Brian May -
Collaborations
1995 - 2002
This page features details of Brian May's collaborations with other artists, recorded between 1995 and 2002. If you can provide further details, please email me.
Collaborations Featuring
Multiple Band Members
Paul McCartney &
Various Artists - All You Need Is Love
Paul McCartney & Various Artists - Hey Jude
Other Collaborations
Carmen Appice - Nobody Knew
Andrew Lloyd Webber - Whistle Down The Wind
Jennifer Rush - Who Wants To Live Forever
Status Quo - Raining
In My Heart
S.O.L - Make
Dreams Come True
Rock Therapy - Reaching
Out
Tony Iommi - Flame
On and Goodbye Lament
Foo Fighters - Have
A Cigar
SAS Band - With A Little Help From My Friends
Robbie Williams - Eternity
Cliff Richard - Move
It
Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends
Claire Sweeney - Too Much Love Will Kill You
Foo Fighters - Tired Of You
Lynn Carey Saylor - If We Believe
Nobody Knew
(Black & White House)
Carmine Appice, 1995, from the
album 'Guitar Zeus'. Brian plays Guitar.
Written by Kelly Keeling and Carmine Appice
This track was released as a single, but was withdrawn for legal
reasons.
The track was later released officially in 2006 on the 'Ultimate
Guitar Zeus' reissue.
Available
Versions:
1. Radio Version (3:50) (on the single
only)
2. Album version AKA Long Version (4:48)
(on the album and single) (features more instrumental and lyrics)
Lyrics: (Lyrics in red are edited out
of the Radio version)
Here we are
In the year 2000
Looking through glass
With oxygen masks
Here we are
With faces around us
Expressions unnoticed
They thought it would last
Nobody knew
Where they were heading
Except for the few who
Made it all clear
Nobody knew
Who's running the white house
It's painted all black now
You'd think they would mind
Now we know
The stained glass houses
The motors are gas
It's all come to pass
All we ever wanted
Was clear cool water
To wash off the stains
Keep oceans alive
What destination (here we are, the year 2000)
I play the game (looking through glass)
Lord take me now (with oxygen masks)
It's not the same (here we are, with faces around us, emotions
unknowing)
Here now (they thought it would last)
Nobody knew
Where they were going
Except for the few who
Had made it all clear
Nobody knew
Who's running the white house
It's painted all black now
No-one's inside
There's a hole in the blue sky
Blind sight, the earth spins
Find time for me, yeah
Time to think, and time to pray
What destination
I play the game
Lord take me now
Here we are
Ages around us (it's not the same)
Emotions unknowing
They thought it would last (here now)
Nobody knew
They thought they would lead us
Except for the few who
Thought they knew
Guess it's all clear
It's all for the money
Peace with your neighbours
Join in the war
There's a
hole in the blue sky
There's a hole in the blue sky
Whistle Down
The Wind
With Andrew Lloyd Webber,
1995.
It is unknown what was recorded, but it probably remains
unreleased.
Who Wants To
Live Forever
Jennifer Rush, 1995. From the
album 'Out Of My Hands'. Brian plays Guitar and sings lead and
backing vocals. Album version 3:59
Written by Brian May. This song was previously recorded by Queen and by Ian & Belinda
Lyrics:
(lyrics in Black are sung by Jennifer; lyrics in Red are sung by
Brian; lyrics in Blue are sung by both)
There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams, yet slips away from us
Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever
(ooh, ooooh)
There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us
Who wants to live forever
(forever)
Who dares to love forever,
ooh, oooh
Who dares to love forever, ooh,
oh, oooh, when love must die
But touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today
Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever
Forever is our today
Who waits forever anyway?
Raining In My
Heart
Status Quo, 1995. From the
album and video 'Don't Stop'. Brian plays Guitar. Album version
3:32.
Written by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant. Originally recorded by
Buddy Holly (and others)
Recorded at the same session as 'FBI', which features Status Quo
Lyrics:
The sun is out, the sky is
blue
There's not a cloud to spoil the view
But it's raining
Raining in my heart
The weather man says clear today
He doesn't know you've gone away
And it's raining
Raining in my heart
Ooh, misery
Misery
What's gonna become of me?
I tell my blues they mustn't show
But soon these tears are bound to flow
'Cos it's raining
Raining in my heart
Ooh, misery, misery
What's gonna become of me?
The sun is out, the sky is blue
There's not a cloud to spoil the view
But it's raining
Raining in my heart
Raining in my heart
Raining in my heart
Make Dreams
Come True
S.O.L, 1995, from the album
'Some Other Language'. Brian plays Guitar.
The artist for this track is S.O.L, and not Stefan Zauner as many
sites list (although he was heavily involved)
Reaching Out
Rock Therapy, 1996. Brian plays
Guitar.
The track also features Lulu, Paul Rodgers and Charlie Watts.
Released as a single, for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, but it
failed to chart.
This track was later performed on Queen + Paul Rodgers'
2005 European Tour by Paul Rodgers with Spike Edney on keyboards.
Available
Versions:
1. Single Version (2:38) (on all singles)
2. Instrumental Version (2:38) (on the CD single only) (click here for lyrics)
3. Acoustic Version (2:38) (on all singles) (this does not
feature Brian's electric guitar solo, but he may play acoustic
guitar on the track)
4. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live
Version 1 (1:00) (an official download, recorded in Firenze on 7
April 2005) (click here for lyrics)
5. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 2 (0:59) (an official
download, recorded in Frankfurt on 19 April 2005) (click here for lyrics)
6. Queen + Paul Rodgers
Live Version 3 (1:01) (on 'Return Of The Champions', recorded in
Sheffield on 9 May 2005) (click here for lyrics)
7. Queen + Paul Rodgers Live Version 4 (1:00) (on 'Super Live In
Japan', recorded in Tokyo on 27 October 2005) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics: (lyrics in red are not present
in the Acoustic version)
Lately, I've been hard to
reach
I've been too long on my own
Everybody has a private world
Where they can be alone
Are you calling me?
Are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me
Like I'm reaching out for you?
One way conversations
Going on inside my head
Everybody has a secret world
Where too much is unsaid
Are you calling me?
Are you trying to get through?
(Oooh,
oooh, oooh) are you
reaching out for me
Like I'm reaching out for you?
Give me your hand
One touch is all that it takes (oooh, ooh, ooh)
Ain't it funny how just one touch
Can make up for all of our mistakes (oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh)
Lately, I've been hard to reach
I've been too long on my own
Everybody has a private world
Where they can be alone
Are you calling me?
Are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me
Like I'm reaching out for you?
Instrumental Version Lyrics:
(Oooh, oooh, oooh)
Give me your hand
(Oooh, ooh, ooh)
Ain't it funny how just one touch
(Oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh)
Flame On
Tony Iommi, 2000. From the
album 'Iommi'. Brian plays Guitar. Song Length 4:26
Lyrics:
I am one
One that shines
Yeah, I was born of a scorpions mind
I am one
So alive
Don't try to teach me what your lips can't decide, oh
I'm the son
So alive
A single breath's all I need to get by
Would you speak of the dirt in my mind
I'm going to burn till our stars die
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
Flame on - and now I'm free in this dirty black summer
Flame on - I wore a tooth in the mouth of my brother
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
???????
As it is
All divine
A diamond sea in the heart of our mind
All this truth
Truth it shines
Don't hesitate for a while it's divine
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
Flame on - and now I'm free in this dirty black summer
Flame on - I wore a tooth in the mouth of my brother
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
???????
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
Flame on - and now I'm free in this dirty black summer
Flame on - I wore a tooth in the mouth of my brother
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
Flame on - and now I'm free in this dirty black summer
Flame on - I wore a tooth in the mouth of my brother
Flame on - I used to bleed like a suicide mother
???????
Goodbye Lament
Tony Iommi, 2000. From the
album 'Iommi'. Brian plays Guitar. Song Length 4:48.
Lyrics:
Say a prayer for me
In my memory
Have a taste of when all is through
Damn this place in me
Damn this destiny
I will be the one who cries with you
Go
Hello misery
You're the best of me
Hey, someone got the best of you
Come and sleep with me
For infinity
We'll spend some time and find the rest of you
Break down, break down
Real and in your head
Rain down, rain down
Innocence is dead
Goodbye lament
Goodbye lament
Goodbye faith
I swear I will believe
Pray for me
Fading memories
Give me time and I will fade in with you
Come in and dance with me
I will always be
Sleeping behind the eyes that I'm bleeding through
Break down, break down
Real and in your head
Rain down, rain down
Innocence is dead
Goodbye lament
Goodbye lament
Goodbye faith
I swear I will believe
Goodbye lament
Goodbye lament
Goodbye faith
I swear I won't believe
Break down, break down
Real and in your head
Rain down, rain down
Innocence is dead
Break down, break down
Real and in your head
Rain down, rain down
Innocence is dead
Goodbye lament
Goodbye lament
Goodbye faith
I swear I will believe
Have A Cigar
Foo Fighters and Brian May,
2000 (?). Brian plays guitar. Original Version 4:02.
Written by Roger Waters.
The above version is on the album 'Music From And Inspired By
Mission Impossible 2' (I'm not sure if the track appears in the
film or not), and was later included on 'The Best Air Guitar Album
In The World.... III'.
Notes:
Lead vocals by Taylor
Hawkins
Produced by The Foo Fighters, Brian May and Justin Shirley Smith.
Mixed by Taylor Hawkins and Justin Shirley Smith
Lyrics:
Come on over here, boy
Have a cigar
You couldn't go far
You gotta fly high
You're never gonna die
You're gonna make it if you try
You're gonna love you
Well I've always had a deep respect for
What people in this city say
Well the piano's just fantastic
Yeah, it's really what I think
Of that way which one's pink?
And if they tell you the name of the game - boy
You caught it riding the gravy train
I just knocked out
Heard about the sell out
You've gotta get another
You owe it to the people
So how come we can all go
And everybody's just screamed
Have you seen the chart
Well it's a hell of a start
We could be brave to a martian
If we all pull together as one team
And if they tell you the name of the game - boy
You caught it riding the gravy train, yeah
Yeah
And if they tell you the name of the game - boy
You caught it riding the gravy train
Ow
With A
Little Help From My Friends
SAS Band, 2000. Brian plays
guitar. Length 5:00
Recorded live at the Party In The Park, 9 July 2000.
Released as part of a 26 minute video, featuring various SAS Band
live tracks, on a CD-Rom
Featuring leads vocals by Marti Pellow, Lionel Ritchie, Suggs and
Martine McCutcheon
This performance is notable because Brian's guitar string snaps
at the finale of his solo
Lyrics:
What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I, I, I, I, will try not to sing out of key
By with a little help from my friends, wow
By with a little help from my friends, yeah
By with a little help from my friends
By with
Do you need anybody?
Woah, I need somebody to love, yeah, yeah
Could it be anybody?
Oh, anybody, ooh I need somebody, yeah, yeah
Oooh
Yeah
By with a little help from my friends
Everybody, one more time, yeah
By with a little help from my friends, yeah
By with a little help from my friends, yeah
Oooh, oooh, oooh
Would you believe in a love at first sight?
I'm sure it happens all the time
What do you feel when you turn out the light?
I can't tell you, but I'm sure that it's mine
By with a little help from my friends, yeah
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends, we do you know
Oooh, oooh, oooh
Do you need anybody?
Wahhhhhh
Could it be anybody?
Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends, yeah, yeah
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
By with a little help from my friends
Oooh, oooh, oooh
Eternity
Robbie Williams, 2001. Brian
is credited as playing guitar. Length 4:59.
Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers.
Presumably recorded at the same session as 'We Are The Champions'
with Queen.
Released as a single, and reached no. 1, and also
included on Robbie Williams' 'Greatest Hits' album.
Lyrics:
Close your eyes so you
don't feel them
They don't need to see you cry
I can't promise I will heal you
But if you want to I will try
I sing this summer serenade
The past is done, we've been betrayed
It's true
Someone said the truth will out
I believe without a doubt
In you
You were there for summer dreaming
And you gave me what I need
And I hope you'll find your freedom
For eternity
For eternity
Yesterday when you were walking
You talked about your ma, and dad
What they did that made you happy
What they did that made you sad
We sat and watched the sun go down
Picked a star before we lost
The moon
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come and gone
Too soon
You were there for summer dreaming
And you gave me what I need
And I hope you'll find your freedom
For eternity
For eternity
For eternity
I sing this summer serenade
The past is done, we've been betrayed
It's true
Youth is wasted on the young
Before you know it's come and gone
Too soon
You were there for summer dreaming
And you are a friend indeed
And I hope you'll find your freedom
For eternity
You were there for summer dreaming
And you are a friend indeed
And I hope you'll find your freedom
Eventually
For eternity
For eternity
Move It
Cliff Richard featuring S Club
7, 2002. Brian plays guitar. Length 2:36
Written by Ian Samwell. Performed at the 2002 Queen's Jubilee
Concert.
Available on 'Party At The Palace'
A studio recording of this track was later released in 2006,
click here for full details
Lyrics:
Come on pretty baby, let's
a move it and a groove it
Stand, jump, clap your hands
Shake baby shake it but honey please don't lose it
Dance, dance, to the rock and roll band
This rhythm that gets into your heart and soul
Rhythm and blues and a whole lot of soul
Let me tell you people it's called rock and roll
They say it's gonna die but honey please
lets face it
Well we just don't know what's a going to replace it
Ballads and calypso's have nothing on
Real country music that just drives along
Honey, move it
Wow
Brian May
Come on pretty baby, let's a move
it and a groove it
Stand, jump, clap your hands
Dancin' and listen baby please don't lose it
Dance, dance, to the rock and roll band
Oh it's all over town, there's a brand new beat
Move it and a rock it and a get on your feet
And it's hanging in the air like a Mississippi heat
We've got fireflies in the night and bull frogs croakin'
Oh baby here comes the train, and boy is she smokin', oh yeah
Heading out to New Orleans and clear to L. A
You better get ready, it's a brand new day, hey
I'm ready, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Well ballads and calypso's have nothin' on
Real country music that just grinds along
Honey, move it - stand, clap your hands
Come on and move it - stand, clap your hands
Come on and move it - stand, clap your hands
Move it - stand, clap your hands
With A
Little Help My Friends
Joe Cocker featuring Steve
Winwood, 2002. Brian plays guitar. Length 5:40
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Performed
at the 2002 Queen's Jubilee Concert.
Available on 'Party At The Palace'
Lyrics:
What would you do if I
sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
I will try not to sing out of key
I wanna get by
By with a little help from my friends
I keep trying with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I wanna get out with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
Holding on with my friends
What do I do when the love is away
Don't worry if you feel alone
Oh Lord, how do I feel by the end of the day
Are you down, because you're on your own
I don't get set
I get by with a little help from my friends
I keep trying with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I wanna get out with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
Holding on with my friends
Oooh, oooh, oooh
Do you need anybody?
I need someone to love
Do you need anybody?
All I need is someone
Who knows where I'm going
Somebody to love
We'll show
A little love
By with a little help from my friends
I wanna get by with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I keep trying with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I'm gonna get out with my friends
Would you believe in a love at first sight
I'm certain it happens all the time
What do you see when you turn off the light
I don't see too much
But it shows you my mind
I get by with a little help
By with a little help from my friends
I keep trying with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I'm gonna get out with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
Holding on with my friends
Do you need anybody
Oooooohhhhhh
Yeah, don't you know
Do you need anybody
Don't you know I need someone
To dream about
Somebody to love me in my dreams
All the way
By with a little help from my friends
I wanna get by with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I keep trying with my friends
By with a little help from my friends
I'm gonna get out with my friends
I want to take them home with me
And just keep loving like a
All the way and hold me
Love me and hold me tight baby
Love me and hold me
And give me your love to me
With a little help from my friends
Too Much Love
Will Kill You
Claire Sweeney, 2002. From the
album 'Claire'. Brian plays guitar. Length 4:22
Written by Brian May, Frank Musker and Elizabeth Lamers.
Additional guitars by Phil Palmer
This song was previously recorded by Brian
May and Queen
Lyrics:
I'm just the pieces of the girl I used to be
Too many bitter tears are raining down on me
I'm far away from home
I've been fighting this alone for too long
I feel like no-one ever told the truth to me
About growing up and what a struggle it would be
In my tangled state of mind
I look back to find the point where I went wrong
Too much love will kill you
If you can't make up your mind
Torn between the lover
And the love you leave behind
You're headed for disaster
'Cos you never read the signs
Too much love will kill you - every time
I'm just the shadow of the girl I used to be
And it seems there's no way out of this for me
I used to bring you sunshine
Now all I ever do is bring you down
How would it be if you were standing in my shoes
Can't you see it's impossible to choose
There's no making sense of it
Either way I go I'm gonna lose
Too much love will kill you
Just as sure as none at all
It'll drain the power that's in you
Make you plead and scream and crawl
And the pain will drive you crazy
You're the victim of your crime
Too much love will kill you - every time
Too much love will kill you
It'll make your life a lie
Too much love will kill you
And you won't understand why
You'd give your life, you'd sell your soul
But here it comes again
Ooooh, ahhh
Ooooh, oooh
Too much love will kill you
In the end
Tired Of
You
Foo Fighters, 2002. From the
album 'One By One'. Brian plays guitar. Length 5:10
Written by the Foo Fighters (presumably).
Lyrics:
I can't be your liar
I can't be your bearer of bad news
Sick and uninspired by
The diamonds in your fire
Burning like a flame inside of you
Is this just desire or the truth?
So shame on me for the rules
Shame on me for the blues
Number one return that I'll never use
I won't go getting tired of you
I won't go getting tired of you
I'm not getting tired
I won't go getting tired of you
I won't go getting tired of you
I'm not getting tired
Hanging on this wire
Waiting for the day I have to choose
Cursed by love so dire
One more boy for hire
One more boy to lend a hand to you
Is this just desire or the truth?
So shame on me for the rules
Shame on me for the blues
Number one return
That I'll never use
I won't go getting tired of you
I won't go getting tired of you
I'm not getting tired
I won't go getting tired of you
I won't go getting tired of you
I'm not getting tired
Of you, hoo, hoo
Of you, hoo, hoo, oh, oh, oh, oh
I can't be your liar
I can't be your bearer of bad news
Sick and uninspired by
The diamonds in your fire
Burning like a flame inside of you
Is this just desire or the truth?
So shame on me for the rules
Shame on me for the blues
Number one return
That I'll never use
I won't go getting tired of you
I won't go getting tired of you
I'm not getting tired
I won't go getting tired of you
I won't go getting tired of you
I'm not getting tired of you
If
We Believe
Lynn Carey Saylor, 2002. Brian sings backing vocals and plays
guitar.
Written by Lynn Carey Saylor.
The track was originally released as a one track CD single,
presumably in the USA only.
It was later re-recorded/reworked and released on the 2007 album
'You Like It Clean', which includes 'We Belong' which also features Brian. This version features new
vocals from Lynn Carey Saylor, new percussion and some other
changes, but Brian's vocals and guitars are unchanged.
Available Versions:
1. Single Version (2002) (4:00)
2. Album Version (2007) (3:55)
Lyrics: (the Album version features the single
additional word in red)
I believe it's in each one of us
to see
The good that's in another
Blind to their skin colour
Can't you see there's just two kinds of souls around
The ones who hate
And the ones who love each other
It's our fate, free will to choose an answer
Why can't we get along together?
It's not so hard to see that
If we believe
We're not all the same
There's a hole in our hearts
And nothing at all to gain
(If we believe) If we believe
We're only daughters and sons
God's will is done
I believe it's wrong to judge a book upon
The picture of it's cover
You need what is under
And I have heard some people say we're not the same
as each other
But we bleed the same colour
It grows late we need a sane solution
To violence, hate and all the persecution
It's not so hard to see that
If we believe
We're not all the same
There's a hole in our hearts
And nothing at all to gain
(If we believe) if we believe
We're only daughters and sons
God's will is done
Why don't we know
There is so much to lose
Get on the streets
And spread the news
If we believe
If we believe
We're not all the same
There's a hole in our hearts
And nothing at all to gain
(If we believe) if we believe
We're only daughters and sons
Yeah, God's will is done