (on 'Live Killers', from Europe 1979) (click here for lyrics)
5. Demo Excerpt (possibly) (0:38) (on the 30th Anniversary DVD,
on the second menu) (similar to the first 0:16 of the track, but
has a slightly different sound and continues after the guitar
normally starts, so could possibly be from a demo or earlier
take)
Lyrics:
Ahhhhh
You suck my blood like a leach
You break the law and you breach
Screw my brain till it hurts
You've taken all my money, and you want more
Misguided old mule
With your pigheaded rules
With your narrow-minded cronies who are fools of the first
division
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart, ooh
Death on two legs
You 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 alright
Does it plague you at night
Do you feel good, feel good?
Ahhhhh
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 school boy
Let me tan your hide
Dog with disease
You're the king of the sleaze
Put your money where you mouth is Mr Know - all
Was the fin on your back part of the deal (shark)
Death on two legs
Tearing me apart, ooh
Death on two legs
You never had a heart (you never did) of your own (right from the
start)
Insane, should be put inside
You're a sewer-rat decaying in a cess-pool of pride
Should be made unemployed
Make yourself null and void
Make me feel good
I feel good
Lazing
On A Sunday Afternoon
Track 2. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 1:07
Lyrics: (The Surround Sound Mix details
can be found here)
I go out to work on Monday morning
Tuesday I go off to honeymoon
I'll be back again before it's time for sunny down
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 (yeah)
Lazing on a Sunday (ooooh)
Lazing on a Sunday (ooooh, Sunday) afternoon
I'm
In Love With My Car
Track 3. Written by Roger Taylor. Album Version 3:05
The album version starts with drums, and ends with engine noises
and guitar.
Please note the UK 3" CD of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' has the
normal album version.
Roger Taylor sings the lead vocal
Additional Assistance:
Mike Shipley (Hollywood Records Remix)
Alternate
Versions: (The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. Single Version (3:10) (on the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' 7" or
Japanese 3" CD) (adds engine noises at start, but loses the
guitar/engines at end)
2. Hollywood Records Remix (3:28) (only on the US Remaster) (with additional percussion and an 'a-capella'
intro) (click here
for lyrics)
3. Queen Rocks Version (3:11) (adds engine noises to the start,
and retains the guitar/engines at end)
4. DVD-Audio Instrumental Excerpt (0:51) (on the 'Stereo Credits'
page) (a unique instrumental version of 1:47 to 2:39, fading in
over a second and out over 7 seconds.)
5. Live Version 1 (1:59) (on 'Live Killers', recorded in Europe
in 1979) (click here
for lyrics)
6. Live Version 2 (1:59) (on the 'We Will Rock You' video and the
'Queen Rock Montreal' album/DVD, from Montreal 1981) (click here for lyrics)
7. Live Version 3 (3:09) (on 'The Official Bootleg' only;
performed by The Cross and Brian May in London 1990) (click here for lyrics)
8. Live Version 4 Excerpt (0:34) (on 'The Making Of 'A Night At
The Opera'', used on the menus, this is basically the first 34
seconds of a live performance from 1978, including the first
three lines of lyrics)
9. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 1 (3:12) (an official
download, recorded in Barcelona on 2 April 2005; lead vocals by
Roger Taylor) (click here for lyrics)
10. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (3:29) (an official
download, recorded in Newcastle on 3 May 2005; lead vocals by
Roger Taylor) (click here for lyrics)
11. Queen + Paul Rodgers
Live Version 3 (3:23) (on 'Return Of The Champions', recorded in
Sheffield on 9 May 2005; lead vocals by Roger Taylor) (click here for lyrics)
12. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4 (3:13) (on 'Super Live In
Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005; lead vocals by
Roger Taylor) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics:
Ooohhh
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
With my hand 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'd have to forget her
Rather buy me a new carburettor
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 (love with my, love with my car)
Gotta feel for my automobile
I'm in love with my car (love with my, love with my car)
String back gloves in my automolove
You're
My Best Friend
Track 4. Written by John Deacon. Album Version 2:50
John Deacon plays Electric Piano
Additional Assistance:
Matt Wallace (Hollywood Records Remix)
Alternate
Versions: (The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. Hollywood Records Remix (2:50) (only
on the US Remaster) (original
version with additional percussion) (click here for lyrics)
2. Instrumental Version (2:50) (on the Japanese Karaoke CD or
Video only) (instrumental) (click here
for lyrics)
3. Live Version (1:59) (on 'Live Killers', from Europe 1979) (click here for lyrics)
4. Menu Excerpt (0:32) (on the
'Making Of A Night At The Opera' DVD) (a straight edit of the
start of the track, fading in over the first 2 seconds and fading
out from 0:30 to 0:32)
Lyrics:
(the Menu Excerpt contains all lyrics upto and including
"oooh, you're the best friend")
Oooh, you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you, you're all that I see
Oooh, you make me live now honey
Oooh, you make me live
Oooh, 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 (oooh)
Oh, you're my best friend
Oooh, you make me live
Oh, I've been wondering round
Still come back to you (still come back to you)
In rain or shine
You've stood by me girl
I'm happy at home (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 (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Oooh, you make me live now honey
Oooh, you make me live
Oh, 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
Oh, you're my best friend
Oooh, you make me live, live, live, live
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend, oh
Oh, you're my best friend
Ooh, you make me live (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Ooh, you're my best friend
'39
Track 5. Written by Brian May. Album Version 3:31
Brian May sings lead vocal, and John Deacon plays Double Bass
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. Live Version 1 (3:07) (on 'Live
Killers', from Europe 1979) (click
here for lyrics)
2. Live Version 2 (1:43) (on 'The Freddie Mercury Tribute
Concert', lead vocals by George Michael)
(click here
for lyrics)
3. Live Version 3 (0:33) (on 'Live At Brixton Academy'; only the
chorus is performed) (click here
for lyrics)
4. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live
Version 1 (2:50) (an official download, recorded in Leipzig on 17
April 2005; performed by Brian May) (click here for lyrics)
5. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (1:49) (an official
download, recorded in Rotterdam on 26 April 2005; performed by
Brian May) (click here for lyrics)
6. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (2:44) (on 'Return Of The
Champions', recorded in Sheffield on 9 May 2005; performed by
Brian May) (click here for lyrics)
7. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4 (1:46) (on 'Super Live In
Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005; performed by Brian
May) (click here
for lyrics)
8. Menu Excerpt (0:30) (on the 'Making Of A Night At The Opera'
DVD) (a straight edit from 1:32 to 1:59, fading in over a second
and out over 3 seconds, containing 'ahhh' backing vocals only)
9. Acoustic Performance by Brian May (2:47) (on the 'Making Of A
Night At The Opera' DVD) (a new acoustic performance featuring
just Brian; lyrics are almost identical to the album version)
(click here
for lyrics)
Lyrics:
In the year of '39 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
Um, 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 take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew
In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue
The volunteers came home that day
And they bring good news of a world so newly born
Though their hearts so heavenly weigh
For the earth is old and grey, little darling went away
But my love this cannot be
For so many years have gone though I'm older but 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 take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren 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
Track 6. Written by Brian May. Album Version 4:02
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. The Eye Version (1:01) (on 'The Eye' disc 2) (a
straight edit of the first 56 seconds, ending on an echoed drum
'roll') (click here
for lyrics)
2. DVD-Audio Instrumental Excerpt
(1:29) (on the 'DVD Credits' page) (a unique instrumental version
of 2:31 onwards, starting instantly and fading normally)
3. Live Version (3:45) (on the 'Making Of A Night At The Opera'
DVD, recorded in Hyde Park 1976) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics:
Ooh, I like it
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
Ooh, you bring me down
You shout around
You don't believe that I'm alone
Ooh, you don't believe me
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Sweet lady, sweet lady, ooh 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
Ooh, you really do me
When you say
Sweet lady, sweet lady
Sweet lady, sweet lady
Sweet lady, ooh come on, stay sweet
Ooh, stay around
My sweet lady, though it seems like we wait forever (ooohh)
Stay sweet baby
Believe and we've got everything we need
Ooh, oooh, yeah
Got everything we need, ha
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Sweet lady, ooh, stay sweet
Stay sweet
Oh, run away, come on
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sweet lady
Woh
Seaside
Rendezvous
Track 7. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 2:13
Roger Taylor provides 'Vocal Orchestration of Brass', whilst
Freddie Mercury provides 'Vocal Orchestration of Woodwind'
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. DVD-Audio Instrumental
Excerpt (0:29) (on the 'Album Credits' page) (an excerpt of the
album version from 0:52 to 1:19, losing the vocal at the start
and end)
Lyrics:
Seaside - whenever you stroll along with me
I'm merely contemplating what you feel inside
Ooh, ooh, ooh
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
A highly commendable
Seaside rendezvous
Feel so romantic - can we do it again
Can we do it again sometime (ooh 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
Yeah, yeah
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 (oooh, oooh)
Together we'll sail across the sea (sail under silvery moonlight)
Reminiscing every night
Ooooh, oooh, oooh
Meantime - (and in the meantime baby) - I ask you to be my
valentine
You say you'd have to tell your daddy if you can
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, oooh
Seaside rendezvous
Give us a kiss
The
Prophet's Song
Track 8. Written by Brian May. Album Version 8:20.
This track segues into 'Love Of My Life'
Brian May plays a Toy Koto
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. DVD-Audio Version
(8:31) (on the DVD-Audio disc only) (identical to normal, but
adds about 11 seconds of wind at the start)
2. DVD-Audio Excerpt (0:12) (on the '5.1 Credits' page) (a
straight excerpt of the album version from 3:21 to 3:33,
containing 'A-ah' three times)
Lyrics:
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 hands on 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 days
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
Oh, oh, 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 babe
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 around 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, ooh
Flee for your life
Who heed me not, let all your treasure make you
Oh, fear for your life
Deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you
Each line in this section (upto 'God, give
you grace'), is heard through one stereo channel, then repeated
through the other after about 1.6 seconds. The lyrics below refer
to the original lyric only - thus discounting the echoes.
Aaah, people can you here me
Aaah, people can you here me
And now I know
And now I know
And now I know
And now I know that you can hear me
I know that you can hear me
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
Now I know, now I know
The earth will shape into will break into
The earth will shape into will break into
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, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow
Listen to the wise
Listen to the wise
Listen to the wise
Listen to the wise
Listen to the wise
Listen to the wise man
Laa, laa
La, la, la, la, laa, laa
La, la, la, la, laa, laa
La, la, la, la, laa, laa
La, la, la, la, laa, laa
La, la, la, la, laa, laa
La, la, la, la, laa, laa
La, la, laa, laa
La, la, laa, laa
La, la
Come here, I, you
Come here, I, you
Come here, I, you
Ah, ahhh
Ahh, ahhhhhh
Listen to the mad
Listen to the man
Listen to the mad
Listen to the mad man
God, give 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'
Oooh, but still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the madman
Love
Of My Life
Track 9. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 3:37
This track segues from 'The Prophet's Song'. Brian May plays a
Harp.
Note a piano version is on the album, all live renditions are
guitar versions
This track was later covered by Extreme featuring Brian May.
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. The Eye Edit (0:04) (on 'The Eye' disc 4)
(a straight edit of the 'harp', from 0:18 to 0:22)
2. Star Licks Version (1:13) (on
the 'Star Licks Master Session' video only) (Brian performs part
of the acoustic instrumental version of the track, on his 'Red
Special' guitar)
3. Live Version 1 (3:13) (on 'Live Killers', the live single,
'Greatest Flix' and `Greatest Video Hits I', recorded in Europe
in 1979) (click
here for lyrics)
4. Live Version 2 (3:01) (on the 'Rare Live' video, from Sao
Paulo 1981) (click here for lyrics)
5. Live Version 3 (3:34) (on the 'We Will Rock You' video and the
'Queen Rock Montreal' album/DVD, from Montreal 1981) (click here for lyrics)
6. Live Version 4 (3:38) (on 'Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl',
recorded at Milton Keynes 1982) (click here for lyrics)
7. Live Version 5 (3:51) (on the 'Live In Japan' video, from
Tokyo, 1982) (click here for lyrics)
8. Live Version 6 (4:24) (on the 'Live In Rio' video, recorded in
Rio De Janiero, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
9. Live Version 7 (4:02) (on the 'Final Concert Live In Japan',
recorded in Tokyo, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
10. Live Version 8 (2:25) (on the 'Live In Budapest' video,
recorded in Budapest, 1986) (click here for lyrics)
11. Live Version 9 (3:51) (on 'Live At Wembley', recorded in
London, 1986) (click here
for lyrics)
12. Live Version 9 Excerpt (0:25) (on the
'Live At Wembley Stadium' DVD song
selection screen; an edit of the above version from 1:31 to 1:56)
(click here for
lyrics)
13. Live Version 10 (4:09) (on 'Live At Brixton Academy',
performed by The Brian May Band in London 1993) (click here for lyrics)
14. Queen + Paul Rodgers
Live Version 1 (4:06) (an official download, recorded in
Barcelona on 2 April 2005; performed by Brian May) (click here for lyrics)
15. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (4:14) (an official
download, recorded in Rome on 4 April 2005; performed by Brian
May) (click here for lyrics)
16. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (4:08) (on 'Return Of The
Champions', recorded in Sheffield on 9 May 2005; performed by
Brian May) (click here for lyrics)
17. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4 (4:20) (on 'Super Live In
Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005; performed by Brian
May) (click here for lyrics)
18. Brian & Freddie Version (3:53) (on 'The Making Of A Night
At The Opera' DVD) (this version features a brand new acoustic
performance of the song by Brian, which then jumps to footage of
Freddie & Brian performing it at Wembley in 1986) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics:
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 (all my love) you now desert me
Love of my life, can't you see
Please 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
(Oooh yeah), 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 (know, means to me)
Love of my life
Love of my life
Oooh, oooh
Good
Company
Track 10. Written by Brian May. Album Version 3:23
Brian May sings lead vocals and plays Genuine Aloha Ukulele and
Guitar Jazz Band
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. DVD-Audio Instrumental
Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'DTS Story' page) (a unique instrumental
version of 1:45 to 2:10, fading out over 15 seconds)
2. DVD-Audio Excerpt (0:05) (on the 'DTS Story' page) (a straight
edit of the first 5 seconds)
Lyrics:
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
Oh, ho, oh, ho
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
Soon I grew up and happy too
My very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J
The girl from number four
Very soon I begged her won't you
Keep me company
Oh, ho
Oh, ho
Oh, ho
Oh, ho
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, own, own
And keep good company
Bohemian
Rhapsody
Track 11. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 5:53
Operatic Vocals are by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Freddie
Mercury
Excerpts of various parts of the song, during the recording
sessions, can be found on the 'Greatest
Video Hits I' DVD and the TV
documentary 'The Story Of Bohemian Rhapsody'.
This track was later covered by Bad News, featuring Brian May and John Deacon
This track was re-released as a download in 2005 to mark the 30th
anniversary of the track, containing the album version (audio and
flames promo video), the 'We Will Rock You' London cast version,
and Queen + Paul Rodgers live in Hyde Park (audio and video).
Additional
Musicians & Assistance for the 'Party At The Palace' Live
Version:
The Cast of We Will Rock You (vocals) and Phil Collins (drums)
Justin Shirley Smith
(mixing)
Lead vocals by Tony Vincent, Hannah Jane Fox and Sharon D. Clarke
Alternate Versions: (The Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. 'Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert' Insert (2:01) (an edit of
the album version, from 0:00 to 0:48, then 3:05 to 4:08, followed
by two explosions) (click here for lyrics)
2. Instrumental Version (5:52) (on the
Japanese Karaoke CD or Video, and on the 'Artitst Karaoke Series'
US CD) (instrumental) (click here
for lyrics)
3. DVD-Audio Instrumental Excerpt
(0:23) (on the 'Special Thanks' page) (a unique instrumental
version of 5:32 onwards, fading in over 2 seconds, losing the
backing vocals)
4. Menu Excerpt (0:33) (on the 'Making Of A Night At The Opera'
DVD) (a straight edit from 1:48 to 2:21, starting with the piano
and fading out over three seconds from 2:18 to 2:21)
Live
Versions:
4. Live Version 1 (5:02) (on 'Live Killers', recorded in Europe
in 1979) (click
here for lyrics)
5. Live Version 2 (5:04) (on the 'We Will Rock You' video and the
'Queen Rock Montreal' album/DVD, from Montreal 1981) (click here for lyrics)
6. Live Version 3 (5:03) (on 'Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl',
recorded at Milton Keynes 1982) (click here for lyrics)
7. Live Version 4 (5:22) (on the 'Live In Japan' video, from
Tokyo, 1982) (click here for lyrics)
8. Live Version 5 (5:15) (on the 'Live In Rio' video, recorded in
Rio De Janiero, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
9. Live Version 6 (5:00) (on the 'Final Concert Live In Japan',
recorded in Tokyo, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
10. Live Version 7 Rehearsal (1:58) (on the 'Queen Rock Montreal
And Live Aid DVD, recorded in the week before Live Aid) (click here for lyrics)
11. Live Version 7 (2:12) (on the 'Live Aid' DVD, and on the
double DVD 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid', recorded at
Wembley Stadium, 13 July 1985) (click here for lyrics)
12. Live Version 8 (4:58) (on the
'Live At Wembley Stadium' DVD, recorded
at 'Magic Tour' rehearsals in May/June 1986; this version is
slightly edited) (click here
for lyrics)
13. Live Version 9 (5:00) (on the 'Live In Budapest' video,
recorded in Budapest, 1986) (click here for lyrics)
14. Live Version 10 (5:19) (on 'Live At Wembley', recorded in
London, 1986) (click here
for lyrics)
15. Live Version 10 Excerpt (0:25) (on the
'Live At Wembley Stadium' DVD song
selection screen; an edit of the above version from 2:07 to 2:32)
(click here for
lyrics)
16. Live Version 11 (4:05) (on 'Live Magic', recorded at
Knebworth Park, UK, 1986, without opera section) (click here for lyrics)
17. Live Version 12 (5:22) (on 'The Freddie Mercury Tribute
Concert', lead vocals by Elton John and Axl Rose) (click here for lyrics)
18. Live Version 13 (0:44) (on 'Live At Brixton Academy',
performed by The Brian May Band in London 1993, only the rock
section is performed, as part of 'Resurrection') (click here for lyrics)
19. Live Version 14 (5:19) (on the 'Party At The Palace'
DVD/Video Only (not CD)) (recorded at Buckingham Palace, 2002)
(click here
for lyrics)
20. Live
Version 15 (2:16) (on the '46664' CD and DVD, with vocals by the
Soweto Gospel Choir) (the operatic and rock sections only) (click
here for lyrics)
21. Queen + Paul Rodgers
Live Version 1 (6:02) (an official download, recorded in
Rotterdam on 26 April 2005; vocals by Freddie and Paul Rodgers)
(click here for lyrics)
22. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live
Version 2 (6:00) (on 'Return Of The Champions', recorded in
Sheffield on 9 May 2005; vocals by Freddie and Paul Rodgers)
(click here
for lyrics)
23. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (5:47) (as part of the
30th Anniversary Download, recorded in Hyde Park on 15 July 2005;
vocals by Freddie and Paul Rodgers) (click here for lyrics)
24. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4 (5:56) (on 'Super Live In
Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005; vocals by Freddie
and Paul Rodgers) (click here for lyrics)
25. Live
Cast Recording 1 (5:19) (on the 'We Will Rock You' cast album)
(click here for lyrics)
26. Live
Cast Recording 2 (5:25) (on the 'We Will Rock You' Spanish cast
album) (click here
for lyrics)
27. Live
Cast Recording 3 (6:02) (on the 'We Will Rock You' Spanish cast
album) (a bonus on the enhanced CD2; features Brian on guitar)
(click here
for lyrics)
Lyrics:
(the Menu Excerpt contains
only the fifth 'too late, my time has come' verse)
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, (oooh, 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, ooh, ooh, ooh
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, ooh, ooh, ooh
(Anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die (oooohhh)
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all (oooh-ooh, oooh-ooh,
oooh-ooh, oooh-ooh)
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, Scaramouche will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolts and lightning - very, very frightening me
Gallileo, gallileo
Gallileo, gallileo
Gallileo, figaro - magnifico-o-o-o-oh
I'm just a poor boy, 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
Never, never, never, never, never (never let you go)
Never let me go-o-o-o-oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, 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 outta here
Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh, oooh yeah, oooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
Anyway the wind blows
God
Save The Queen
Track 12. Written by Brian May. Album Version 1:12
This is an instrumental version of the National Anthem.
Alternate Versions:
(The
Surround Sound Mix details can be found here)
1. DVD Edit (0:31) (on 'Greatest Video Hits I' and 'Greatest
Video Hits II' only) (edits out the section from approx. 0:07 to
0:48)
2. Demo Version (0:57) (on the 'Making Of A Night At The Opera'
DVD) (an instrumental demo version performed by Brian on the
piano, with Brian talking about the track over the top)
Live
Recordings:
(the standard version played, with the audience singing)
1. Live At The Rainbow Version (1:09) (recorded in London, 1974)
2. Live Killers Version (1:07) (recorded in Europe in 1979)
3. We Will Rock You Version (1:11) (recorded in Montreal, Canada,
1981)
4. Rare Live Version (1:13) (recorded in Austria 1982)
5. Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl Version 1 (1:12) (recorded at
Milton Keynes, 1982)
6. Live In Japan Version (1:13) (recorded in Tokyo, 1982)
7. Live In Rio Version (1:13) (recorded in Rio De Janiero, 1985)
8. Final Concert Live In Japan Version (1:13) (recorded in Japan,
1985)
9. Live At Wembley Version 1 (1:08)
(recorded on 11 July 1986) (only on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium'
DVD)
10. Live At Wembley Version 2
(1:06) (recorded on 12 July 1986)
11. Live In Budapest Version (1:06) (recorded in Hungary, 1986)
12. Live Magic Version (1:06) (recorded at Knebworth Park, 1986)
13. Freddie Mercury Tribute Version (1:08) (recorded at Wembley
Stadium, 1992)
14. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 1 (1:06) (an official
download, recorded in Hamburg on 28 April 2005)
15. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (1:06) (an official
download, recorded in Cardiff on 7 May 2005)
16. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 3 (1:06) (on 'Return Of The
Champions', recorded in Sheffield on 9 May 2005)
17. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4
(1:09) (on 'Super Live In Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October
2005)
2002 Reworking:
Available on the 'Party At The
Palace' CD and DVD and 'The Best Air Guitar Album In The
World...II'
Length 1:55.
This is a reworked version, featuring some 'Brighton Rock' style
guitar as an intro and outro to the main solo.
Performed by Brian May standing on Buckingham Palace, on 3rd June
2002.
Features timpani by Roger Taylor, and also Ray Cooper (gong) and
the Royal Academy Of Music Symphony Orchestra