Queen At The Beeb

Queen At The Beeb

Released 4 December 1989, reached no 67, on chart for 1 week

Album Length 37:38

Produced by Bernie Andrews
Recorded at the BBC Studios, London
Tracks 1-4 recorded on 5 February 1973
Tracks 5-8 recorded on 3 December 1973

Tracks 1, 3 and 4 were later included on 'Let Me Live - The Rarities CD' in 1996

Released in the USA in 1995 called 'Queen At The BBC'

Management: Jim Beach
Design by Richard Gray
Photography by Douglas Puddifoot
The front cover photograph is from the first photo session of Queen and was taken at Freddie's flat in Holland Road, Kensington

As well as the details on this page, the two Queen Demos Of Released Tracks pages (A-L and M-Z) contain details of every track from all six of Queen's BBC Sessions.

My Fairy King
Track 1. Song Length 4:07
Click here for the original song details
This track is almost identical to the album version.
Lyrics:
(Ahhhhh)
(Ahhhhh)

In the land where horses born with eagle wings
And honey bees have lost their stings
They're singing forever, ooh yeah
Lions den with fallow dear
And rivers made from wines so clear
Flow on and on forever
Dragons fly like sparrows through the air
And baby lambs where Samson dares
To go on, on, on, on

My fairy king (he rules the air)
And can see the things that are not there for you and me to see (he rules the air and turns the tides, oooh yeah)
My fairy king (he guides the winds)
He can only do right and nothing wrong

Ahhhhh
Then came man to savage in the night
To run like thieves and to kill like knives
To take away the power from the magic hand
To bring about the ruin to the promised land

Ahhh, ah, ahh-ahhhh
Ahh-ahhhh

They turn milk into sour
Like the blue in the blood of my veins
(Why can't you see it)
Fire burning in hell
With the cry of a screaming pain
(Son of heaven set me free and let me go)
Sea turns dry no salt from sand
Seasons fly no helping hand
Teeth don't shine like pearls for poor man's eyes
No more

Someone, someone
Just drained the colour from my wings
Broken my fairy circle ring
And shamed the king in all his pride
Changed the winds and wronged the tides
Mother Mercury, look what they've done to me, yeah
I cannot run
I cannot hide

Keep Yourself Alive
Track 2. Song Length 3:48
Click here for the original song details.
This version is very similar to the album version, but has some lyric changes.
Lyrics:
I was told a million times of all the troubles in my way
Might he grow a little wiser, little better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, bread and butter for a smile
Well, I sold a million mirrors in a shop in alley way
But I never saw my face in any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you be a superstar
But I tell you just be satisfied and stay right where you are

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
Ooh, take you all your time and a money
To keep you satisfied

Listen

Well I loved a million women in a belladonic haze
And I ate a million dinners brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need to feed my body and my soul
When I grow a little bigger, maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times of all the people in my way
How I'd have to keep on trying and get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, same as when I started

Keep yourself alive, come on keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and a money
To keep yourself alive

Wow
Watch out
Ah

Keep yourself alive, ooh, keep yourself alive, oh
Take you all your time and a money
And honey you'll survive

Do you think you're better every day
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave

Come on, keep yourself alive, yeah, keep yourself alive
Um, all you people keep yourself alive

Keep yourself alive, come on keep yourself alive, um
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, come on, come on, keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and a money
And honey you'll survive

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
Ooh, all you people keep yourself alive

Take you all your time and money honey
Uh
Keep yourself alive
Oohh, keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
Um, keep yourself alive

Doing Alright
Track 3. Song Length 4:10
Click here for the original song details
This track is very similar to the album version; the main difference is that Roger Taylor sings the lead vocal on the last verse.
Lyrics:
Yesterday my life was in ruin
Now today I know what I'm doing
Gotta feeling, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Where will I be this time tomorrow
Jumped for joy and sinking in sorrow
Anyway, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Should be waiting for the sun
Looking round to find the words to say
Should be waiting for the skies to clear
If there were time in all the world

Should be waiting for the sun
And anyway I've got to hide away
Ooh, hide away

Ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh
Oooohhh

Yesterday my life was in ruin
Now today I know what I'm doing
Gotta feeling, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Doing alright

Liar
Track 4. Song Length 6:28
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This track is very similar to the album version, but has quite a few lyric changes.
Lyrics:
I have sinned dear father
Father I have sinned
Try and help me father
Won't you let me in
Liar, oh nobody believes me
Liar, oh, why don't you leave me alone

Sire, I have stolen
Stolen many times
Raised my voice in anger
When I know I never should
Liar, oh everybody deceives me
Liar, yeah, why don't you leave me alone

Liar, I have sailed the seas
Liar, from Mars to Mercury
Liar, I have drunk the wine
Liar, time after time

Father, please forgive me
You know you'll never leave me
Please will you direct me
In the right way

Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, look what they've done to me
Liar, every day every night
Liar, all the time
Liar, oh, oh, oh, ooh
Let me go

Listen
Ooh, you gonna listen
Um, mama I'm gonna be your slave (all day long)
Mama I'm gonna try behave (all day long)
Mama I'm gonna be your slave (all day long)
I'm gonna love you till your dying day (all day long)
I'm gonna serve you till your dying day (all day long)
I'm gonna love you (all day long) till your lying day (all day long)
I'm gonna kneel down (all day long) by your side and pray (all day long)
All day long, (all day long)
All day long, (all day long)
Ow, all day long, (all day long)
All day long, (all day long)
All day long, (all day long)
You hear, (all day long)
Ow, (all day long)
Um, (all day long)
Come to me mama, (all day long)
Shake, come on, (all day long)
Ah, yes (all day long)
Wow, yes, ah, we have lift off
Oh yes

All day long, all day long, all day long

Liar, liar, they never ever let you win
Liar, liar, everything you do is sin
Liar, nobody believes you
Liar, they bring you down before you begin
Oooh, let me tell you this
Ah yes, 'fore they let you

Ogre Battle
Track 5. Song Length 3:57
Click here for the original song details
This track originally featured a 'forgotten intro' consisting of various guitar sounds performed by Brian. However, the master tapes were damaged so it was issued in an edited form.
This track is similar to the album version, but has a heavier feel, some lyric changes, and a different ending.
Lyrics:
Ha, ha, ha, ha, haa

Now once upon a time
An old man told me a fable
When the piper is gone
And the soup is cold on your table
And if the black crow flies
To find a new destination
That is the sign
Come tonight
Come to the ogre sight
Come to ogre battle fight

He gives a great big cry
Swallow up the ocean
With a mighty tongue he catches flies
In the palm of a hand incredible size
One great big eye
Has a focus in your direction
And the battle is won
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Come tonight
Come to the ogre sight
Come to ogre battle fight

Ha, ha, ha, ha, haa

The ogre men are still inside
The two-way mirror mountain
You gotta keep down right out of sight
You can't see in but they can see out
'Look out'
The ogre men are coming out
From the two-way mirror mountain
They're running up behind
And they're coming all about
Can't go east 'cos you gotta go south

Ogre men are going home
The great big fight is over
Bugle blow let trumpet cry
Ogre battle lives for evermore
Wow, oh, oh
But you can come along
You can come along
Come to ogre battle

Ha, ha, ha, ha, haa

Great King Rat
Track 6. Song Length 5:56
Click here for the original song details
This version is very similar to the album version, but there are a few lyric changes.
Lyrics:
Great king rat died today
Born on the twenty-first of May
Died syphilis forty-four on his birthday
Every second word he swore
Yes, he was the son of a whore
Always wanted by the law

Wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?

Where will I be tomorrow
Will I beggar, will I borrow
I don't care anyway
Come on, come on, the time is right
The man is evil and that is right
I told you, yes I told you
And that's no lie, no, no

Wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
People, people
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?
Let me show you

Um, wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
People, people
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?

Hit it

Now listen all you people
Throw out the good and keep the bad
Don't believe all you read in the bible
You sinners get in line
Saints you leave far behind
And very soon you're gonna be a disciple

Don't listen to what your mama says
Not a word, not a word mama says
Or else you'll find yourself being the rival, sure
The great Lord before he died
Knelt sinners by his side
And said 'you're going to realise tomorrow'

No, I'm not gonna tell you
What you already know
'Cos time and time again
The old man said it all a long time ago
Come on, come on the time is right
This evil man will fight
I told you once before (and that's no lie)
Take it

Um, now wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
People
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
The last time I tell you
Would you like to see

Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll
Track 7. Song Length 2:00
Click here for the original song details
This version is very similar to the original, with only a few lyric changes, but with a different instrumental ending.
Lyrics:
Had to make do with a worn out rock and roll scene
The old bop is getting tired, need a rest, well you know what I mean
Fifty-eight that was great but it's over now and that's all
Something harder's coming up, gonna really knock a hole in the wall
Gonna hit you, grab you hard, make you feel ten feet tall

Well I hope that big new thing's gonna come along soon
You don't know it could happen, any old rainy afternoon
With the temperature down and the juke box blowing no fuse
And the musical life's feeling like a long Sunday school cruise
And you know that there's one thing every single body could use

It's not that I'm bright, just happy go lucky

Modern times - rock 'n' roll
Modern times - rock 'n' roll

Get your high heeled guitar styled boots and some dirty clothes
Get a hair piece on your chest and a ring through your nose
Find a nice little man who says he's gonna make you a big, big star
Stars in your eyes, ants in your pants, think you should go far
Everybody in this bum sucking world's gonna know who you are

Look out

Son And Daughter
Track 8. Song Length 7:08
Click here for the original song details
This version is very similar to the album version, but features a lengthy improvisation and 'Brighton Rock' style guitar solo in the middle.
Lyrics:
I want you
So watch out

Tried to be your son and daughter
Rolled into one
You said you'd equal any man
For having your fun
Um, didn't you feel surprised to find
The cap just didn't fit
A woman expects a man
To buckle down and a shovel it
What'll you do for loving
If it's a only just begun

I want you
To be a woman

Tried to be a teacher
And a fisher of men
An equal people preacher
Will you lead us all the same
Um, I travelled all round
The world and found
A brand new word for day
Watching the time
Never linger behind
Pardon me I have to get away
What'll you think of heaven
If it's a back from where you came

I want you
To be a woman

Um, didn't you feel surprised to find
The cap just didn't fit
The world expects a man
To buckle down and shovel it
What'll you do for loving
If it's a back from where you came

I want you
To be a woman