Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen cover)

My Mother In Law passed away from this debilitating illness and my Father passed from a different terminal illness. This was Her favorite band and song and there are a lot of eerie similiarities to the lyrics used and what I experienced first hand. Of course, no one but Freddy knows the exact meaning but this is how I always viewed. Hence the "may" used throughout:

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

The narrator has been diagnosed with the terminal illness (AIDS/HIV) and is in disbelief and shock. His/Her life has now been affected drastically (rugged pulled out from up under the feet) and unexpectedly, liken to that of a landslide. A landslide is of course a down slope movement and can occur at any moment and may be slowly to fast. This may be related to the downward spiral of emotions brought upon by the diagnosis. There is no escape from the reality of the illness. The speaker is now telling themselves to look upward and find the silver lining. Their eyes are fully open and the gravity of the situation is now sinking in. Without the threat of death, one cannot truly appreciate life.

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

The narrator may be expressing self pity and at the same time expressing not wanting to be shown empathy. This may be due to the person feeling guilty, ashamed or to blame for contracting the illness or alluding to the fact that feelings of empathy/sympathy will not change the outcome. The speaker has a laissez-faire demeanor and "the little high/low" may be referring to the mood swings, good days/bad days, their health in general. He/She may also be referring to drug usage. Last line also seems to refer to the speaker's demeanor and overall attitude towards the illness.

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

The speaker, in their opinion, has sentenced their "lover" to a "death sentenced" due to passing the disease to them. "Put a gun against his head" may be referring to the male genitalia (we're all grown here I would hope) "pulled the trigger now he's dead" may be referring to the sexual act itself. The partner may not be aware they have contracted the disease and unaware of their upcoming prognosis. The speaker is relatively young or feels like they've only begun living. This may be because the person has just experienced love and feels reborn only to have it all taken away due to a decision that was made. They may feel like they've "thrown away" their life because of the disease.

Mama 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

The narrator did not mean to cause any harm by "committing the act" of having a sexual relationship with someone affected (or they themselves may have been the affected one). This person may be referencing to either suicide or the fact they may not survive the night. If this should be the case, the speaker assures His/Her Mom to "carry on" as if nothing has occurred. Once again, may be sarcasm or the fact the speaker no longer cares and feels as if they no longer matter.

Too late, my time has come Sends shivers down my spine Body's aching all the time Goodbye, everybody I've got to go Got to leave you all behind and face the truth

Mama I don't want to die I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

The "day has come" for the speaker to depart from this world. Reality has set in and this scares the speaker. The next lines may be referring to the physical symptoms associated with the illness (shivers/body aching). The speaker is addressing the world, loved ones and family members alike with a final fair well. The speaker has accepted His/Her fate and Once again, a lot of these lines may be meant to sound both dramatic, sarcastic and solemn to show the ups and downs of the illness and speaker's reaction to them. He/She is not ready to die and may wish to have never been born to not only spare Him/Herself the pain but also His/Her family and friends.

This part of the song/opera I feel is the moment that the subject is succumbing to the illness and is the process of crossing over. It's almost as if this is the final plea for His/Her life and is directed at both God and Satan.

I see a little silhouette of a man Scaramouch Scaramouch Will you do the Fandango? Thunderbolt and lightning Very, very frightening me (Galileo) Galileo Galileo, figaro Magnifico

The narrator may be referring to their own "silhouette" or may be in the grasp of hallucinations. "Scaramouch(e)" is referred to a fool and the speaker may be mocking themselves. "Fandango" is a dance between two people but is also defined as a foolish or useless act or thing. The speaker is entangled in a final dance with both Deities. The thunderbolt/lightning may be referring to the dramatic scene as both Good and Evil hold court over the subject's final verdict. “Galileo” was the name of Jesus Christ in the ancient Rome and “Galileo figuro magnifico”, translates as “Magnify the Galilean's image".

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)

The speaker is on trial and pleading for their life. This may be their attempt on trying to be shown mercy and have "their life spared" from this monstrosity (the disease).

Easy come, easy go, will you let me go Bismillah! No, we will not let you go (Let him go!) No, no, no, no, no, no, no

Once again the subject is pleading for His/Her life with "Bismillah". Bismallah is a phrase in Arabic meaning "In the name of Allah(the true God)"; it is the first word in the Qur'an, and also refers to the Qur'an's opening phrase. Either God or Satan are denying the request regardless of how many times the speaker asks.

Oh, mama mia, mama mia Mama mia, let me go Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me For me

"Mamma mia" literally means my/mine mom and it is an Italian expression that can convey many different emotions: surprise, fear, pain, joy, exasperation, etc. "Beelzebub", of course is another name used for Satan/Lucifer. Because the actions made by the speaker have "led to their downfall", they may feel as if the crime is so horrendous that Satan himself will not participate in the punishment. They may feel homosexuality/aids is something to be ashamed of to the point that Beelzebub wants nothing to do with the issue at hand.

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 got to get out Just got to get right out of here

The verdict in and the "guilty party" having received their sentence has become defiant and is rebutting the the verdict. "Love me and leave me to die" may be referring to the act of love bringing on the illness and now the lover is left to die without any compassion.

Nothing really matters Anyone can see Nothing really matters Nothing really matters to me Any way the wind blows

The narrator has finally succumbed to their illness and has accepted their fate. Although the beginning of there was sarcasm when referencing this line, now it is a final farewell and an acknowledgment that the end has come. "Any way the wind blows" is no longer relevant, live or die, they have accepted the outcome.