Bohemian Rhapsody Lyrics
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy
I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on
As if nothing really matters
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
I don't wanna die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo
Gallileo, Gallileo
Gallileo Figaro, magnifico
I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go, will you let me go?
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go (let him go)
Bismillah! We will not let you go (let him go)
Bismillah! We will not let you go (let me go)
Will not let you go (let me go)
Never, never, never, never let me go
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, mama mia, mama mia
Mama mia, let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
For me
For me
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby
Can't do this to me, baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
Want my overanalyzed take? It's pretentious, silly and yes, overanalyzed, and completely destroys the entire song! It turns a cool song into another piece of dirt and manages to be glaringly wrong in the way!
Okay, let's make it the classic stages of acceptance after a shock. He just killed someone. Duh. It's in the lyrics.
First comes shock. Note the 'is this the real life / is this just fantasy' it opens with and the dreamlike tune it's in.
(from this point on, it's all within his head. All of it.)
Note also the 'I need no sympathy' melodramatic nobleness he takes on in a play to get sympathy.
He comes back to the world, and immediately tries to turn to the childhood source of sympathy, his mother. He tries again to act like a hero, telling her 'nothing really matters' (in his mind, of course. it's all in his mind.)
The chill of what he has just done rips across him, and at the first glimpse of pain he immediately goes into the classic 'I wish I was never born!'-type complete theatrical show, hoping once again for sympathy.
Now comes the weird (albeit exceedingly cool) part.
The trial.
First his 'judges' (representing the severity and harsh reality of the consequences) come forth, half-threatening him with taunts of "scaramouche / scaramouche / will you do the Fandango" (it's defined above)
He crumples, first expressing shock. Then, he twists his earlier defeated hero's claims to say "I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me" in a direct appeal to reality.
His other side, however, rushes in to try to save him from himself, begging the judges to release him.
He appeals, and is rejected.
His consul appeals several times in turn to allow him to stay in his own dreamlike state of deconnectedness.
The judges continue to strike down his pleas, growing more and more forceful, until he finally realizes that he has lost. First is a generic "well, I lost. I'm going to hell, and I've got a demon with my name on it" first realization.
Then comes the anger phase. He strikes back at the world and himself with guitars in the background (note the playing of a much stronger version of the theme from the opening "mama" part) . He then tries to escape outright, claiming he's "just gotta get out / just gotta get right out of here".
However, after a crecendo, he realizes that he's not about to win anything or survive anything, so he simply resigns. It's very similar to the opening sequence--although instead of a dream, he seems much more lucid in this state. He repeats much of what he's said earlier, only now he either believes it or has no choice but to accept it.
There. I think it's an interpretation of the process gone through after a shock. It's quite obviously wrong, but I can't help but thinking it.
Besides, it's my favorite song. Let me warp it however I want ;)
Wow, i think you're right!!! I have never thought of it that way before.
Wow, i think you're right!!! I have never thought of it that way before.
Very good interpretation. And well put too.
Very good interpretation. And well put too.
Impressive. I would never have thought of THAT. Honestly, I pictured some sort of fallen god or something. Although, looking back, that sounds a little silly. In the broad view, I think that it's one of those songs without a specific meaning, as implied by Freddie's own admission that he, the song's writer, had no clue what the song was about. Anyway, good job.
Impressive. I would never have thought of THAT. Honestly, I pictured some sort of fallen god or something. Although, looking back, that sounds a little silly. In the broad view, I think that it's one of those songs without a specific meaning, as implied by Freddie's own admission that he, the song's writer, had no clue what the song was about. Anyway, good job.
"Bismillah" is the opening word in the Qu'ran (Koran) and literally means "In the name of Allah." "Scaramouch" according to the dictionary means "a stock character who appears as a boastful coward." "Beelzebub" is one of the many names given to the Devil (yes, it is spelled this way-not as above). "Fandango" is a Spanish dance done in triple time.
didnt you spell Beelzebub exactly how they spelled it?
didnt you spell Beelzebub exactly how they spelled it?
They fixed it, thanks to his correction.
They fixed it, thanks to his correction.
the tragedy of love..life. metafore of confusion, pain, waiting and the real thing, cosmic connections are not what they seem. Just a personal observation from a song writer
the tragedy of love..life. metafore of confusion, pain, waiting and the real thing, cosmic connections are not what they seem. Just a personal observation from a song writer
I finally got it! My father told me it was based on Albert Camus' novel, The Stranger and suddenly it all made sense! (Great song AND book). The book is an existentialist novel. This relates to the first lines and can especially be seen in the line "Nothing really matters to me" In the first part of the novel, the main character, Meursault, isn't fully conscious of the life around him. He doesn't even cry at his mother's funeral. He just goes through life living day by day. Until he murders a man. Just as he truly began to live, he was imprisoned.
"Mama, just killed a man Put a gun against his head Pulled my trigger now he's dead Mama, life had just begun (This line especially emphasizes this) But now I've gone and thrown it all away"
The second part of the novel covers Mersault's time in prison and in court. Which is the second part of the song,
", we will not let you go (Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go (Let hime go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go (Let me go!) Will not let you go (Let me go!) No, no, no, no, no, no, no"
At the end of the novel, he is sentenced to death. And again, he goes back to his old way of thinking. NOTHING MATTERS.
It has NOTHING to do with Freddy's battle with AIDS. They didn't know what AIDS was until the 1980s.
That's exactly right, people should get more educated....AIDS....really? song came out in the mid 70's... The song actually exactly follows the mood of the Stranger...and if I recall correctly, it's been awhile since I read it, isn't the jury of his peers more upset he was neglectful of his mother, than killing this guy (?). The end of the book Mersualt has deviant speech (like the heavy part of the song)...but in the end, in typical existentialist form...nothing really matters...
That's exactly right, people should get more educated....AIDS....really? song came out in the mid 70's... The song actually exactly follows the mood of the Stranger...and if I recall correctly, it's been awhile since I read it, isn't the jury of his peers more upset he was neglectful of his mother, than killing this guy (?). The end of the book Mersualt has deviant speech (like the heavy part of the song)...but in the end, in typical existentialist form...nothing really matters...
@idkdontask Hey, man, great comment, thank you very much!
@idkdontask Hey, man, great comment, thank you very much!
@idkdontask nice catch
@idkdontask nice catch
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.
To the guy who links this song to AIDS...End of story? You couldn't possibly be more ignorant! First, and really the most important FACT, Bohemian Rhapsody was written by Freddie Mercury in 1975, a full 7 years BEFORE the virus that causes AIDS was discovered. If you can't figure out that the lyrics couldn't possibly have anything to do with AIDS then......
I think it's doubtful that it's to do with his battle with aids considering he wrote it ten years before he found out he had aids :)
Well i think this proves my theory that Freddie was god and he saw what was gonna happen :)
Well i think this proves my theory that Freddie was god and he saw what was gonna happen :)
Not only was it impossible for Freddie Mercury to write a song about his illness (and not a single lyric to my mind refers to anyone's being ill, the fact is that (outside perhaps a very few in the scientific community, and that is only a perhaps), no one was aware of HIV/AIDS when this song was written.
Not only was it impossible for Freddie Mercury to write a song about his illness (and not a single lyric to my mind refers to anyone's being ill, the fact is that (outside perhaps a very few in the scientific community, and that is only a perhaps), no one was aware of HIV/AIDS when this song was written.
@paulotheman Not AIDS, his coming to grips with being homosexual and no having to come out. Which was not easy back then
@paulotheman Not AIDS, his coming to grips with being homosexual and no having to come out. Which was not easy back then
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!
a controversially great song.. from my perspective anyway. among the best alongside led zeppelin's immortal "stairway to heaven".
AIDS. I bow my head in respect for the memory of Freddy Mercury and others who died from AIDS, especially within the first 10 years after it was recognized in 1981-1982.
Having lived through the 1980s (and earlier), I remember clearly how puzzled we all were by news reports about something killing homosexual men in North America in the early 1980s. AIDS was not even named until September 24, 1982. Yes, please note that Bohemian Rhapsody was written well before that, in 1975.
thank you I thought I was going to explain it
thank you I thought I was going to explain it
@AstaTone I remember that too. At one point some doctors and researchers were calling it "4H disease," the four Hs being homosexuals (actually it's only gay men who are at particular risk, lesbians are the lowest-risk group with regard to sexual orientation), Haitians (from some kind of ritual involving blood), heroin users (still a major high-risk group, from sharing needles), and hemophiliacs (from contaminated blood products). We've really come a long way since then in terms of being able to treat/manage it. Now it's "living with AIDS" instead of "dying of AIDS." I remember the excitement...
@AstaTone I remember that too. At one point some doctors and researchers were calling it "4H disease," the four Hs being homosexuals (actually it's only gay men who are at particular risk, lesbians are the lowest-risk group with regard to sexual orientation), Haitians (from some kind of ritual involving blood), heroin users (still a major high-risk group, from sharing needles), and hemophiliacs (from contaminated blood products). We've really come a long way since then in terms of being able to treat/manage it. Now it's "living with AIDS" instead of "dying of AIDS." I remember the excitement when the first antiretroviral drug, the reverse transcriptase inhibitor AZT, became available.
I once had a kind of pneumonia that's particularly common among people with AIDS (not sure if it was the kind that killed Freddie). I have a normally-functioning immune system, but I was in the ICU for weeks and at first they were worried I was going to die. I can only imagine how bad it must be for someone who has AIDS.
Stupid "publishing block." I was about to do a long analysis. Oh well, here's the lyrics in case the block isn't lifted anytime soon.
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, No escape from reality. Open your eyes, Look up to the skies and see, I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy, Because I'm easy come, easy go, Little high, little low, Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me.
Mama just killed a man, Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead. Mama, life had just begun, But now I've gone and thrown it all away. Mama, ooh, Didn't mean to make you cry, If I'm not back again this time tomorrow, Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters.
Too late, my time has come, Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time. Goodbye, ev'rybody, I've got to go, Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth. Mama, ooh, I don't want to die, I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all.
I see a little silhouetto of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango. Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very fright'ning me. (Galileo.) Galileo. (Galileo.) Galileo, Galileo figaro Magnifico. I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me. He's just a poor boy from a poor family, Spare him his life from this monstrosity. Easy come, easy go, will you let me go. Bismillah! No, we will not let you go. (Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go. (Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go. (Let me go.) Will not let you go. (Let me go.) Will not let you go. (Let me go.) Ah. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. (Oh mama mia, mama mia.) Mama mia, let me go. Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me.
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye. So you think you can love me and leave me to die. Oh, baby, can't do this to me, baby, Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here.
Nothing really matters, Anyone can see, Nothing really matters, Nothing really matters to me.
Any way the wind blows.