A Night at the Opera
Reportedly, at the time of its release, the most expensive album ever made. The album was recorded at many different studios that has particular "specialities". For example, the drums were recorded at XX studio's.
The album cover featured a version of the Queen crest originally designed by Freddie. The crest is derived from the bands star signs.
The title of the album was taken from the Marx brother's film of the same name. A theme that would continue for the next album. Many of the songs that would feature on the next album would be recorded around the same time as the songs for "A Night at the Opera".
Freddie once commented that perhaps the two albums would be packaged as a set at some time in the future.
Tracklist
-
Death on Two Legs
The song was subtitled "dedicated to...." Norman Sheffield, Queen's former manager up until the Night At The Opera album assumed that it was dedicated to him and threatened to sue. The two parties settled the case , with Queen agreeing to pay an undisclosed sum to Sheffield.
View lyrics
You suck my blood like a leech
You break the law and you preach
Screw my brain till it hurts
You?ve taken all my money
And you want more
Misguided old mule with your pig headed rules
With your narrow minded cronies
Who are fools of the first division
Death on two legs
You?re tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You?ve 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 all right
Does it plague you at night?
Do you feel good feel good?
You 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 schoolboy
Let me tan your hide
A dog with disease
You?re the king of the ?sleaze?
Put your money where your mouth is
Mister know-all
Was the fin on your back
Part of the deal? (shark)
Death on two legs
You?re tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You?ve never had a heart (you never did) of your own
(right from the start)
Insane you should be put inside
You?re a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride
Should be made unemployed
Then make yourself null and void
Make me feel good I feel good -
Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
View lyrics
I go out to work on Monday morning
Tuesday I go off to honeymoon
I'll be back again before it's time for sunnydown
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 lazing on a Sunday
Lazing on a Sunday afternoon -
I'm In Love With My Car
It was the b-side to the original release of Bohemian Rhapsody.<br /> <br /> The song was dedicated to John Harris, boy racer to the end (John Harris was one of Queen's early roadies, the Jazz album is also dedicated to him).<br /> <br /> Roger does seem to be a car enthusiast with a "go cart track" in his back garden at one time, and various visits to Formula 1 motoring events. <br /> <br /> On many tours, Roger would sing lead and play drums for this song. On one occasion he forgot the lyrics and Freddie took over the lead vocal duties.<br /> <br /> The song has featured in many different advertisements, for a broad range of products (not just cars).
View lyrics
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
When my hand's 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'll have to forget her
Rather buy me a new carburetor
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
Gotta feel for my automobile
I'm in love with my car
String back gloves in my automolove -
You're My Best Friend Single
John wrote this song about his wife Veronica.<br /> <br /> It remains one of the most popular Queen songs to be played on "easy-listening" radio stations.<br /> <br /> It was the second single released from A Night At the Opera, and a particularly different sort of song from Bohemian Rhapsody. This clearly displayed the diversity of musical styles within Queen.
View lyrics
Oooh you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you you're all I see
Oooh you make me live now honey
Oooh you make me live
Oh 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
Oh you're my best friend
Oooh you make me live
Oh I've been wandering round
But I still come back to you
In rain or shine
You've stood by me girl
I'm 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
Oooh you make me live now honey
Oooh you make me live
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
You're my best friend
Oooh you make me live
I'm happy at home
You're my best friend
Oh you're my best friend
Oooh you make me live
You you're my best friend -
Sweet Lady
-
Prophets Song
A Brian May composition of epic proportion. It is often overlooked due to the inclusion of Bohemian Rhapsody, the Prophets Song is no less impressive. At over 8 minutes, it is the longest studio song Queen ever released.
View 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 hand to 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 graves
'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
Ah ah 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 babes
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 round 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 flee for your lives who heed me not
Let all your treasures make you fear for your life
Deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you
Ah people can you hear me?
And now I know and now I know
And now I know and now I know
That you can hear me
And now I know 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
The earth will shake in two will break
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
Wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo wo
Listen to the wise listen to the wise listen to the wise
Listen to the wise listen to the wise man
La la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la
La la
La la
Come here I hear you
Come here I hear you
Come here I hear you
Ah ah ah ah ah
Listen to the man listen to the man listen to the man listen to the mad man
God gave 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!
But still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the madman! -
Love of my Life
The song remained on the Sao Paulo (South America) chart for over 12 months. During the pioneering South American tours the entire audience of any massive stadium would sing along with the song. <br /> <br /> The song became a perminent fixture in any Queen show, with the crowd participation mandatory.<br /> <br /> It was released as a single from Live Killers, Queen's first live album.<br /> <br /> Brian May is featured playing the harp on the record.
View 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 you now desert 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
You will remember
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way
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
Love of my life
Love of my life
Yeah -
Good Company
Brian plays a ukele that he got from Japan.
View 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
Oohoo oohoo
Take care of those you call your own and keep good company
Soon I grew and happy too
My very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J
The girl from number four
And very soon I begged her
Won't you keep me company?
Oohoo oohoo, oohoo oohoo
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
And keep good company -
Bohemian Rhapsody Single
Probably Queen's most famous song. A 5 minute 55 second masterpiece.<br /> <br /> Released originally in 1975 as a single, it went to number 1 in many different countries. In the UK it stayed at the top for nine weeks.<br /> <br /> The accompanying video is heralded as the first "promotional video", setting a trend for how music would be marketed. The video was shot in just one day, at a cost of 5,000 pounds. The main reason for shooting the video was that it would be impossible to play the entire song live. The operatic section had over 180 overdubs.<br /> <br /> Queen started out playing Bohemian Rhapsody (or Bo Rhap) as part of a medley. Later, they played the song through, but left the stage during the operatic section, to return for the "rock section" in changed clothes. <br /> <br /> Limited edition of 200 in blue vinyl (promotion only) released in 1978 to commemorate the award of the "Queen's Award For Export" to EMI records on 26/7/78<br /> <br /> In 1995 a purple vinyl was issued by the Fan Club to commemorate the anniversary of the songs release.<br /> <br /> In 1991 the song was re-released in tribute to Freddie with "These Are The Days of Our Lives" as a b-side. It entered the UK chart at number 1 and stayed there for five weeks selling 1.1 million copies. It reached high in the US charts in 1992, partly as a result of its inclusion in the film "Waynes World". All money from the single's sale was given to various Aids charities.
View lyrics
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,I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go,
A 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,
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 (any way the wind blows)
I don't want to die,
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, scaramouche will you do the Fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening me
Galileo,Galileo,
Galileo Galileo
Galileo figaro, Magnifico
But I'm just a poor boy and 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
Will not let you go let me go
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
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 out of here
Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me,
Any way the wind blows -
God Save the Queen
Brian May arranged the British national anthem. It would be played at the end of a live show.<br /> <br /> Later, in 2002, Brian would perform the national anthem on roof of Buckingham Palace the Queen's Golden Jubilee.