Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs


The Very Best Of Freddie Mercury Solo


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Freddie Mercury 'Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs'

Released 4 September 2006, reached no 6, on chart for 6 weeks, achieved Gold status. Released in the USA on 21 November 2006.
Available as a single or double CD set.
Disc One length 79:01, Disc Two length 75:06.

Disc One Tracklisting:
1. In My Defence (2000 Remix)
2. The Great Pretender
3. Living On My Own (1993 Radio Remix)
4. Made In Heaven
5. Love Kills
6. There Must Be More To Life Than This
7. Guide Me Home
8. How Can I Go On
9. Foolin' Around (1992 Remix)
10. Time (original single version)
11. Barcelona (album version)
12. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
13. I Was Born To Love You
14. The Golden Boy
15. Mr Bad Guy
16. The Great Pretender (Malouf Mix)
17. Love Kills (Star Rider Remix)
18. I Can Hear Music
19. Going Back
20. Guide Me Home (piano version by Thierry Lang)


Disc Two Tracklisting:
1. Love Kills (Sunshine People Radio Mix)
2. Made In Heaven (Extended Version)
3. Living On My Own (The Egg Remix)
4. Love Kills (Rank 1 Remix)
5. Mr Bad Guy (Bad Circulation Version)
6. I Was Born To Love You (George Demure Almost Vocal Mix)
7. My Love Is Dangerous (Extended Version)
8. Love Makin' Love (Demo)
9. Love Kills (Pixel '82 Remix)
10. I Was Born To Love You (Extended Version)
11. Foolin' Around (Early Version)
12. Living On My Own (No More Brothers Extended Mix)
13. Love Kills (More Older Rework by The Glimmers)
14. Your Kind Of Lover (Vocal & Piano Version)
15. Let's Turn It On (A-Capella Version)  

 

Disc 1 tracks 1 and 10 produced by Dave Clark and Freddie Mercury
Disc 1 tracks 2, 7, 8, 11, 14 and 16 produced by Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran and David Richards.
Disc 1 tracks 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 13 and 15, and Disc 2 tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 produced by Freddie Mercury and Mack.
Disc 1 tracks 5 and 17, and Disc 2 tracks 1, 4, 9 and 13 produced by Freddie Mercury, Georgio Moroder and Mack.
Disc 1 tracks 18 and 19 produced by Robin Cable.

Management by Jim Beach
Audio co-ordinated and compiled by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson
Cover image courtesy of the Mercury Phoenix Trust, based on a photograph by Neal Preston
Cover design: Outside Line
Booklet Design: Richard Gray
Photography by Simon Fowler, Peter Hince, A Sawa and Peter Sinclair

Dedicated to Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs  


Disc one contains nineteen tracks from Freddie's solo career, containing a much more representative selection than 'The Freddie Mercury Album', with 7 tracks from 'Mr Bad Guy', 4 from 'Barcelona', the two Larry Lurex tracks, 'Love Kills', 'The Great Pretender', 'Time' and 'In My Defence'. In most cases, the standard album or single versions are used, but it additionally includes a new remix of 'Love Kills', the Malouf mix of 'The Great Pretender' and a version of 'Guide Me Home' by pianist Thierry Lang.

Disc two features a mixture of new remixes (four good, two bad), extended versions, and studio rarities, most of which are taken from the 'Solo' 10CD/2DVD boxed set, with the exception of an exclusive early version of Mr Bad Guy (the Bad Circulation Version).

Overall, disc one is a very good compilation which highlights the varied range of Freddie's solo work, but disc two is spoilt by having so many remixes.

A DVD titled 'Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs' was also released but this features completely different content to the album.

 

Singles:


In My Defence


Track 1. Written by Dave Clark, David Soames and Jeff Daniels. Length 3:52.
This is the 2000 Remix of the track which appeared on the 1986 'Time' soundtrack album, and full details can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page.
Remixed by Dave Clark at Abbey Road Studios, May-June 2000.

Lyrics:
In my defence, what is there to say?
All the mistakes we made must be faced today
It's not easy now, knowing where to start
While the world we love tears itself apart

I'm just a singer with a song
How can I try to right the wrong?
For just a singer with a melody
I'm caught in between, with a fading dream

In my defence, what is there to say?
We destroy the love, it's our way
We never listen enough, never face the truth
Then like a passing song
Love is here and then it's gone

I'm just a singer with a song
How can I try to right the wrong?
For just a singer with a melody
I'm caught in between, with a fading dream

Just a singer with a song
How can I try to right the wrong?
I'm just a singer with a melody
I'm caught in between, with a fading dream
Caught in between, with a fading dream
Caught in between, with a fading dream

Oh what on earth (ooohh)
Oh what on earth (ooh, ooh, ooohh)
How do I try?
Do we live or die?
Oh help me God
Please help me

The Great Pretender


Track 2. Written by Buck Ram. Length 3:25.
This is the original single version of the track which was released in 1987, and full details can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page. The compilation also includes the Malouf Remix of the track.

Lyrics:
Oh yes, I'm the great pretender (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
Pretending I'm doing well (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
My need is such
I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no-one can tell

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
Adrift in a world of my own (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I play the game
But to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone

Too real is this feeling of make believe (oooooh, make believe)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal (oooh, ooh, oooh, ooh, oooh)

Oh, oh yes, I'm the great pretender (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
Just laughing and gay like a clown (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see (oooh, oooh, oh, you see)
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're still around

Yeah, (ooooh-oh-ooh-oh-oooh)
Woo-hoo
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal (real, feel, what my heart)

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're
Pretending that you're still around

Yeah, yeah
Oh yes

Living On My Own


Track 3. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:36.
This is the 1993 Radio Remix of the track taken from the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.
Full details of all remixes can be found on the 'Living On My Own' Remixes page.

Lyrics:
Sometimes I feel I'm gonna break down and cry
Nowhere to go, nothing to do with my time
I get lonely
So lonely
Living on my own
Come on baby

Sometimes I feel I'm gonna break down and cry
Nowhere to go, nothing to do with my time
I get lonely
So lonely
Living on my own

Sometimes I feel I'm always walking too fast (so lonely)
And everything is coming down on me, down on me
I go crazy
Oh so crazy
Living on my own

Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely yeah
Got to be some good times ahead

Sometimes I feel nobody gives me no warning
Find my head is always up in the clouds
In a dreamworld
It's not easy
Living on my own, my own, my own

Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely yeah
Got to be some good times ahead

Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely yeah
Got to be some good times ahead


(Ad-libbed section)

Come on baby
Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I don't have no time for no monkey business
Dee do day day
Dee do day day
I get so lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely yeah
Got to be some good times ahead

Made In Heaven


Track 4. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 4:05.
Taken from the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.

Lyrics:
I'm taking my ride with destiny
Willing to play my part
Living with painful memories
Loving with all my heart

Made in heaven, made in heaven
It was all meant to be, yeah
Made in heaven, made in heaven
That's what they say
Can't you see
That's what everybody says to me
Can't you see
Oh I know, I know, I know that it's true
Yes, it's really meant to be
Deep in my heart

I'm having to learn to pay the price
They're turning me upside down
Waiting for possibilities
Don't see too many around

Made in heaven, yes, made in heaven
It's for all to see
Made in heaven, made in heaven
That's what everybody says
Everybody says to me
It was really meant to be
Oh, can't you see
Yeah, everybody, everybody says
Yes, it was meant to be, yeah, yeah

When stormy weather comes around
It was made in heaven
When sunny skies break through behind the clouds
I wish it could last forever, yeah, yeah
Wish it could last forever, forever, oooh
Made in heaven

I'm playing my role in history
Looking to find my goal
Taking in all this misery
But giving it all my soul

Made in heaven, made in heaven
It was all meant to be, yeah
Made in heaven, made in heaven
That's what everybody says
Wait and see
It was really meant to be
So plain to see, yeah
Everybody, everybody, everybody tells me so
Yes, it was plain to see
Yes, it was meant to be
Written in the stars

Love Kills


Track 5. Written by Freddie Mercury and Georgio Moroder. Length 4:28.
This is the original single version of the track released in 1984, and full details can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page. The compilation also includes the Star Rider Remix of the track.

Lyrics:
Ooh, ooh, oooh

Love don't give no compensation
Love don't pay no bills
Love don't give no indication
Love just won't stand still

Love kills, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Ruling your heart line
Stay for a lifetime
Won't let you go
Cause love (love) love (love) love won't leave you alone

Love don't take no reservation
Love is no square deal
Hey, love don't give no justification
It strikes like cold steel

Love kills, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Burning your life line
Gives you a hard time
Won't let you go
Cause love (love) love (love) love won't leave you alone

Hey, love can play with your emotions
Open invitation to your heart
Hey, love kills

Play with your emotions
Open invitation to your heart, to your heart
Love kills, love kills, hey
Love kills, love kills
Love kills, kills, kills, kills
Love can play with your emotions
Open invitation

Love kills, hey, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Ruling your heartline
Won't let you go

Love kills, hey, drills you through your heart
Love kills, tears you right apart
It won't let go
It won't let go
Love kills
Yeah, yeah

Ooh, ooh, oooh
Ooh, ooh, oooh

Ooh, ooh, oooh
Ooh, ooh, oooh

Ooh, ooh, oooh

There Must Be More To Life Than This


Track 6. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 2:58.
Taken from the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.

Lyrics:
There must be more to life than this
There must be more to life than this
How do we cope in a world without love
Mending all those broken hearts
And tending to those crying faces

There must be more to life than living
There must be more than meets the eye
Why should it be just a case of black or white
There must be more to life than this

Why is this world so full of hate
People dying everywhere
And we destroy what we create
People fighting for their human rights
But we just go on saying c'est la vie
So this is life

There must be more to life than killing
A better way for us to survive
What good is life, if in the end we all must die
There must be more to life than this

There must be more to life than this
There must be more to life than this
I live in hope for a world filled with love
Then we can all just live in peace

There must be more to life, much more to life
There must be more to life, more to life than this

Guide Me Home


Track 7. Written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran. Length 2:40.
This track segues into 'How Can I Go On', and is taken from the 1988 album 'Barcelona'.

Lyrics:
Now the wind has lost my sail
Now the scent has left my trail
Who will find me
Take care and side with me
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong
Once more

Where is my star in heaven's bough
Where is my strength, I need it now
Who can save me
Lead me to my destiny (ooooh)
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong
Once more

Who will find me
Take care and side with me
Guide me back
Safely to my home
Where I belong
Once more

How Can I Go On


Track 8. Written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran. Length 4:00.
This track segues from 'Guide Me Home', and is taken from the 1988 album 'Barcelona'.

Lyrics:
How can I go on
How can I go on this way

When all the salt is taken from the sea
I stand dethroned, I'm naked and I bleed
But when your finger points so savagely
Is anybody there to believe in me
To hear my plea and take care of me

How can I go on
From day to day
Who can make me strong in every way
Where can I be safe
Where can I belong
In this great big world of sadness
How can I forget
Those beautiful dreams that we shared
They're lost and they're nowhere to be found
How can I go on

Sometimes I start to tremble in the dark
I cannot see when people frighten me
I try to hide myself so far from the crowd
Is anybody there to comfort me (on and on and on and on precious Lord, hear my plea, yeah)
Lord take care of me

How can I go on (how can I go on)
From day to day (from day to day)
Who can make me strong (who can make me strong)
In every way (in every way)
Where can I be safe (where can I be safe)
Where can I belong (where can I belong)
In this great big world of sadness (in this great big world of sadness)
How can I forget (how can I forget)
Those beautiful dreams that we shared (those beautiful dreams that we shared)
They're lost and they're nowhere to be found
How can I go on

Dee, dee, dee, dee, de, de, dee
Ooh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh, oooh, oooh
Dee, dee, dee, dee, de, de, dee
Ooh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh, oooh, oooh (how can I go on)
Dee, dee, dee, dee, de, de, dee
Ooh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh, oooh, oooh (how can I go on)
Dee, dee, dee, dee, de, de, dee (go on, go on, go on, yeah, yeah)
Ooh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh, oooh, oooh (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Foolin' Around


Track 9. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:34.
This is the 1992 remix of the track which appears on the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.

Lyrics:
You're so beautiful, you just lay it on me
Foxy lady, you really are the greatest show in town (eh-op, eh-op)
You want to play
You wanna eat your cake and have it your way
You got it easy and you don't give a damn
Fooling around
You just keep fooling around with me
(Keep on fooling around with me baby)

Walking down the street, people watching closely
Such a tease, you can turn on any man you want (eh-op, eh-op)
You masquerade
You're the catch of the season every night and day
You, you, you don't have any time for me
You just keep fooling around with me, yes you do, actually

Fooling around (eh-op)
Everywhere I go you're the only, only, only sexy lady
Fooling around (eh-op, eh-op)
All you do is keep me hanging around
You're really so hard to please, hey
You've gotta really watch that baby
Yeah, yeah, wow

Yeah, yeah

You just, you just, fooling around with me
You just, you just, fooling around with me
You keep fooling, you keep fooling
Hey, fooling, fooling, fooling, fooling, fooling

Want to play, but you always want it all your own way
You got it easy but you don't give a damn
Fooling around, you just keep fooling around with me
Just keep fooling around with me, yeah

Fool, fool, fool, fool for you baby
Keep fooling around, yeah, yeah
I'm a fool, fool, fool, for you sexy baby
Keep fooling around
I'm a fool, fool, fool, baby
Hanging around

Time


Track 10. Written by Dave Clark and John Christie. Length 3:59.
This is the 2000 Remix of the track which appeared on the 1986 'Time' soundtrack album, and full details can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page.

Lyrics:
Time waits for nobody (ooooh, oooh)
Time waits for nobody (ooooh, ooh, oooh)
We all must plan our hopes together
Or we'll have no more future at all
Time waits for nobody

We might as well be deaf and dumb and blind
I know that sounds unkind
But it seems to me we've not listened to
Or spoken about it all
The fact that time is running out
For us all

Time
Waits for nobody
Time waits for no-one
We've got to build this world together
Or we'll have no more future at all
Because time
It waits for nobody

You don't need me tell you what's gone wrong (gone wrong, gone wrong)
You know what's going on
But it seems to me we've not cared enough (ooooh, oooh)
Or confided in each other at all
It seems like we've all got our backs against the wall

(Time) Time waits for nobody
(Time) Ooh, waits for no-one
We've got to trust in one another (ooooh, oooh)
Or there'll be no more future at all

(Time)
Yeah, time waits for nobody, no, no
Time don't wait for no-one
Let's learn to be friends with one another (ooooh, oooh)
Or there'll be no more future at all

Time, time, time, time
Waits for nobody
Waits for nobody
Time, time, time, time
Waits for nobody at all

Time waits for nobody, yeah
Time don't wait (don't wait), waits for no-one
Let us free this world forever (ooooh, oooh)
And build a brand new future for us all
Ahh, ah, ahh, ah
Time

Waits
For nobody, nobody, nobody
For no-one

Barcelona


Track 11. Written by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran. Length 5:37.
Taken from the 1988 album 'Barcelona', this is the full album version, rather than the single version.

Lyrics:
Barcelona, Barcelona, oooh, ooh
Barcelona, Barcelona, oooh, ooh

Viva
Ahhhhhhhh
Ah, ah, ah, ahhh

I had this perfect dream
Un sueño me envolvió
This dream was me and you
Tal vez estás aquí
I want all the world to see
Un instinto me guiaba
A miracle sensation
My guide and inspiration
Now my dream is slowly coming true

The wind is a gentle breeze (oooh)
El me habló de ti (ah, ah, ah, ahh)
The bells are ringing out
El canto vuela
They're calling us together
Guiding us forever
Wish my dream would never go away

Barcelona
It was the first time that we met
Barcelona
How can I forget
The moment that you stepped into the room
You took my breath away

Barcelona
La música vibró
Barcelona
Y ella nos unió
And if God willing
We will meet again
Someday

Let the songs begin
Déjalo nacer
Let the music play
Ahhhhhhhh
Make the voices sing
Nace un gran amor
Start the celebration
Ven a mi
And cry
Grita
Come alive
Viva
And shake the foundations from the skies
Ah, ahh, shaking all our lives

Barcelona
Such a beautiful horizon
Barcelona
Like a jewel in the sun
Por ti seré gaviota de tu bella mar
Barcelona
Suenan las campanas
Barcelona
Abre tus puertas al mundo

If God is willing
If God is willing
If God is willing
Friends until the end
Viva

Ahhhhhhh
Barcelona

Ah, ah, ahh, ahhh

Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow


Track 12. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:45.
Taken from the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.
Lyrics:
You had to kill the conversation
You always had the upper hand
Got caught in love and stepped in sinking sand (sand, sand)
You had to go and ruin all our plans

Packed your bags and you're leaving home
Got a one way ticket and you're all set to go
But we have one more day together, so

Love me like there's no tomorrow
Hold me in your arms, tell me you mean it
This is our last goodbye and very soon it will be over
But today just love me like there's no tomorrow

I guess we drift alone in separate ways
I don't have all that far to go
God knows, I've learnt to play the lonely man
I've never felt so low in all my life

We were born to be just losers
So I guess there's a limit on how far we go
But we only have one more day together, so (oooh, ooh, oooh, ooooh)

Love me like there's no tomorrow
Hold me in your arms, tell me you mean it
This is our last goodbye and very soon it will be over
But today just love me like there's no tomorrow

Tomorrow - God knows just where I'll be
Tomorrow - who knows just what's in store for me
Anything can happen but we only have one more day together, yeah (oooohhh)
Just one more day forever, so (ooooh, ah, ah, ah, ahh)

Love me like there's no tomorrow
Hold me in your arms, tell me you mean it
This is our last goodbye and very soon it will be over
But today just love me like there's no tomorrow

So love me like there's no tomorrow
Hold me in your arms, tell me you mean it
This is our last goodbye and very soon it will be over
But today just love me like there's no tomorrow


I Was Born To Love You


Track 13. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:37.
Taken from the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.

Lyrics:
An amazing feeling - coming through

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yes, I was born to take care of you
Every single day of my life

You are the one for me
I am the man for you
You were made for me
You're my ecstasy
If I was given every opportunity
I'd kill for your love, hey

So take a chance with me
Let me romance with you
I'm caught in a dream
And my dream's come true
So hard to believe
This is happening to me
An amazing feeling
Comin' through

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yeah, I was born to take care of you, huh
Every single day of my life

I wanna love you
I love every little thing about you
I wanna love you, love you, love you
Born - to love you
Born - to love you
Yes (born) I was born to love you
Born - to love you
Born - to love you
Every single day of my life

I was born to take care of you
Every single day of my life

Alright - hey, hey
Every single day of my life

I was born to love you
With every single beat of my heart
Yeah, I was born to take care of you, honey
Every single day of my life

The Golden Boy


Track 14. Written by Freddie Mercury, Mike Moran and Tim Rice. Length 6:04.
Taken from the 1988 album 'Barcelona'.

Lyrics:
The boy had a way with words, he sang
He moved with grace, he entertained
So naturally, no gesture out of place
His road in life was clearly drawn, he didn't hesitate
He played, they saw, he conquered as the master of
As the master of his fate

The girl had an iron soul, no-one could recognise
Material ambition that her gentleness disguised
She gave herself to him certain of his fame
Wanted him for luxury, for limelight and his name

And then he sang to her

I love you for your silence
I love you for your peace
The still and calm releases
That sweep into my soul
That slowly take control

I love you for your passion
I love you for your fire
The violent desire
That burns me in it's flame
A love I dare not name

His rise was irresistible, yeah, he grew into the part
His explanation (oooh, oooh) simply that he suffered for his art
No base considerations (oooh, oooh) of some glittering reward
The prize was knowing that (oooh, oooh) his work was noticed and adored

Hey, I love you (yes, I love you) for your silence (for your silence)
I love you for your peace
The still and calm releases (oooooh)
That sweep into my soul
That slowly (oooh, ooh) slowly takes control

Yes, he told the truth, oh lord
Yes, he told the truth (and he told the truth)

Accepting every honour with a masterly display
Of well rehearsed reluctance to be singled out this way
He started to believe that he was all they said and more (oooh, ooh, ooh, ooooh, and more)
While she forgot, she forgot the reasons (reasons) she had wanted him before

Yeah
(I love you) I love you for your passion (for your passion)
I love you for your fire (ahhhhh)
The violent desire (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oooh)
That burns me in it's flame
(Ooooh) A love I dare, I dare not name

The still and calm releases (releases)
That sweep into my soul (sweep into my soul)
That slowly (slowly), slowly (slowly)
Slowly (slowly), slowly (slowly), slowly (slowly)
Slowly (slowly), slowly
Take control

And when at last they fell apart
She wished that she could be the hardened heart
Of yesterday, as cynical as he
By changing for the better
She had changed things for the worse
The words that made them happy once now echoed
Echoed as a curse

Mr Bad Guy


Track 15. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 4:10.
Taken from the 1985 album 'Mr Bad Guy'.

Lyrics:
Let's go chasing rainbows in the sky
It's my invitation
Let's all take a trip on my ecstasy

I'm Mr Bad Guy
Yes I'm everybody's Mr Bad Guy
Can't you see I'm Mr Mercury
Woh-oh, spread your wings and fly away with me

Hey, you're big daddy's got no place to stay
Bad communication
I feel like the president of the USA

Mr Bad Guy
Yes I'm everybody's Mr Bad Guy
Can't you see I'm Mr Mercury
Oh-oh, spread your wings and fly away with me

I'm Mr Bad Guy
They're all afraid of me
I can ruin people's lives, yeah, yeah
Mr Bad Guy, they're all afraid of me
It's the only way to be
That's my destiny, yeah
Mr Bad Guy, Mr Bad Guy, Bad Guy

It's the only way for me
It's my destiny
Oooh yeah, wow

Mr Bad Guy
Yes I'm everybody's Mr Bad Guy
Can't you see this is my destiny
Oh, oh, spread your wings and fly away with me

The Great Pretender

(Malouf Remix)


Track 16. Written by Buck Ram. Length 3:39.
This is a remix of the track. The compilation also includes the original single version.
Full details of the original track can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page.

Lyrics:
Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Pretending I'm doing well
My need is such
I pretend too much
I'm lonely but no-one can tell

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Adrift in a world of my own
I play the game
But to my real shame
You've left me to dream all alone

Too real is this feeling of make believe (oooooh, make believe)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal (oooh, ooh, oooh, ooh, oooh)

Oh, oh yes, I'm the great pretender (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
Just laughing and gay like a clown (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see (oooh, oooh, oh, you see)
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're still around

Yeah, yeah (ooooh-oh-ooh-oh-oooh)
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal (real, feel, what my heart)

Oh yes, I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown (oooh-ooh-oooh-ooh)
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you're
Pretending that you're still around

Yeah, yeah
Oh yes

Love Kills

(Star Rider Remix)


Track 17. Written by Freddie Mercury and Georgio Moroder. Length 3:38.
This is a remix of the track. The compilation also includes the original single version.
Full details of the original track can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page, and all remixes can be found on the 'Love Kills' Remixes page.
Produced by Star Rider.

Lyrics:
Love kills, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Ruling your heart line
Stay for a lifetime
Won't let you go
Cause love, love, love won't leave you alone

Love don't give no compensation
Love don't pay no bills
Love don't give no indication
Love just won't stand still

Love kills, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Ruling your heart line
Stay for a lifetime
Won't let you go
Cause love, love, love won't leave you alone

Love don't take no reservation
Love is no square deal
Hey, love don't give no justification
It strikes like cold steel

Love kills, drills you through the heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Burning your life line
Won't let you go

Love kills, hey, drills you through your heart
Love kills, tears you right apart
It won't let go
It won't let go

Love kills, yeah, yeah

Ooh, ooh, oooh
Ooh, ooh, oooh

Ooh, ooh, oooh
Ooh, ooh, oooh

Love kills, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start

Love don't give no compensation
Love don't pay no bills
Love don't give no justification
Love just won't stand still

Love kills, drills you through your heart
Love kills, scars you from the start
It's just a living pastime
Burning your lifeline
Gives you a hard time
Won't let you go
Cause love (love) love (love) love won't leave you alone, yeah

I Can Hear Music


Track 18. Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Length 3:27.
Recorded in 1972, featuring Roger Taylor and Brian May, and released as a single under the name 'Larry Lurex'.
Full details of this track can be found on the Pre-Queen Songs page.

Lyrics:
This is the way
I only dreamed it could be
The way that it is
Oh, no, when you are holding me
I never had a love of my own
Maybe that's why when we're all alone

I can hear music
I can hear music
Sounds of the city, baby
Seems to disappear
Oh well, I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near

Loving you - it keeps me satisfied
And I can't explain, oh no
The way I'm feeling inside
You look at me we kiss and then
I close my eyes and here it comes again

I can hear music
I can hear music
Sounds of the city, baby
Seems to disappear
Oh well, I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near

I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near
I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near

Going Back


Track 19. Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Length 3:31.
Recorded in 1972, featuring Roger Taylor and Brian May, and released as a single under the name 'Larry Lurex'.
Full details of this track can be found on the Pre-Queen Songs page.

Lyrics:
I think I'm going back
To the things I learnt so well in my youth
I think I'm returning to
Those days when I was young enough to know the truth

Now there are no games
To only pass the time
No more colouring books
No Christmas bells to chime
But thinking young and growing older
Is a sin
And I can play the game of life to win

I can recall a time
When I wasn't ashamed to reach out
To old friends
And now I think I've got
A lot more than just my toys to lend

Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboard glide
And everyday can be
My magic carpet ride
And I can play hide and seek with my fears
And live my days instead of counting my years

And everyone debates
The true reality
I'd rather see the world
The way it used to be
A little bit of freedom's all we lack
So catch me if you can
I'm going back