Personal Story Songs written by Queen Members

Hi, i'm doing a speech on poetic techniques and personal stories. I'm using any Queen member for the speech with the most relevant personal stories in the song (preferrably freddie). So Can You Please Help Me!!!

So few confirmed.

7 seas of rhye was supposedly about a world Freddie and Kashmira made up.

Fairy Fellers master stroke was inspired by a painting.

The rest as far as I know don't truly acknowledge their inspiration directly.

I've always assumed BoRhap was about Freddie killing the boy/man his family knew and saying he'd go on regardless. Mom dad, whatever happens just carry on as if nothing matters.

The operatic section was (my opinion again) the elements of mom and pop fighting it out for Freddie's soul (inspired by dramas in operas) then Freddie emerges loudly as mom and pop arguing again with Fred


The parts and parties are hard to confirm.

So you think you can stone me etc.

Parents/OR child "so you think you can love me and leave me to die?"


It's all conflict in high drama. But that's all my opinion of course.

The only others that have been sorta documented are I'm going slightly mad (one liners).... seemingly about his frustration (the double entendre "you're missing that one final screw" could mean being incomplete or missing that final lay)


The folks here are an erudite bunch. They'll help

I recall All Dead, All Dead is dedicated to Brian's old family cat that died.

- While Brian's never spoken about 'The Night Comes Down', the personal thought process behind it is pretty clear through the lyrics - growing up, and having idealism and morals challenged as a result of that.


- Brian has, however, spoken a couple of times about 'White Queen', and how he wrote it about a girl he pined for while at University, but never really interacted with - probably mainly a physical infatuation, and hampered by Brian's shyness so that nothing ever came of it. Hence, the longing from afar which underpins the song. The very same feeling seems to have also inspired Brian's writing of the Smile song 'Polar Bear':

'Does she see me at her feet? It's hard to tell...
But if I ask her, she might turn her smile away
See her as you see a star - love her from where you are

I guess I'll learn to look without a grasping hand
Minor contentment wears a smile - I'll love her from where I lie'

So, as far as personal stories in Queen songs, Brian's lyrics for 'White Queen' and 'Polar Bear' are incredibly potent.


- Freddie never spoke about 'Nevermore' at all, but it's clearly a very personal track.


- 'Now I'm Here' was written by Brian when in hospital (unless my memory has fabricated that part...), as he was reflecting on the band's time touring the USA with Mott the Hoople. There's plenty personal stuff in there, including (slightly indirect) declarations of love for Mott, as well as 'Peaches' (a girl whose story I don't quite remember, but perhaps someone else can fill this part in). Overall, not a deeply personal song, but nonetheless one of fond recollection of what must have been an important experience to him.


- 'In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited's meaning was never confirmed, but we can fairly safely assume that many of the lyrics came from Freddie's struggle with his homosexuality, whether he was going to be able to bring himself to come out, and how that coming out would impact his relationships.


- We all know what 'Death on Two Legs' is about - unbridled vitriol from Freddie to Norman Sheffield, who Freddie felt was giving the band a raw deal, and robbing them of their rightful earnings. The sentiment was so harsh and blatant that Brian was hesitant about Freddie putting the song out in that form. Some people argue that 'Flick of the Wrist' is about Sheffield as well - it's pretty likely, as the lyrics definitely refer to the music business.


- 'You're My Best Friend' is a pretty straightforward expression of love from John to Veronica, to whom he'd presumably been married by the time he wrote the song (unless he'd been sitting on it since 1974).


- While the main story of '39' is a fictional one, Brian has also remarked that it was probably subconsciously based on his feelings about going away on tour, and the way being a musician separated him from his family.


- 'Love of My Life' - generally assumed to be about the end of Freddie's and Mary's relationship. Some other users (I'm afraid I don't remember exactly who) have speculated that the song is Freddie writing from Mary's perspective in the situation, which makes the most sense to me.


- I think Matt's got Bohemian Rhapsody covered quite well - very interesting and likely interpretation there.


- 'Somebody to Love' is quite obvious in its personal meaning for Freddie.


- 'Drowse' could be personal, or it could be Roger writing from a fictional perspective. Either way, there's some quite personal ideas in there - nostalgia, growing older, lamenting that life hasn't been what you thought it would, when perhaps you've only got your own complacency to blame for that ('Thinking it right, doing it wrong, it's easier from an armchair').


- 'All Dead, All Dead' - Brian contemplating death, and largely drawing on his memories of losing his pet cat at a fairly young age.


- 'It's Late' - It could be fictional, however there may also be some personal truth to these lyrics. Certainly, Brian was at times capable of being an unfaithful man, as we know with certainty from the breakup of his marriage in the late 80s. It doesn't seem that much a stretch of the imagination that songs like this one and 'Brighton Rock' could have been based on similar experiences of infidelity.


- 'Jealousy', like 'Nevermore', must have been written by Freddie based on personal experience, but we know nothing about the specifics of that experience.


- 'Leaving Home Ain't Easy' - A much more direct song about Brian's struggle with going away on tour, and how this affected his relationship with his family.


- 'Save Me' was written by Brian about a friend's breakup, from the point of view of said friend.


- 'Hammer to Fall' - Largely drawn from Brian's experience growing up during the Cold War, with the underlying fear of nuclear catastrophe - 'We who grew up tall and proud in the shadow of the mushroom cloud.'


- 'Khashoggi's Ship' - Seemingly an exercise in denial by Freddie, knowing very well by now that his days were numbered. It was much more cynical and revealing in one early recording - 'No-one loves my body'.


- 'Scandal' - Brian saying fuck you to the tabloids for their treatment of Freddie and himself around this time.


- 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' - Brian torn between his (soon to be ex-) wife Chrissie, and lover Anita. The hopelessness in the lyrics was no doubt bolstered by his father's death, and his knowledge of Freddie's illness - all of these factors were what contributed to his depression during this year and the few to come.


- 'I'm Going Slightly Mad' - Generally presumed to be Freddie dealing with his illness in a fairly jovial way.


- 'These are the Days of Our Lives' - Roger being reflective on his past, and on things of the present like fatherhood. Probably largely inspired by Freddie's condition.


- 'Delilah' - Unrestrained expression of love for his cat. 'You make me smile when I'm just about to cry' was originally 'You make me smile when I'm just about to die' (though there was definitely no intention of releasing it this way).


- 'The Show Must Go On' - Written by Brian mainly, almost certainly with Freddie's situation in mind.


- 'No-One But You' - Written by Brian, pretty clearly meant to be about losing Freddie.

Teo Torriate is about a tragic love story, and it was inspired by the japanese crowds in their concerts. And Las Palabras De Amor was inspired by the Argentinian crowds.

These Are The Days Of Our Lives is a song written by Roger Taylor, inspired in his feelings and thoughts in that moment about life, his meaning and all that stuff.

Delilah is about Freddie's cat.

You're My Best Friend's inspiration is John's wife.

White Queen is about a girl Brian was in love in college. There's a rumour that says that there's a version recorded by Smile.

Death On Two Legs is about a band's old manager.

I'm In Love With My Car is about Roger's love about cars (duh!).

Love Of My Life is thought to be about Mary Austin. There's a story about when Freddie told to Mary that he was bisexual, and some sources affirm that this is the inspiration of the song.

We Will Rock You's inspiration is the crowd of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhF7Iysj7KI
Brian thought about what could people do in a place like this where they can't almost move. And from there the claps come from.

Don't Stop Me Now reflects the promiscuous life Freddie was living.

Flash Gordon's songs surely are inspired by the movie.

Sail Away Sweet Sister subtitle is "(To The Sister I Never Had)", so maybe you can guess it. And it inspired Guns n' Roses' "Sweet Child Of Mine".

Under Pressure was done in a studio with David Bowie, so I don't think it has an especific inspiration. But, analyzing the lyrics, surely you'll find out something.

Wikipedia says: "The inspiration for this song (Radio GaGa) came when Roger Taylor heard his son utter the words "radio ca-ca" while listening to a bad song on the radio while they were in Los Angeles. After hearing the phrase, Taylor began writing the song when he locked himself in a room with a Roland Jupiter-8 and a drum machine. He thought it would fit his solo album, but when the band heard it, John Deacon wrote a bassline and Freddie Mercury reconstructed the track, thinking it could be a big hit. Taylor then took a skiing holiday and let Mercury polish the lyrics, harmony, and arrangements of the song."

Is This the World We Created...? was written in Munich after Freddie and Bria watched the news of poverty in Africa.

Who Wants To Live Forever is inspired by a movie, Highlander.

Khashoggi's Ship is about famous billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and a ship (the Nabila, now Kingdom 5KR) that he owned at the time and was one of the largest private yachts in the world.

On the Greatest Video Hits II DVD, May commented that I Want It All was inspired by his second wife, Anita Dobson's favourite motto, "I want it all, and I want it now!"

The Invisible Man is Taylor's first song on the album. The lyrical idea came from a book he was reading after which the beat instantly came to his head. May and Taylor commented (Queen for an Hour interview, 1989) that Taylor wrote part of the song in the bath.

Breakthru is the joint of two songs: A New Life Is Born, by Mercury, and Breakthru, written by Taylor with input by the others in the key change.

"Scandal" was written by May about the British press, which had been controversial about his recent divorce, his relationship with Anita Dobson, and Mercury's rare public appearances due to his battle with AIDS.

Was It All Worth It is a retrospective song about Queen and their lives.

Chinese Tortoure is a dark instrumental which conveys the horror and fear that Chinese Water Torture was known to evoke in victims.

Principally composed by Mercury (though, as all other songs from these sessions, credited to the band as a whole), Stealin' is a tongue-in-cheek representation of a man who spends his life committing robbery.

Don't Try So Hard could be about Freddie's vision of life in that period of his life.

Too Much Love Will Kill You is a song written by Brian May, inspired in his latest happenings (death of his father and other tragedies).

And, about Track 13 (a song called "(Dead)" in the 2011 remasters), Brian says:

"One of my favourite moments with him was the creation of "Track 13" for that album. David and I lit up joss sticks and candles in the control room, powered up every machine in the building, and sat 'painting pictures’ with synthesisers and samplers against a slowly changing backdrop of drones - for the whole night - something like 8 hours, by the time it had evolved. Roger wafted in, enjoyed the vibe, and played a 'solo' half way through, and wafted out. Then somehow we got to a place where it seemed like the music had taken us all the way through some kind of worm-hole and out the other side. In the refreshing emergence we thought we could hear Freddie laughing - still not sure where that particular sample came from, but we left it in ... it's all mixed in with echoes of classical themes - the music seemed to have a life of its own. And - no - we didn't take any drugs !!! "

This are all I remember.

Ha ! Half of Brian's songs are autobiographical. Read and listen carefully.

Save Me is his song for Freddie. Listen very carefully.

[QUOTE] [b]BETA215 wrote:[/b]

We Will Rock You's inspiration is the crowd of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhF7Iysj7KI
Brian thought about what could people do in a place like this where they can't almost move. And from there the claps come from. [/QUOTE]

It was actually inspired by the Bingley Hall audience a few months prior.

Great read this guys. Enjoyed reading all the descriptions of the songs in detail.

'Save me, his song for Freddie " , doubt that very much, the prose is just so profound and heartfelt, it's about personal love. "Years belie, we live the lie, ""I love you 'til I die" " - don't think they would have taken this vow.

[QUOTE]

[b]The Real Wizard wrote: [/b] Ha ! Half of Brian's songs are autobiographical. Read and listen carefully.

Save Me is his song for Freddie. Listen very carefully. [/QUOTE]

Brilliant observation - never saw it that way before. I think a song, very much like one of Shakespeare's plays, can have multiple valid interpretations.

It started off so well / They said we made a perfect pair / I clothed myself in your glory and your love / How I loved you, how I cried / The years of care and loyalty / Were nothing but a sham it seems / The years belie we lived a lie / I'll love you 'til I die -- [b]reference to Freddie and Mary[/b]

Save me Save me Save me / I can't face this life alone -- [b]reference to Freddie's constant need to have somebody by his side/in his bed[/b]

The slate will soon be clean / I'll erase the memories / To start again with somebody new
/ Was it all wasted - all that love? / I hang my head and I advertise / A soul for sale or rent / I have no heart, I'm cold inside / I have no real intent -- [b]reference to Freddie's frequent relationship changes, which, seemingly very passionate for a while, always ended badly (as he himself admitted)[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]BETA215 wrote:[/b]

We Will Rock You's inspiration is the crowd of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhF7Iysj7KI
Brian thought about what could people do in a place like this where they can't almost move. And from there the claps come from. [/QUOTE]

It was actually inspired by the Bingley Hall audience a few months prior.
[/QUOTE]

I remember hearing that affirmation in a documentary or interview, from Brian's mouth. Maybe this is another case of "We never ever played It's A Hard Life, live with Freddie and John".

[QUOTE] [b]Costa86 wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE]

[b]The Real Wizard wrote: [/b] Ha ! Half of Brian's songs are autobiographical. Read and listen carefully.

Save Me is his song for Freddie. Listen very carefully. [/QUOTE]

Brilliant observation - never saw it that way before. I think a song, very much like one of Shakespeare's plays, can have multiple valid interpretations.

It started off so well / They said we made a perfect pair / I clothed myself in your glory and your love / How I loved you, how I cried / The years of care and loyalty / Were nothing but a sham it seems / The years belie we lived a lie / I'll love you 'til I die -- [b]reference to Freddie and Mary[/b]

Save me Save me Save me / I can't face this life alone -- [b]reference to Freddie's constant need to have somebody by his side/in his bed[/b]

The slate will soon be clean / I'll erase the memories / To start again with somebody new
/ Was it all wasted - all that love? / I hang my head and I advertise / A soul for sale or rent / I have no heart, I'm cold inside / I have no real intent -- [b]reference to Freddie's frequent relationship changes, which, seemingly very passionate for a while, always ended badly (as he himself admitted)[/b][/QUOTE]

This is compelling... But why then did Brian say that he wrote it about 'a friend'? Surely there was no reason to conceal that it was about Freddie, if that's the case.

I'd say Now I'm Here is written as the band's tribute of their 1st time touring in America. The title itself is like Queen's statement that they have finally arrived in America and are ready to show America what Queen's all about.

'39 is probably inspired from what Brian learned about the time dilation effect and Einstein's theory of relativity, which he probably learned while studying astrophysics.

Freddie wrote Bicycle Race after seeing the Tour de France from his hotel.

I'm pretty sure Play The Game and It's A Hard has something to do about Freddie's lovelife, but don't quote me on that.

This is what I know about some of the Queen songs story-wise.

[QUOTE] [b]Killer_queenIII wrote:[/b]

I'd say Now I'm Here is written as the band's tribute of their 1st time touring in America. The title itself is like Queen's statement that they have finally arrived in America and are ready to show America what Queen's all about.

'39 is probably inspired from what Brian learned about the time dilation effect and Einstein's theory of relativity, which he probably learned while studying astrophysics.

Freddie wrote Bicycle Race after seeing the Tour de France from his hotel.

I'm pretty sure Play The Game and It's A Hard has something to do about Freddie's lovelife, but don't quote me on that.

This is what I know about some of the Queen songs story-wise.[/QUOTE]

I seem to remember Brian saying that Now I'm Here was about this woman he met in US. As to the nature of their relationship, I'm not sure.

Interesting: I'd always interpreted "Leaving Home Ain't Easy" as a break up / make up song, not just going on tour.