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Take off
I was told a million times
Of all the troubles in my way
Tried to grow a little wiser
Little better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers
And I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started
Bread and butter for a smile
Well I sold a million mirrors
In a shopping alley way
But I never saw my face
In any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you
Be a super star
But I tell you just be satisfied
Stay right where you are
Keep yourself alive yeah
Keep yourself alive
Ooh, it'll take you all your time and money
Honey you'll survive
Ow
Well I've loved a million women
In a belladonic haze
And I ate a million dinners
Brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need
To feed my body and my soul
And I'll grow a little bigger
Maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times
Of all the people in my way
How I had to keep on trying
And get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers
And I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started
Same as when I started
Keep yourself alive, come on
Keep yourself alive
Ooh, it'll take you all your time and money honey
You'll survive - shake
Ow
Keep yourself alive, wow
Keep yourself alive
Oh, it'll take you all your time and money
To keep me satisfied
Do you think you're better every day ?
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave
Keep yourself alive, c'mon
Keep yourself alive
Mm, you take your time and take more money
Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
C'mon keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
C'mon c'mon keep yourself alive
It'll take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied
Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and money honey
You will survive
Keep you satisfied
Keep you satisfied
I was told a million times
Of all the troubles in my way
Tried to grow a little wiser
Little better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers
And I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started
Bread and butter for a smile
Well I sold a million mirrors
In a shopping alley way
But I never saw my face
In any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you
Be a super star
But I tell you just be satisfied
Stay right where you are
Keep yourself alive yeah
Keep yourself alive
Ooh, it'll take you all your time and money
Honey you'll survive
Ow
Well I've loved a million women
In a belladonic haze
And I ate a million dinners
Brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need
To feed my body and my soul
And I'll grow a little bigger
Maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times
Of all the people in my way
How I had to keep on trying
And get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers
And I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started
Same as when I started
Keep yourself alive, come on
Keep yourself alive
Ooh, it'll take you all your time and money honey
You'll survive - shake
Ow
Keep yourself alive, wow
Keep yourself alive
Oh, it'll take you all your time and money
To keep me satisfied
Do you think you're better every day ?
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave
Keep yourself alive, c'mon
Keep yourself alive
Mm, you take your time and take more money
Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
C'mon keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
C'mon c'mon keep yourself alive
It'll take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied
Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and money honey
You will survive
Keep you satisfied
Keep you satisfied
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It says that a sedate yet selfless lifestyle (Bread and butter for a smile)
is perhaps more exiting, fulfilling and gratifying than an ambitious,
yet pompous and selfish lifestyle (I Loved a million women in a belladonic
haze and I ate a million dinners brought to me on silver trays).
There is no way of getting around this profound yet deeply personal
realization of the truth, I guess. Admittedly show-men yet it is to their
resounding applause that all the members of Queen have at least musically
done a great service not only to music itself but also to their fans and
to the industry as well.
In a belladonic haze), and the second one 2) He would not have become the Immortal Rock God that he is today. I believe that this song was a warning from some other would-be rockers who couldn’t make it in the business, who were advising him that it is a glamorous life, but you can only have so much sex and food. It is more important to select a simple life and not try to be famous; but then on the other hand, the would-be rocker also warned him that no matter how hard he worked, he would still be a faceless nobody, which Freddy proved untrue. So the song lyrics could be telling us that a lot of people may discourage you, but you can do it…oh, at what a price though. In this song he becomes a martyr for rock ‘n roll. “Keep Yourself Alive” has evolved to means both “Live simply and live” and “Live fully and die.”
Amazing.
All this song is saying is, "Do what you want to, and become better at it!"
It's a simple song conveying the complicated philosophy of living simply. Or maybe I'm completely wrong, and it's the opposite...