It's difficult to analyze a song who's writer refused to analyze it himself. The band doesn't even know the true meaning, to this day. It is claimed to be just a tongue in cheek mock opera- just for fun. There are countless theories but that is one I just can't allow myself to believe. Freddie went through too much, he was too complex, too mysterious, too talented, to just write a song this amazing about nothing.
I'm all for having an open mind, but the AIDS interpretation is also impossible. Freddie didn't even really know what AIDS was until shortly before he was diagnosed. This song was written in 1975- and it may have been started even earlier. I'm sorry- but AIDS became a thing in the 80's- at least the late 70's- in New York- not 1975 in England.
Suicide can definitely have an involvement in the song, as well as his struggle with his sexuality, his rocky relationship with Mary at the time, his relationship with his parents, with himself even. I believe that a number of events and emotions and struggles were all stuffed down the throat of this song. There were some intense feelings going on in that young, confused 29 year old's mind- that's for sure.
I think that, just because this was during the exact time Freddie had an affair and was feeling guilty and was extremely confused with his sexuality- the gay thing could absolutely play a major role- if not the entire role- in the song. I'll explain with a few examples...
"Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality". Freddie was stuck in a scary, awkward, confusing spot. He was in a 6 year long relationship with his best friend Mary Austin- yet he was having an affair with this man. He hated himself but he couldn't help himself at the same time. He didn't understand his feeling and he couldn't escape the situation. The guilt.
"I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy". When looking back on the end of their relationship, Mary said that Freddie seemed extremely upset with himself. He felt this overwhelming feeling of guilt. This plays into the whole song. He feels like such a low form of humanity that he constantly puts himself down throughout the song. Going against himself. Telling himself that he has not been a good man and therefore deserves no sympathy or love.
"Anyway the wind blows doesn't really matter to me". This could actually be playing onto the bisexual thing. Whether he is loving a man or a woman- it doesn't matter. He doesn't care.
"Mama just killed a man...". Okay so these "Mama" verses may actually be Freddie speaking- not to his mother- but to Mary. He used "Mama" throughout the years in plenty of songs- so you can't take it literally- as if he is talking to his actual parent. The "man" in the story could be seen as himself. Yes, you can take the suicide route here and look into that more- but I prefer the idea that the man is not just him- but it is the him that everyone knew at that time. The straight Freddie Mercury who had a girlfriend. The guilty, bisexual Freddie is one speaking. So if you understand these roles you can understand it all from that point of view. The guilty Freddie killed the innocent Freddie by sleeping with a man and questioning his sexuality. The innocent Freddie had just begun his life- everything was going great. Freddie and Mary could have gotten married. But the gay Freddie threw it all away. Now, the "Mama oooh's" are sung by the straight Freddie. You can tell because there is more emotion there. You can hear the cry for help. The straight Freddie doesn't want to die- he doesn't mean to make his mother cry by going against their beliefs and being gay. I could go on forever.
Just by reading the lines as these roles- you can understand. You can see the struggle between two sides. This plays a major role in the opera section. I don't want to type a novel, but it is quite simple to go deep into the song and untie every knot and see what's underneath. Again, there's no proof that any of what any of us are saying is even remotely true- because unfortunately Freddie is not here to unleash the secret of Bohemian Rhapsody.
All we know is that it was a groundbreaking song with a groundbreaking video and a groundbreaking meaning- somewhere deep down. RIP Freddie Mercury- the most amazing, talented song writer, pianist, singer, and person to ever walk the earth. I love you so much and I really do hope that my analysis of your masterpiece was at least a small step toward the true meaning. Thank you for this song and for all of your songs. Because without them I'd be in the same place as you right now. LOVE YOU
PS thanks to whoever read this bible of a comment ;)
This analysis makes the most sense considering the date it was written. I think the lyrics are very specific and personal with his struggle concerning his sexuality. There were not any (or at least not many) successful homosexuals or bisexuals out of the closet when it was written. He had asked Mary to marry him, and when she hinted at looking at wedding dresses or setting a date, after 6 years he knew that he could not marry her under false pretenses, then goes on to struggle with how he can go on or if he should...
This analysis makes the most sense considering the date it was written. I think the lyrics are very specific and personal with his struggle concerning his sexuality. There were not any (or at least not many) successful homosexuals or bisexuals out of the closet when it was written. He had asked Mary to marry him, and when she hinted at looking at wedding dresses or setting a date, after 6 years he knew that he could not marry her under false pretenses, then goes on to struggle with how he can go on or if he should go on after he has to tell her. On one had he wants to be let go, and on the other he feels his life is ruined if she lets go and be angry enough to out him.. This time period is exactly when he wrote the song. He has said Mary was his only true friend, and I think it killed him inside to hurt her. Instead of outing him as he may have feared, it didn't really matter anymore because their lives and fate (especially his) were changed forever.
@readyfreddie I loved to read your bible of a comment! It has helped me understand this song so much better. I feel the same way you feel about Freddie Mercury myself, and have always loved this song above all others. It`s clearer to me now thanks to you. I hope you get to see my reply!
@readyfreddie I loved to read your bible of a comment! It has helped me understand this song so much better. I feel the same way you feel about Freddie Mercury myself, and have always loved this song above all others. It`s clearer to me now thanks to you. I hope you get to see my reply!
@readyfreddie THIS ONE is the correct one people. COMING OUT as an artist back then WAS NOT EASY. "I killed a man" - he killed his old fake hetro persona. "Put a gun to his head" - a penis. "I shot him now he's dead". Hetro Freddie is dead. "Sending shivers down my spine" - gay sex was his turn on. Of course, he was facing but just sex, but a wilder lifestyle. "Gone and through it all away". - he old life with family and hetro gf and friends Maybe even his career (1970s people). He will have a...
@readyfreddie THIS ONE is the correct one people. COMING OUT as an artist back then WAS NOT EASY. "I killed a man" - he killed his old fake hetro persona. "Put a gun to his head" - a penis. "I shot him now he's dead". Hetro Freddie is dead. "Sending shivers down my spine" - gay sex was his turn on. Of course, he was facing but just sex, but a wilder lifestyle. "Gone and through it all away". - he old life with family and hetro gf and friends Maybe even his career (1970s people). He will have a new life now. "Any way the wind blows" - obviously bisexuality. "Bodies aching all the time" - having a lot of gay sex. Liberated now.
@readyfreddie I agree with this. Freddie and Mary were incredibly close, I feel that for him breaking up with her was almost like a death. The rest is just him mucking about, you can't take it literally.
@readyfreddie I agree with this. Freddie and Mary were incredibly close, I feel that for him breaking up with her was almost like a death. The rest is just him mucking about, you can't take it literally.
@readyfreddie These are all VERY GOOD insights!
I just wanted to add Bohemian Grove in Northern CA where they hold Satanic Rituals.
They often take a homeless person and shoot them in the head as a Blood Sacrifice.
Google Bohemian Grove.
They also rape and torture children to get Adrenochrome.
But that's another very sad story.
@readyfreddie These are all VERY GOOD insights!
I just wanted to add Bohemian Grove in Northern CA where they hold Satanic Rituals.
They often take a homeless person and shoot them in the head as a Blood Sacrifice.
Google Bohemian Grove.
They also rape and torture children to get Adrenochrome.
But that's another very sad story.
It's difficult to analyze a song who's writer refused to analyze it himself. The band doesn't even know the true meaning, to this day. It is claimed to be just a tongue in cheek mock opera- just for fun. There are countless theories but that is one I just can't allow myself to believe. Freddie went through too much, he was too complex, too mysterious, too talented, to just write a song this amazing about nothing.
I'm all for having an open mind, but the AIDS interpretation is also impossible. Freddie didn't even really know what AIDS was until shortly before he was diagnosed. This song was written in 1975- and it may have been started even earlier. I'm sorry- but AIDS became a thing in the 80's- at least the late 70's- in New York- not 1975 in England.
Suicide can definitely have an involvement in the song, as well as his struggle with his sexuality, his rocky relationship with Mary at the time, his relationship with his parents, with himself even. I believe that a number of events and emotions and struggles were all stuffed down the throat of this song. There were some intense feelings going on in that young, confused 29 year old's mind- that's for sure.
I think that, just because this was during the exact time Freddie had an affair and was feeling guilty and was extremely confused with his sexuality- the gay thing could absolutely play a major role- if not the entire role- in the song. I'll explain with a few examples...
"Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality". Freddie was stuck in a scary, awkward, confusing spot. He was in a 6 year long relationship with his best friend Mary Austin- yet he was having an affair with this man. He hated himself but he couldn't help himself at the same time. He didn't understand his feeling and he couldn't escape the situation. The guilt.
"I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy". When looking back on the end of their relationship, Mary said that Freddie seemed extremely upset with himself. He felt this overwhelming feeling of guilt. This plays into the whole song. He feels like such a low form of humanity that he constantly puts himself down throughout the song. Going against himself. Telling himself that he has not been a good man and therefore deserves no sympathy or love.
"Anyway the wind blows doesn't really matter to me". This could actually be playing onto the bisexual thing. Whether he is loving a man or a woman- it doesn't matter. He doesn't care.
"Mama just killed a man...". Okay so these "Mama" verses may actually be Freddie speaking- not to his mother- but to Mary. He used "Mama" throughout the years in plenty of songs- so you can't take it literally- as if he is talking to his actual parent. The "man" in the story could be seen as himself. Yes, you can take the suicide route here and look into that more- but I prefer the idea that the man is not just him- but it is the him that everyone knew at that time. The straight Freddie Mercury who had a girlfriend. The guilty, bisexual Freddie is one speaking. So if you understand these roles you can understand it all from that point of view. The guilty Freddie killed the innocent Freddie by sleeping with a man and questioning his sexuality. The innocent Freddie had just begun his life- everything was going great. Freddie and Mary could have gotten married. But the gay Freddie threw it all away. Now, the "Mama oooh's" are sung by the straight Freddie. You can tell because there is more emotion there. You can hear the cry for help. The straight Freddie doesn't want to die- he doesn't mean to make his mother cry by going against their beliefs and being gay. I could go on forever.
Just by reading the lines as these roles- you can understand. You can see the struggle between two sides. This plays a major role in the opera section. I don't want to type a novel, but it is quite simple to go deep into the song and untie every knot and see what's underneath. Again, there's no proof that any of what any of us are saying is even remotely true- because unfortunately Freddie is not here to unleash the secret of Bohemian Rhapsody.
All we know is that it was a groundbreaking song with a groundbreaking video and a groundbreaking meaning- somewhere deep down. RIP Freddie Mercury- the most amazing, talented song writer, pianist, singer, and person to ever walk the earth. I love you so much and I really do hope that my analysis of your masterpiece was at least a small step toward the true meaning. Thank you for this song and for all of your songs. Because without them I'd be in the same place as you right now. LOVE YOU
PS thanks to whoever read this bible of a comment ;)
Amazing. This is what I thought about the song too!
Amazing. This is what I thought about the song too!
Being gay must be extremely harsh. RIP Freddie. You finally broke free.
Being gay must be extremely harsh. RIP Freddie. You finally broke free.
Totally agree. Amazing analysis and it all holds on the fact that he says 'my' trigger. Anyone writing a story about shooting would use 'the' trigger.
Totally agree. Amazing analysis and it all holds on the fact that he says 'my' trigger. Anyone writing a story about shooting would use 'the' trigger.
This analysis makes the most sense considering the date it was written. I think the lyrics are very specific and personal with his struggle concerning his sexuality. There were not any (or at least not many) successful homosexuals or bisexuals out of the closet when it was written. He had asked Mary to marry him, and when she hinted at looking at wedding dresses or setting a date, after 6 years he knew that he could not marry her under false pretenses, then goes on to struggle with how he can go on or if he should...
This analysis makes the most sense considering the date it was written. I think the lyrics are very specific and personal with his struggle concerning his sexuality. There were not any (or at least not many) successful homosexuals or bisexuals out of the closet when it was written. He had asked Mary to marry him, and when she hinted at looking at wedding dresses or setting a date, after 6 years he knew that he could not marry her under false pretenses, then goes on to struggle with how he can go on or if he should go on after he has to tell her. On one had he wants to be let go, and on the other he feels his life is ruined if she lets go and be angry enough to out him.. This time period is exactly when he wrote the song. He has said Mary was his only true friend, and I think it killed him inside to hurt her. Instead of outing him as he may have feared, it didn't really matter anymore because their lives and fate (especially his) were changed forever.
@readyfreddie I loved to read your bible of a comment! It has helped me understand this song so much better. I feel the same way you feel about Freddie Mercury myself, and have always loved this song above all others. It`s clearer to me now thanks to you. I hope you get to see my reply!
@readyfreddie I loved to read your bible of a comment! It has helped me understand this song so much better. I feel the same way you feel about Freddie Mercury myself, and have always loved this song above all others. It`s clearer to me now thanks to you. I hope you get to see my reply!
@readyfreddie I love your bible long analysis, which I've read like drinking a glass of good wine. Illuminating and insightful - thanks a lot!
@readyfreddie I love your bible long analysis, which I've read like drinking a glass of good wine. Illuminating and insightful - thanks a lot!
@readyfreddie THIS ONE is the correct one people. COMING OUT as an artist back then WAS NOT EASY. "I killed a man" - he killed his old fake hetro persona. "Put a gun to his head" - a penis. "I shot him now he's dead". Hetro Freddie is dead. "Sending shivers down my spine" - gay sex was his turn on. Of course, he was facing but just sex, but a wilder lifestyle. "Gone and through it all away". - he old life with family and hetro gf and friends Maybe even his career (1970s people). He will have a...
@readyfreddie THIS ONE is the correct one people. COMING OUT as an artist back then WAS NOT EASY. "I killed a man" - he killed his old fake hetro persona. "Put a gun to his head" - a penis. "I shot him now he's dead". Hetro Freddie is dead. "Sending shivers down my spine" - gay sex was his turn on. Of course, he was facing but just sex, but a wilder lifestyle. "Gone and through it all away". - he old life with family and hetro gf and friends Maybe even his career (1970s people). He will have a new life now. "Any way the wind blows" - obviously bisexuality. "Bodies aching all the time" - having a lot of gay sex. Liberated now.
@readyfreddie I agree with this. Freddie and Mary were incredibly close, I feel that for him breaking up with her was almost like a death. The rest is just him mucking about, you can't take it literally.
@readyfreddie I agree with this. Freddie and Mary were incredibly close, I feel that for him breaking up with her was almost like a death. The rest is just him mucking about, you can't take it literally.
@readyfreddie These are all VERY GOOD insights! I just wanted to add Bohemian Grove in Northern CA where they hold Satanic Rituals. They often take a homeless person and shoot them in the head as a Blood Sacrifice. Google Bohemian Grove. They also rape and torture children to get Adrenochrome. But that's another very sad story.
@readyfreddie These are all VERY GOOD insights! I just wanted to add Bohemian Grove in Northern CA where they hold Satanic Rituals. They often take a homeless person and shoot them in the head as a Blood Sacrifice. Google Bohemian Grove. They also rape and torture children to get Adrenochrome. But that's another very sad story.