Queen

Queen

Released 13 July 1973, reached no 24, on chart for 18 weeks, achieved Gold status

Album Length 38:36

The Hollywood Records 1991 remaster also adds Mad The Swine, Keep Yourself Alive (Long Lost Re-take) and Liar (1991 Remix).

Non-Album Tracks
Mad The Swine

Unreleased Demos
Hangman | Polar Bear | Rock And Roll Medley | Silver Salmon

Produced by Queen, John Anthony and Roy Thomas Baker
Engineered by Roy Thomas Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe and David Hentschel
Recorded at Trident Studios, 1971 - 1972

Queen are:
Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano)
Brian May (guitars, piano, vocals)
Deacon John (bass guitar)
Roger Meddows-Taylor (percussion, vocals)

Representing at last something of what Queen music has been over the last three years, this album was produced by John Anthony, Roy Baker and Queen at Trident Studios, London, for Neptune Productions, and engineered by Roy Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe, David Hentschel.

Queen's equipment supervised by John Harris. Queen's photographer Douglas Puddifoot; cover design Douglas, Freddie and Brian
.......and nobody played synthesiser

There are five tracks in demo form which are widely available. Four ('Keep Yourself Alive', 'Liar', 'Jesus', and 'Great King Rat') remain officially unreleased, whilst the fifth ('The Night Comes Down') appears on the album, as Queen were unhappy with subsequent recordings.

Singles: (Keep Yourself Alive' appears on some (not UK) Greatest Hits)

Keep Yourself Alive / Son And Daughter (did not chart, 6 July 1973)
US release in October 1973 did not chart, Japan release in March 1974 did not chart
Liar / Doing Alright (US only, did not chart, 14 February 1974)

Keep Yourself Alive
Track 1. Written by Brian May. Album Version 3:45
'Long Lost Retake' described by Brian May as: "a complete remake of 'Keep Yourself Alive'. This version never surfaced anywhere. It contains many new ideas and quirks, as well as reproductions of some of the old ones"
Alternate Versions:
1. Single Edit (3:29) (US only, on both 7" singles, Spun Gold 'Another One Bites The Dust' or 'Greatest Hits') (straight edit with earlier fade out, fading from 3:19 to 3:29)
2. Long Lost Re-take (4:01) (on the US remaster CD only) (a reworked version, with a new intro, different percussion, and some different vocals and guitar) (click here for lyrics)
3. Long Lost Re-take Edit (3:29) (on an acetate promo only) (the same as the above version, but fading out earlier between approximately 3:11 and 3:33 and trims approximately 3 seconds from the start) (click here for lyrics)
4. Instrumental Version (3:15) (on the Japanese Karaoke CD or Video only) (instrumental version of the album version, fading in on 0:21 and out at 3:37) (click here for lyrics)
5. BBC Version (3:48) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in February 1973) (click here for lyrics)
6. Live Version 1 (0:21) (on the 'Live At The Rainbow' video, recorded in London 1974) (click here for lyrics)
7. Live Version 2 (2:55) (on the 'Rare Live' video, from Hammersmith, London, 1975 and Tokyo 1985) (click here for lyrics)
8. Live Version 3 (3:46) (on 'Live Killers', recorded in Europe in 1979) (click here for lyrics)
9. Live Version 4 (2:32) (on the 'We Will Rock You' video and the 'Queen Rock Montreal' album/DVD, from Montreal 1981) (click here for lyrics)
10. Live Version 4 Edit (2:20) (released as a download to promote the Queen Rock Montreal album) (click here for lyrics)
11. Live Version 5 (2:45) (on the 'Live In Rio' video, recorded in Rio De Janiero, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
12. Live Version 6 (2:33) (on the 'Final Concert Live In Japan', recorded in Tokyo, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics: (Single edit has lyrics upto the last 'to keep me satisfied')
Sing along

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

Ow

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
Well I'll 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
Oooh, take you all your time and a money
And honey you'll survive, shake it

Ow

Keep yourself alive, wow, keep yourself alive, oh
Take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied

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

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive, um
You take your time and take more money
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
To keep me satisfied

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

Take you all your time and money honey
You will survive
Oooh, keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive

Long Lost Retake Lyrics: (the Acetate version loses the lyrics in red)
I was told a million times of all the troubles in my way
Might you 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, ooh, keep yourself alive, ooh
Take you all your time and money
And honey you'll survive

Ow

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
Then I'll grow a little bigger, maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times of all the troubles 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
Oooh, all you pretty people, keep yourself alive

Ooh, shake it

Keep yourself alive, oh yeah, keep yourself alive, ooh
Take your time and take my money
Keep you satisfied

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, come on, keep yourself alive, oh
Take you all your time and money
And honey you'll survive

Keep yourself alive, keep on, keep yourself alive, ooh
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, come on, come on, keep yourself alive
Come on and get it, get it, get it boy
Keep yourself alive

Keep yourself alive, keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive

Take you all your time and money
Honey, you will survive
Keep you satisfied
Oooh, keep yourself alive
Ohh, yeah
Now look on the bright side
Keep yourself alive
Yeah
Ooh yeah
Alive
Ooh

Doing Alright
Track 2. Written by Brian May and Tim Staffell. Album Version 4:09
This track was previously recorded by Smile and later as a duet between Brian May and Tim Staffell.
Alternate Versions:
1. BBC Version (4:10) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in February 1973) (click here for lyrics)
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 in joy or 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

Ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh
Oooohhh

Yesterday my life was in ruin
Now today God knows what I'm doing
Anyway, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Doing alright

Great King Rat
Track 3. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 5:42
Alternate Versions:
1. BBC Version (5:56) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in December 1973) (click here for lyrics)
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 people
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)
Would you like to see?

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

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 (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)
Would you like to see?
Show me

(Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)

A 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
Put 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
Very soon you're gonna be his disciple

Don't listen to what mama says
Not a word, no, 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
The evil man will fight
I told you once before (and that's no lie)
Ooh, here with me
The old man
The old man

A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
Just like I said before
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
The last time I tell you (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)
Would you like to see

My Fairy King
Track 4. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 4:07
Alternate Versions:
1. BBC Version (4:07) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in February 1973) (click here for lyrics)
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

Liar
Track 5. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 6:25
Additional Assistance:
John Luongo and Gary Hellman (Hollywood Records Remix)
Alternate Versions:
1. Single Edit (3:00) (only available in the US, on the 7" or spun gold 'Killer Queen') (an edit, which retains from 1:14 to 2:17, 3:27 to 3:46, 4:14 to 4:57, and 5:31 onwards)
2. Hollywood Records Remix (6:26) (on the US remaster CD only) (features additional percussion) (click here for lyrics)
3. The Eye Version (1:24) (on 'The Eye' disc 1) (a straight instrumental edit of the first 1:23 of the album version, ending on a fade)
4. BBC Version (6:28) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in February 1973) (click here for lyrics)
5. Live Version 1 (4:28) (on the 'Rare Live' video, from a rehearsal in 1973 at the Rainbow, London, 1974) (click here for lyrics)
6. Live Version 2 (4:15) (on the 'Live At The Rainbow' video, recorded in London 1974) (click here for lyrics)
7. Live Version 3 (1:51) (on the 'Live In Rio' video, recorded in Rio De Janiero, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
8. Live Version 4 (2:44) (on the 'Final Concert Live In Japan', recorded in Tokyo, 1985) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics: (lyrics in red are missing from the single edit)
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, oh, why don't you leave me alone

Brian

Liar, I have sailed the seas
Liar, from Mars to Mercury
Liar, I have drunk the wine
Liar, time after time
Liar, you're lying to me
Liar, oh, you're lying to me
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, that's what they keep calling me
Liar
Liar
Liar
Um, let me go

Listen
Oh, you gonna listen
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 serve you till your dying day (all day long)
I'm gonna keep you till your dying day (all day long)
I'm gonna kneel down by your side and pray
(All day long) and pray
(All day long) and pray
(All day long) and pray
(All day long), wow, (all day long), wow
(All day long), all day long
(All day long), yeah, all day long
(All day long), all day long
(All day long), all day long
Yeah, all day long
We have lift off

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, now let me tell you this
So now you know you could be dead before they let you

The Night Comes Down
Track 6. Written by Brian May. Album Version 4:23
The album version is actually the demo that Queen recorded in 1971 at De Lane Lea.
Produced by Louie Austin
Alternate Versions:
1. The Eye Version (0:46) (on 'The Eye' disc 1) (an edit of the start of the track, from approx 0:06 to 0:53)
Lyrics:
When I was young it came to me
And I could see the sun break in
Lucy was high and so was I
Dazzling, holding the world inside
Once I believed in everyone
Everyone and anyone can see

Oh, oh, the night comes down
And I get afraid of losing my way
Oh, oh, the night comes down
Oooooh
And it's dark again

Once I could laugh with everyone
Once I could see the good in me
The black and the white distinctively
Colouring, holding the world inside
Now all the world is grey to me
Nobody can see
You gotta believe me

Ooh, ooh, oh, the night comes down
And I get afraid of losing my way
Oh, oh, the night comes down, oooh

And it's dark again
And it's dark again
And it's dark again

Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll
Track 7. Written by Roger Taylor. Album Version 1:48
Roger Taylor sings lead vocals, and John Anthony provides backing vocals.
Alternate Versions:
1. The Eye Version (1:43) (on 'The Eye' disc 1) (a full instrumental version, with no lyrics at all)
2. BBC Version (1:59) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in December 1973) (click here for lyrics)
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 baby'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

Yeah, listen little baby
Let me tell you what it's all about

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

Get your high heeled guitar styled boots and some groovy 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
Modern times - rock 'n' roll

Son And Daughter
Track 8. Written by Brian May. Album Version 3:18
Alternate Versions:
1. BBC Version (7:08) (on 'Queen At The Beeb', recorded at the BBC in December 1973) (click here for lyrics)
2. Live Version 1 (2:40) (on the 'Live At The Rainbow' video, recorded in London 1974) (click here for lyrics)
3. Live Version 1 Reprise (1:41) (on the 'Live At The Rainbow' video, recorded in London 1974) (click here for lyrics)
Lyrics:
I want you
Woman, yeah

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

I want you
To be a woman, yeah

Tried to be a teacher
And a fisher of men
An equal people preacher
Will you lead us all the same
Oooh, well I travelled all round
The world and found
A brand new word for day
Oooh, watching the time
Mustn't linger behind
Pardon me I have to get away
Oooh, what'll you think of heaven
If it's a back from where you came

I want you
To be a woman
I want you to be a woman
Yeah

Um, little baby mama gonna save the world
Um, now just begun
Alright

Jesus
Track 9. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 3:45
Lyrics:
And then I saw him in the crowd
A lot of people had gathered around him
The beggars shouted
The lepers called him
The old man said nothing
He just stared about him

All going down (all going down) to see the (to see) Lord Jesus
All going down (all going down) to see the Lord Jesus
All going down

Then came a man before his feet he fell
'Unclean' said the leper, rang his bell
Felt the palm of a hand touch his head
'Go now, go now, you're a new man instead'

All going down (going down) to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
Ooh, right, all going down

It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was the leader of man

All going down (going down, yeah) to see the Lord Jesus
All going down (going down to Bethlehem) to see the Lord Jesus
All going down

It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was the leader of man

Yes we're
All going down (all going down) to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down

Seven Seas Of Rhye
Track 10. Written by Freddie Mercury. Album Version 1:08
This is just an instrumental preview to the track that would later appear on the 'Queen II' album.

Mad The Swine
Non Album Track. Written by Freddie Mercury. Original Version 3:19
This track was only released in 1991 as an extra track on the 'Headlong' 12" and CD and the US Remaster of this album.
This version was remixed by David Richards.
Lyrics:
Been here before a long time ago
But this time I wear no sandals
Ages past I gave all you people food and water
Three feet tall, so very small, I'm no trouble
I bring you thunder, lightning, sun and the rain
For all the people in the land

A message of love
I bring you from up above
All good children gather around
Come join your hands and sing along

They call me mad the swine
I guess I'm mad the swine
I've come to save you, save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord

I'll walk upon the water just as before
I'll help the meek and the mild
And the lepers and the blind
And all the creatures - great and small

Let me take you to the river without a ford
Oh and then one day you'll realise
You're all the same within his eyes
That's all I've come to say just like before

They call me mad the swine
Mad the swine
I've come to save you, save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord
Ooh
Fall now

All you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord
Don't ever fail me

Mad the swine
Mad the swine
I've come to save you, save you, fall now
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord
Hands and praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

Get down on my knees and praise the Lord