The meaning behind the lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody.

I know it is stupid to debate about the meaning of Bohemina Rhapsody, because we will never know for sure but there is much more likely that Bohemian Rhapsody is about him then fictional character. Many many of his songs are autobiographical like Living on my own, It’s a hard life, Somebody to love, Don’t stop me now (he liked parties very much), We are the champions, Love of my life, songs from Mr. bad guy and many many many others.

I even heard some interview where somebody mentioned that many if not most of his songs are autobiographical.

One of the most obvious interesting thing is, that he mentioned in one interview that Bohemian Rhapsody is a song “of extreme” and there is another interview where he mentioned that he is a man “of extreme”. It is not evidence but a good assumption that he and BR are well connected in one way or another. If somebody could post links of this two interviews…..

Although Freddie was raised in the Zoroastrian faith, he wrote songs with references to Christianity and other religions. I think that Bohemian Rhapsody is about Judas dealing with his betrayal of Jesus. Judas realizes that his betrayal caused Jesus' death, and he tortured himself over this, eventually committing suicide. When he tried to return the 30 pieces of silver, he was ridiculed and cast aside. In the end, nothing in his life really mattered to him.

I think most, if not all of it, may refer to the goings on at the Bohemia grove in northern California.....i think Freddie would know about it, and put it in a song. That kind of thing is super clandestine society stuff, and that may explain why he would talk about it much.....

I think most, if not all of it, may refer to the goings on at the Bohemia grove in northern California.....i think Freddie would know about it, and put it in a song. That kind of thing is super clandestine society stuff, and that may explain why he would talk about it much.....

Hah.


It's about Freddie coming to terms with his lifestyle and the anticipated falling out with his family if they rejected him for being gay.

The middle section is an interpretation of "the fates" and his parents and their religious damnation of him. (Let me go).... the fear of God takes voice as "thunder bolt and lightning very very frightening me"

Galileo very strangely but succinctly represents reason. Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me represents "Jesus, just let me live! " I can't change anything... angry rationalization against religious dogma.

The end is reconciliation that it doesn't really matter anyways. In dealing with an operatic theme about a "wanderer" (Bohemian) it's all very simple to see.

The song is seen as camp because of the hysterics but it's an open apology and coming to terms of things in a stylistically large way


As for posters who claim it's in fact about nothing or Freddie didn't know what it was about. ... that's hardly believable, I'm sure even if he TRIED to Be evasive it wouldn't work.


That reminds me of a Brian Wilson quote I can't attribute at the time. He stated that one of his biographers/friends knew more about himself than he did his own damn self. As such, interpretations of songs from the golden era and through comparison with periods in his life.

In Brian's case it's simply because of his drug and alcohol abuse. ... Alice Cooper claims he doesn't remember recording the album special forces. (Not a big deal cause it mostly sucks)

Every song like Bohemian Rhapsody has its own meaning. Though I think , this song comes up with something deeper than that. "Goodbye Everybody - I've got to go gotta leave you all behind and face the truth" is something that relates to someone who did wrong. It is speculated that this song is unfolding tale that a man made a grave mistake and wants to face it.

I wanted to chime in with my own theory. I believe that some of the lyrics are references to the Neapolitan 16th century street performance style known as Commedia dell'Arte, specifically, the import to England that became popularized in the puppetry of the Punch and Judy performers.

Although there are no set scripts or plays for Punch and Judy routines, there are common themes and characters that have developed over time and carried on by tradition. Some of these are referenced in "Bohemian Rhapsody":

First off:
"I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?"

The "silhouetto of a man" is a reference to Commedia dell'Arte shadow puppets that were common on the streets of Naples and other parts of southern Italy.

"Scaramouche" is one of the most common characters that appear in the Punch and Judy puppet shows. He is also imported from Italy, and is dressed to represent an effete Spanish dandy. He often comes out on stage to dance the Fandango, an 18th century Spanish dance.

Next:
"(Galileo) Galileo.
(Galileo) Galileo,
Galileo Figaro
Magnifico."

This I believe is a reference to the Italian Commedia dell'Arte again. Galileo sometimes appeared in the street performers' skits as someone of ridicule - a foolish wise man, whom the Catholic Church had to censor for spreading crazy ideas.

Figaro, of course, is a reference to late 18th century opera "The Barber of Seville", by Pierre Beaumarchais. Beaumarchais based his play directly on Commedia dell'Arte characters and style, including using the name Figaro, which had been a standard character portrayed by street performers in Naples for over 100 years.

Finally:

"Oh, mama mia, mama mia (Mama mia, let me go.)
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me."

There is a theme throughout this part of "Bohemian Rhapsody" that uses Italian phrases, again probably a reference to Commedia dell'Arte.

The reference to Beelzebub is also from Commedia dell'Arte, and is something that may be seen in the Punch and Judy shows in England. Beelzebub is one of the names, of course, of the Devil, and was also a stock character used by the Neapolitan street performers. One of the frequently used characters in the Punch and Judy shows is also the Devil, who is sometimes also referred to as Satan or Beelzebub.

So there you have it - "Bohemian Rhapsody", I believe, draws heavily from Commedia dell'Arte, which was the traditional style used by the street performers of Naples, Italy from the 16th to 19th centuries.

In addition to my previous post about the influences of Commedia dell'Arte on "Bohemian Rhapsody", I wanted to add that the entire plot of the song could be almost precisely a stylized version of a Commedia dell'Arte performance, brought up to date. The song talks about a young man who has killed someone, and now must face the consequences of his actions, and is calling for his sweet mother, and bidding farewell to his friends. This moral play was very typical of many of the Commedia dell'Arte performances from the 17th century on.

So there you have it - "Bohemian Rhapsody", I believe, draws heavily from Commedia dell'Arte, which was the traditional style used by the street performers of Naples, Italy from the 16th to 19th centuries.

This painting shows a scene of a Commedia dell'Arte performance, with the main character on the left preparing to fight and kill his protagonist on the right (both holding knives). The main character's mother hovers behind him, and the constable is coming from stage left to arrest him for murder. Almost a complete depiction of the events described in "Bohemian Rhapsody".

http://www.wikigallery.org/paintings/314001-314500/314383/painting1.jpg

Finally we know!

Well I've not heard that one before. Obviously we all have our own interpretations and I'm sure there are many different layers in Bohemian Rhapsody.

I do like your contribution to it though........and my first thoughts were the innuendo video. I'm not good at this stuff, but I kept thinking of the curtains and the masks in it....and some of the footage of street dancers. Linked to what you have described? or not? (as I say I'm not good with this stuff)

thanks for your explanation! but I have to say that Zoroastrian is an Iranian religion and has nothing to do with Arabian language. This part of the song is more likely related to Islam religion.