this song starts as a kind of vague question, as the singer has found himself caught in an unescapable series of events and can't believe it's actually happening.
he tries to kid himself that he doesn't really care
next we move to his prison cell where he's explaining to his distraught mother that he has killed someone and as a result, thrown his own young life away, as he is going to be executed within 24 hours.
he then explains that it's too late for any kind of reprieve, and that he feels physically sick at the thought of what is about to happen. he cries that he doesnt want to die and wishes he'd never even been born
then the interesting bit:
he goes into a kind of daydream, reverie, whatever where a kind of operatic drama is taking place in his head between him, the poor boy who has got himself into a terrible situation in a moment of madness, the chorus who are pleading for clemency, and the authorities who are legally bound to execute him. there's lots of cod-italian images, which i think is Freddie having a really good time writing.
at the end of this bit he pleads to be released as he feels that the devil, beelzebub is going to punish him enough.
we then move into the hard rock bit where his mood changes and he starts to feel angry that anyone has the right to do this to him and is despeately looking around for a way to get out, no matter what.
this doesn't last long, however, and he soon runs out of energy and lapses into acceptance of the unchangeable situation.
i believe this is the greatest song ever written. it's like the mount everest of popular music, as beethoven 5 is the everest of the classics. mercury was known as a great showman, but people forget that he was a great musician and composer. up there with lennon mcartney, buddy, dylan, hendrix, sting etc etc.
the role of the rest of the band is undeniable, notably brian may's amazing guitar. second only to hendrix and the equal or better of knoplfler, clapton, gilmour, beck etc IMHO.
there is just so much attention to detail it feels like it must have taken years to compose and execute
some songs just cannot be topped, good vibrations, whiter shade of pale, i'm not in love, i will survive, numerous beatles come close but this is is perfection!
this song starts as a kind of vague question, as the singer has found himself caught in an unescapable series of events and can't believe it's actually happening. he tries to kid himself that he doesn't really care next we move to his prison cell where he's explaining to his distraught mother that he has killed someone and as a result, thrown his own young life away, as he is going to be executed within 24 hours. he then explains that it's too late for any kind of reprieve, and that he feels physically sick at the thought of what is about to happen. he cries that he doesnt want to die and wishes he'd never even been born then the interesting bit: he goes into a kind of daydream, reverie, whatever where a kind of operatic drama is taking place in his head between him, the poor boy who has got himself into a terrible situation in a moment of madness, the chorus who are pleading for clemency, and the authorities who are legally bound to execute him. there's lots of cod-italian images, which i think is Freddie having a really good time writing.
at the end of this bit he pleads to be released as he feels that the devil, beelzebub is going to punish him enough. we then move into the hard rock bit where his mood changes and he starts to feel angry that anyone has the right to do this to him and is despeately looking around for a way to get out, no matter what. this doesn't last long, however, and he soon runs out of energy and lapses into acceptance of the unchangeable situation.
i believe this is the greatest song ever written. it's like the mount everest of popular music, as beethoven 5 is the everest of the classics. mercury was known as a great showman, but people forget that he was a great musician and composer. up there with lennon mcartney, buddy, dylan, hendrix, sting etc etc. the role of the rest of the band is undeniable, notably brian may's amazing guitar. second only to hendrix and the equal or better of knoplfler, clapton, gilmour, beck etc IMHO. there is just so much attention to detail it feels like it must have taken years to compose and execute some songs just cannot be topped, good vibrations, whiter shade of pale, i'm not in love, i will survive, numerous beatles come close but this is is perfection!