Personal Story Songs written by Queen Members

I want it all: I thought that Brian came up with the idea for this song, inspired by Anita who would regularly say that she wants it all and NOW (poor Brian)

The Invisible man: Roger was reading a book called The Invisible Man and got inspired.

Hammer to Fall; (fear of) nuclear war

The prophet's song: The song started in a dream that Brian had.

So if Save Me is Brian writing about Fred then Soul Brother is Fred's response about Brian.

Some Things That Glitter seems to be Brian writing about Fred.

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

Freddie wrote Bicycle Race after seeing the Tour de France from his hotel
[/QUOTE]


Source? That assumption is already busted, so I want to know where you heard/read it.

Interesting Wizard. Never occurred to me that the friend in reference could be Freddie. It makes a bit more sense now. Though if Fred didn't know it then it's kinda bitter ain't it?

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

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] [/QUOTE]

Ding!

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

Indeed, Brian's memory isn't perfect when it comes to things that happened decades ago. But there are interviews as far back as 1977 where Brian references that show.

Besides - the video you're pointing to is the We Are The Champions promo video, filmed after News Of The World had been completed.

[QUOTE] [b]tomchristie22 wrote:[/b]

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. [/QUOTE]

Brian has rarely been forthcoming about the sources of songs. He's always taken the position that songs should mean whatever they need to mean to the listener.

His stories are his stories. Can't blame the guy for wanting to keep them to himself. Not everyone lays it all out like Keith Richards !

[QUOTE] [b]matt z wrote:[/b]

Interesting Wizard. Never occurred to me that the friend in reference could be Freddie. It makes a bit more sense now. Though if Fred didn't know it then it's kinda bitter ain't it? [/QUOTE]

Yup. The only person who can tell us if he caught on isn't around to tell us anymore.

And it certainly lends credence to Brian saying how he saw the dangers as laid out in Don't Stop Me Now at the time. Save Me was his rebuttal.

Great thread guys! And kudos especially to Bob for that mini-revelation about 'Save Me': if the song wasn't about Freddie and Mary then the resemblance to that relationship is an eerie coincidence.

A few musings of my own:

-- "SHE MAKES ME": Brian's ode to the band from his hospital bed, 'she' being Queen. The outro recreates his descent into illness from his point of view.
-- "I WANT IT ALL": Title inspired by Anita, but the lyrics are surely about Freddie: "Just an alley creeper [selling rags in a market], light on his feet [gay]".
-- "BACK TO THE LIGHT": Brian's metaphor for coming through a bad bout of depression, but also a literal reference to retreating to the sunshine of LA, where "the streets are paved with gold".
-- "MAD THE SWINE": Possibly this is Freddie's humorous take on the second coming: Christ reappearing in the form of a pig(?!)

-- "SON & DAUGHTER": Brian's social commentary on feminism, opining that the movement is going too far in giving women equal parity to men. I rather suspect he's changed his opinion in the years hence!

-- "LILY OF THE VALLEY": According to Brian this track was about Mary Austin, and Freddie's difficultly in conciliating his feelings for her with the imminent outing of his sexuality.

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

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.[/QUOTE]

According to his driver, Play the Game was about his failed relationship with Tony Bastin.

As for 'Save Me', here's what Brian said about it (2.15 - 2.40): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USXDH5ag4lI It's vague enough to be applicable to virtually anybody.

[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]

After reading your reply and some of the other replies i got intrigued, and i think you may have a very good point.

But in case this is really about Freddie and Mary´s relationship, then i believe that the friend Brian talks about is Mary Austin, because the song has more to do with her perspective than Freddie´s.

She must be a very special lady, because there was another thread where someone gave the idea that "Love of my life" was Freddie singing through the perspective of Mary in their relationship. And it makes sense!

It really makes me think, and for the first time it is giving a depth to "Save me" that i never felt before.

Great topic, and great replies.

I agree, 'Save Me' has unrecognised depth.

The whole of Queen is so deep. Everything about the band is so rich. From their beginnings, to their rise to fame, to their bad times in the early mid-80s, their resurgence, and then their last few years, with their last songs which fitted in with Freddie's situation adding an extra thick layer of depth. TATDOOL's ending represents all the band's brilliance, and Freddie's extreme uniqueness.

Truly one of the very few bands which can be considered magical, and I am very proud to be a big fan.

I would not say everything about the band is rich, but yes, a lot of it is amazing.