NationStates Jolt Archive

To this day, nobody has managed to figure out what the lyrics of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, written by Freddie Mercury, are all about.
It is the UK's official favourite number one song and stayed at the top of the charts for nine weeks, outrivalling any other song in that vast space of time.
Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, taking the secret of BoRhap to his grave, only told his DJ friend what is supposed to mean.
But the elaborance of the song and rock opera has to be too amazing and captivating to be 'rhyming nonsense'.

Any way the wind blows.

The surviving band members say it is pure rhyming nonsense but the more meaningless it sounds the easier it is to associate with other things.

The surviving band members say it is pure rhyming nonsense but the more meaningless it sounds the easier it is to associate with other things.

I think that 'Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter' is definitely a metaphor to describe Freddie's sexuality. He was a bisexual and other phrases like 'Little high, little low' mean the same thing as they are opposites.

It's rhyming Gibberish. Trust me.

Then what does "Mama.. Just killed a man" part.. to do with his sexual nature?

It's rhyming Gibberish. Trust me.

Then what does "Mama.. Just killed a man" part.. to do with his sexual nature?

Hopefully nothing. :eek:

I studied music at HS and my music teacher told us it was about a young man who got involved in drugs (little high, little low, and way the wind blows) and then killed someone. He's guilt ridden and faces trial both in his mind and in court and is sentenced to death.

My personal interpretation is that it is pointing out the ultimate futility of life, a variety of things happen, ranging from the trivial to murder, but 'nothing really matters.'

I think that 'Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter' is definitely a metaphor to describe Freddie's sexuality.Freddie always blatantly denied this, as did Brian, Roger and John. Freddie also said he simply did not wish to reveal what it was about. He said he couldn't understand why people kept trying to make poetry out of it, rather than just enjoying the song.

However, I have to agree with Randomlittleisland on this - I've always felt it is a bit of a nihilistic song (just how I like 'em :D), whether or not that was how Freddie intended it.

Then what does "Mama.. Just killed a man" part.. to do with his sexual nature?

Penetrating the body of another man, more specifically having oral sex with him after having put a metaphorical 'gun' against 'his head'.

Penetrating the body of another man, more specifically having oral sex with him after having put a metaphorical 'gun' against 'his head'.

How'd ya explain "pulled the trigger now he's dead" then? Intresesting metaphors if you're going to say what I think you're going to say.

Let me let you all in on a little something...




























NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO HAVE A DAMN HIDDEN MEANING, GIVE IT UP AND GET A REAL HOBBY

I personally think its nonsense rhyming based around the free willed lives of Bohemians. They were basically like hippies, beleived in free love kind of. They were artists, and for the most part lived in poverty on their own free will. Its not that they starved themselves, but they usually lived in the slums on their own will. They were also known to not bath for long periods of time.

Ihatevacations']
NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO HAVE A DAMN HIDDEN MEANING, GIVE IT UP AND GET A REAL HOBBY

Lol.. My thoughts exactly.

No I don't think that was flaming, I think it's true.

It's a good song, there are lots of things that could be 'read into' that song.

Sexual inuendo, feelings of desolation, worries about looks and how people see themselves, signs of depression......

As with so many other songs, what the writer meant about it and what each listener hears is always completely different.

Ihatevacations']Let me let you all in on a little something...
NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO HAVE A DAMN HIDDEN MEANING, GIVE IT UP AND GET A REAL HOBBY

Well said! The meaning of the song, if there really is one, will never be known. What is known, though, is the brilliance of its musical performance.
The group spent days overdubbing the vocals until over 120 vocals were layered. BR also took 3 distinctly different melody lines and joined (wedded) them together into a flowing cohesive masterpiece. Set aside the lyrics and listen.

That was unnecessary. Borderline flaming?
how was that flaming? I don't recall insutling anyone, unless you consider me asserting that tryign to discover song meanings in every song you run across nto a real hobby a flame..

I personally think its nonsense rhyming based around the free willed lives of Bohemians. They were basically like hippies, beleived in free love kind of. They were artists, and for the most part lived in poverty on their own free will. Its not that they starved themselves, but they usually lived in the slums on their own will. They were also known to not bath for long periods of time.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255-s01/boheme/lifestyle.html

Though what it ommits to say is that these so called free thinkers were the children of upper and upper middle class parents.
They had no need to work and had the means to live as they wished pretending to be impoverished, so very few 'suffered for their art'.

You would also be very hard put to see a working class Bohemion, they were too busy trying to deal with real poverty fro them to pretend to be poor.

The song doesn't mean anything, it's like ramalamadingdong or give peace a chance.

Well said! The meaning of the song, if there really is one, will never be known. What is known, though, is the brilliance of its musical performance.
The group spent days overdubbing the vocals until over 120 vocals were layered. BR also took 3 distinctly different melody lines and joined (wedded) them together into a flowing cohesive masterpiece. Set aside the lyrics and listen.

It is a song and a tune that will last for many years, as you can see every generation discovers it and loves it, I was 17 when it came out and not only did I think it was fantastic, but my mother did to.
It's the same now with myself and my ten year old daughter.

(Who by the way says stop thinking and listen to the pattern of the words.)

It is a song and a tune that will last for many years, as you can see every generation discovers it and loves it, I was 17 when it came out and not only did I think it was fantastic, but my mother did to.
It's the same now with myself and my ten year old daughter.

(Who by the way says stop thinking and listen to the pattern of the words.)

The track is everything, though, my husband loved Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side until he listened to the lyrics. I can't begin to tell you how hilarious his reaction when he caught on to the subject of the song. :eek:
The musical qualities of it, though, makes it stand out with exceptional quality. Another song that's brilliance is often overlooked is Prince's When Doves Cry. Do any of you know what is unique about it?

Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the USA
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She says, Hey babe
Take a walk on the wild side
She said, Hey honey
Take a walk on the wild side

Candy came from out on the Island
In the backroom she was everybody's darlin'
But she never lost her head
Even when she was giving head
She says, Hey babe
Take a walk on the wild side
Said, Hey babe
Take a walk on the wild side
And the colored girls go
doo do doo do doo do do doo

Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City's the place where they said, Hey babe
Take a walk on the wild side
I said, Hey Joe
Take a walk on the wild side

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Lookin' for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should've seen 'em go go go
They said, Hey sugar
Take a walk on the wild side
I Said, Hey babe
Take a walk on the wild side
All right, huh

Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
Said, Hey babe,
Take a walk on the wild side
I said, Hey honey,
Take a walk on the wild side
And the colored girls say,
doo do doo do doo do do doo

The track is everything, though, my husband loved Lou Reed's Walk on the Wild Side until he listened to the lyrics. I can't begin to tell you how hilarious his reaction when he caught on to the subject of the song. :eek:

LOL, so he doesn't like the song now then?
My Dad (a Northern man now reitred Blacksmith) used to come and sit and chat while I was doing my artwork, we used to listen to music and he often said "Put the one about the puff on" He loved that album and he recently got a copy of transformer on CD (he's 75)

But if your partner was a bit iffy about that, for goodness don't introduce him to "Venus in Furs", or perhaps maybe you should and see how much he can enjoy that until the words penetrate.....


Another song that's brilliance is often overlooked is Prince's When Doves Cry. Do any of you know what is unique about it?

Sorry but can't agree about the poisoned dwarf *shudders* Prince/formerly known as symbol/formerly Prince.....*shudders*
But I have to give the (loosely termed) man his dues, some of his songs and lyrics are exceptional. "Nothing compares (to you)" as sung by Sienead O'Conner cannot be beaten for it's strength of feeling and guts.

It means what "Stairway to Heaven" means- absolutely nothing.

Not everything has to have deep meaning, maybe he was just writing what sounded good. In this case the lyrics are inconsequential, the music is the important part.

Another song that's brilliance is often overlooked is Prince's When Doves Cry. Do any of you know what is unique about it?

No idea? Prince incorporated NO BASS. The producers fought him on this, thinking that a song had to have a good bass line to catch on, but he held on to his concept. LISTEN....LISTEN....LISTEN. Lyrics are fodder...the musical qualities are what makes a song great.

Errrrrr........ I don't think I'll quote Venus in furs, look it up guys......

Errrrrr........ I don't think I'll quote Venus in furs, look it up guys......

Velvet Underground, wasn't it? It was "different". Not what I would exactly call a work of genius...more a work of "fantasy".

You must ne joking and you say that Prince was a musical genious? Listen to the music and the richness and depth of that track and see a true genious at work.

And as with all of Lou Reeds work, it certainly wasn't 'fantasy'.

It's rhyming Gibberish. Trust me.

Then what does "Mama.. Just killed a man" part.. to do with his sexual nature?
It's a reference to the guilt caused by his homosexual encounters early in life. Put a gun against his head is a reference to oral sex too.

Ok, I'm talking out of my ass. I don't know what it means, I really don't care.

'Walk On The Wild Side' is practically my personal theme music. It's been playing in the background of my life for more than 25 years. I always knew what it was about.

Unnaturally enough.

But back to... Bohemian Rhapsody. Here is another piece of music that has played in the background of my life for nearly as long as the afore-mentioned Lou Reed tune, in this case unbidden.

It's like taking a trip to a movie theatre multiplex. This song is part of the soundtrack of other people's lives, and the walls between cinemas is cheap and thin. While I might have enjoyed the song once or twice in 1976, it has plagued me ever since, this lump of someone elses' life, this basic aid to post-pubescent scenery-chewing and the staple of virtually all 'Classic Rock' radio fare.

If not for the barbed sense of humour of Ade Edmonson, Rik Mayall, and Nigel Planer, my post would no doubt devolve into a true Rhapsody/Queen/Mercury
bitch-fest. But thanks to them, in the guise of 'Bad News' - "the worst Rock 'N' Roll band in the world" - Bohemian Rhapsody (by Bad News) is actually one of my... preferred .mp3s.

If you've heard it, you'll know full why it has Dobbs appeal. If you haven't, might I suggest you try acquiring a copy and see for yourselves?

I'm sure most of you will utterly hate it, but...

Errrrrr........ I don't think I'll quote Venus in furs, look it up guys......


Shiny shiny. Shiny boots of leather


The only song I can think of which I knew and loved for years (my dad was a huge Velvet Underground fan), then listened to the lyrics and was a bit surprised.

Loved the song.

Not a patch on "I'm Sticking to you" though ;)

You must ne joking and you say that Prince was a musical genious? Listen to the music and the richness and depth of that track and see a true genious at work.

And as with all of Lou Reeds work, it certainly wasn't 'fantasy'.

Due to my own personal tastes, I appreciate Wild Side much more than Venus, ignoring lyrics. Venus just doesn't entrigue me, and I consider it one of Lou Reed's poorer works. A piece with a similar "exotic" feel to it that I like much better is Sting's Desert Rose. I didn't say that I thought Prince was a musical genius, though his versions of When Doves Cry and Purple Rain are at least flashes upon genius. I'll agree with you that Lou Reed and Velvet Underground did some pretty innovative stuff...certainly set some people on their ears at the time!!

IT MEANS NOTHING! IT IS JUST A SONG!
BANG YOUR HEAD! :headbang:
"Cum On Feel The Noize!"

The song doesn't mean anything, it's like ramalamadingdong or give peace a chance.
Actually, Give peace a chance made perfect sense. It was Lennon's way of saying that despite all our differences, we should just freaking get along.

The song doesn't mean anything, it's like ramalamadingdong or give peace a chance.
Homer is god.

'Walk On The Wild Side' is practically my personal theme music. It's been playing in the background of my life for more than 25 years. I always knew what it was about.


To appreciate the humor in it you have to know a little about my husband. Former Marine who takes an inordinate pride is his knowledge of music. If I were to compare him to a movie character it would be Nicholas Cage's character in ConAir. Silent, gentle, but a manly man who will kick butt if you just really need it. We're talking old school macho. He has since gotten over his initial embarrassment and again counts it as one of his favorite songs.

It's about 6 minutes

I'll agree with you that Lou Reed and Velvet Underground did some pretty innovative stuff...certainly set some people on their ears at the time!!

And today, Velvet underground and Lou Redd still have a huge following. Thier influences can still be heard in music that is produced now.
As is Roxy Music, Cockney Rebel, (Steve Harley) and many others.

Good well thought and well written music will always find it's place.

(And I will ignore your comment about Venus in Furs, because you are totally and completely utterly wrong......*grins*.....
I think it all comes down to matter of taste in the end.
After all, a long with some very other 'strange' choices, Venus in Furs was one of my listening choices when I was in labour giving birth to my daughter)

After all, a long with some very other 'strange' choices, Venus in Furs was one of my listening choices when I was in labour giving birth to my daughter)

Now, if it had been The Kids off the Berlin LP, I might be somewhat worried, but Venus In Furs seems normal enough a choice to me.

Shiny shiny. Shiny boots of leather


From memory ('cause lyric searching is kinda lame, IMO):

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather,
Whiplash girl-child in the dark,
Clubs and bells, your servant, don’t forsake him,
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart.

Downy sins of streetlight fancies,
Chase the costumes she shall wear,
Ermine furs adorn - imperious,
Severin, Severin awaits you there.

I am tired, I am weary,
I could sleep for a thousand years,......................<-----sing-a-long chorus (imo)
A thousand dreams that would awake me,
Different colors made of tears.

Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather,
Shiny leather in the dark,
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you,
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart.

Severin, Severin, speak so slightly,
Severin, down on your bended knee,
Taste the whip - in love not given lightly,
Taste the whip - now pleeeead for me.

I am tired, I am weary,
I could sleep for a thousand years,,......................<-----c'mon, everybody! sing!
A thousand dreams that would awake me,
Different colors made of tears.

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather,
Whiplash girl-child in the dark,
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don’t forsake him,
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart.

Now, if it had been The Kids off the Berlin LP, I might be somewhat worried, but Venus In Furs seems normal enough a choice to me.

Who says I didn't?
(and Rammstein's "Mutter")
Mind you Venus in furs refers to the pain inflicted in persuit of sexual pleasure adn I was certainly paying for the pleasure that day!

Okay, now this is my moment of embarrasment:

Most of you know I'm TG. That's transgendered, for those of you unfamiliar with that particular acronym. There is a song, by Lou Reed, called 'Makeup', which I'd heard hundreds of times, and never thought at all what the song was about.

While I was still fairly uptight and closeted, many years ago now, a friend did a double-take while hearing Lou sing - and she burst out laughing when I still wasn't picking up on what Lou was laying down:

Makeup
Your face when sleeping is sublime,
And then you open up your eyes.

Then comes pancake factor number one,
Eyeliner, rose hips and lip gloss, such fun,
You're a slick little girl -
You're a slick little girl.

Rouge and colouring, incense and ice -
Perfume and kisses, oooh, it's all so nice,
You're a slick little girl -
You're such a slick little girl.

Now, we're coming out -
Out of our closets,
Out on the streets -
Yeah, we're coming out.

When you're in bed it's so wonderful,
It feels so nice to fall in love,
When you get dressed I really get my fill,
People say that it's impossible -

Gowns lovely made out of lace,
and all the things that you do to your face,
You're a slick little girl -
Oh, you're a slick little girl.

Eyeliner, whitener then colour the eyes -
Yellow and green, oooh, what a surprise!
You're a slick little girl -
Oh, you're such a slick little girl.

Now, we're coming out -
Out of our closets!
Out on the streets!
Yes, we're coming out -
Yeah, we're coming out!
Yeah, we're coming out!



I still have a copy. Terrific tuba-playing on this track.

But in retrospect, how frickin' naive was I?

Dobbsworld, we are all caught out sometimes and boy, did you get caught on that one! *grins*

Lyrics can be easily glossed over and it's content missed.

The Stranglers somehow managed to get "Golden Brown" onto the BBC play lists and into the charts. It was later disclossed (several years later), that it was assumed it was all about a very nice young lady.

OListening to our play list at the moment......good grief, we have a very varied taste and yes, I am afraid Queen and the dreaded song (amongst others) is in there, along with Stranglers, Pistols, Manson, Ramstein,Bjork, Warren Zevon, B52's, Guns 'n' Roses, oh the list goes on!

who really cares its one of their best songs. doesnt have to make sense

To this day, nobody has managed to figure out what the lyrics of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, written by Freddie Mercury, are all about.
It is the UK's official favourite number one song and stayed at the top of the charts for nine weeks, outrivalling any other song in that vast space of time.
Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, taking the secret of BoRhap to his grave, only told his DJ friend what is supposed to mean.
But the elaborance of the song and rock opera has to be too amazing and captivating to be 'rhyming nonsense'.

Any way the wind blows.
if You think those lyrics are bad try "Hooch" By The Melvins:

Los ticka toe rest. Might likea sender doe ree. Your make a doll a ray day sender bright like a penelty.
Exi-tease my ray day member half lost a beat away. Purst in like a one way sender war give a heart like a fay. Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land. Die-mond make a mid-evil bike a sake a like a ree caste. Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land. On a ree land. Find a ree land.
You sink a my swan. Rolly a get a worst in. Maybe minus way far central poor forty duck a pin.
Milk maid dud bean. Master a load a head. Pill pop a dope a well run general hash pump a gonna led.

I know I'm dead wrong, but Bohemian Rhapsody has always reminded me of The Stranger, by Camus.

Can anybody translate the words of Mustapha from Jazz? It is a kind of language mix, I presume.

What is this world coming to?

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is the story of the opera "La Boheme" told in one short song. Hence the album title, "A Night at the Opera." I could be wrong, but I believe this is explained in the liner notes of that album.

I don't even like Queen. I thought this was common knowledge.

It's like Neon Genesis Evangelion, but less Japanese.

Basicly, I've always thought the song had one of these two meanings:

1. Guy commits murder for some reason, gets arrested and hanged. ("Will you do the [hemp] fandago?)

2. Guy accidentally infects other guy with AIDS, then kills himself out of guilt.

It's about 6 minutes

Aren't we clever?!? :eek:

I don't even like Queen. I thought this was common knowledge.

Don't like Queen? You must be nuts! :sniper:

if You think those lyrics are bad try "Hooch" By The Melvins:

Los ticka toe rest. Might likea sender doe ree. Your make a doll a ray day sender bright like a penelty.
Exi-tease my ray day member half lost a beat away. Purst in like a one way sender war give a heart like a fay. Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land. Die-mond make a mid-evil bike a sake a like a ree caste. Cuz I can ford a red eed only street a wide a ree land. On a ree land. Find a ree land.
You sink a my swan. Rolly a get a worst in. Maybe minus way far central poor forty duck a pin.
Milk maid dud bean. Master a load a head. Pill pop a dope a well run general hash pump a gonna led.


I don't think the BoRhap lyrics are bad, just a bit odd. :(