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The one song meaning nobody has discussed before...

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Is there any evidence or atleast good theories about the Great king Rat song meaning?
One thing I noticed is that it sounds like Mercury's prediction of his own death... he died at 44 and from a STD... just coincidence, right?

Also, is Mustapha just nonsense?
Great King Rat is an odd one. It does sound Aids related.
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Freddie was 45 when he died, not 44.

And how could it have been a prediction? A self-fulfilling prophecy would have been an apter postulation - in that the kind of lifestyle he would eventually lead lent itself to an increased risk of acquiring an STD.

But it's obviously not AIDS related, for reasons I hope I need not enter into. It was written in the early 70s...
AIDS related??? Of course, Freddie looked into a crystal ball that he bought from Mary Austin at the Biba store and was channeling Nostradamus after smoking some bad weed! Bah humbug!
A self-fulfilling prophecy that proves Freddie was a reptilian and could see into the future.
Costa86 wrote:

Freddie was 45 when he died, not 44.

And how could it have been a prediction? A self-fulfilling prophecy would have been an apter postulation - in that the kind of lifestyle he would eventually lead lent itself to an increased risk of acquiring an STD.

But it's obviously not AIDS related, for reasons I hope I need not enter into. It was written in the early 70s...


Of course it is about AIDS.

Fredy's prediction was off by about 6 months, and is essentially rounding error. That is pretty darn tootin' accurate if you ask me.

Socialism: There's one for you, nineteen for me Should five per cent appear too small Be thankful I don't take it all
Most certainly a prediction about AIDS. Funny his recollection of his own birthday was also off by a few months though...
LOL!
I don't know, I always thought that the titular Great King Rat was a metaphor for some kind of devil figure, opposing in concept the theme of 'My Fairy King' (which is the next song) and later on 'Jesus'.
stevelondon20 wrote:

Great King Rat is an odd one. It does sound Aids related.


no it doesn't. it clearly says syphillis. and how did Freddie know about AIDS 6 years before the world knew?

i always thought that despite the difference in age at death, there were obvious parallels to Henry VIII
go deo na hÉireann The best QZ epoch: BG17-00 (Before Gerry 1996-2013)
I read centuries ago that it was about Al Capone, consequently, my minds picture of the song has always been the ruffian himself.
Master Marathon Runner
Std related then.


QUOTE] brENsKi wrote:

stevelondon20 wrote:

Great King Rat is an odd one. It does sound Aids related.


no it doesn't. it clearly says syphillis. and how did Freddie know about AIDS 6 years before the world knew?

i always thought that despite the difference in age at death, there were obvious parallels to Henry VIII[/QUOTE]

This place used to be great, but now it is an absolute joke. For serious Queen discussion, please visit http://www.queenforum.net
It obviously refers to syphillis, so saying it's STD related is completely fatuous and superfluous and doesn't qualify as analysing what the song is about. It's like saying that Radio Ga Ga is related to radio, or Bicycle Race is related to bicycles
Although Freddie swore quite a lot, he was not the son of a whore, and he wasn't always wanted by the law. Wouldn't you like to know more?

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