Brian May Miscellaneous Songs
This page includes song details of miscellaneous tracks by Brian, which do not fit under his studio albums.
Details of some of Brian's tracks recorded and performed with 1984, The Left Handed Marriage and Smile can be found on the Pre-Queen Songs page.
Apache (1989 studio 'jam' with Tony Iommi)
C'mon Baby (1998 live track)
Fun At The Funeral Parlour (2002)
God (The Dream Is Over) (1993 live track)
I Don't Want Nobody (Teasing Around With Me) (2001)
Il Colosso (with Sissel, 1996)
My Boy (1999)
New Horizons (2019)
One Night In Hell (2014)
Save The Badger Badger Badger (2013)
Sideburns (2001)
The Alps Guitar Solos (2007)
The Amazing Spider-Man (1995)
The Badger (poem read by Virginia McKenna with music by Brian) (2013)
The Fire Within (with Michael Kamen, 2002)
The Stretch (2000)
What Are We Made Of? (with Sissel, 1996)
'51 Degrees North' Soundtrack (2014)
Come To Your Senses (around 2001)
Macbeth (1990)
(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame (1997/8)
Moody Keyboards (around 1993)
Olympic Theme (1988)
The Green Parade (around 1989)
Two Sisters (2010)
Anthems (2010 album with Kerry Ellis)
Acoustic By Candlelight (2013 live album with Kerry Ellis)
Golden Days (2017 album with Kerry Ellis)
- The Amazing Spider-Man Mastermix / various mixes (no 37, 4 March 1995) [discography]
- Save The Badger Badger Badger (no 79, 19 May 2013 [discography]
- One Night In Hell (3 November 2014) [discography]
- New Horizons (download on 1 January 2019, and as a 12" single on 13 April 2019) [discography]
Apache
Performed by Brian May and Tony Iommi in 1989. Length 1:09.
This track was performed during the recording of 'Smoke On The Water' for the Rock Aid Armenia appeal in 1989.
It is a short, rough, studio jam and is only available within 'The Making Of' bonus documentary on the 2010 CD+DVD reissue of the track, at around 22:12.
The track was originally recorded by The Shadows and reached no. 1 in 1960.
Fun At The Funeral Parlour
Presumably written by Brian May. Length 0:35.
This track was used as the theme tune to the second series of 'Fun At The Funeral Parlour', a comedy which aired on BBC Choice in 2002, and is available on DVD.
The track begins with a guitar version of the 'Funeral March', then it becomes a very fast instrumental, dominated by guitar.
The show was written by and starred Rhys Thomas, who went on to direct the Freddie Mercury 'The Great Pretender' documentary, and the 2014-2016 comedy 'Brian Pern', which featured occasional interviews with Roger.
There are essentially three versions of the track, as detailed below. 1. Main Theme (0:35) (appears as the closing music for episode 6 and at the end of the 'making of' featurette. The rest of the episodes feature shorter versions of the track, typically 22 or 26 seconds, while four episodes close with a very brief four second excerpt of the track)
2. Keyboard Theme (0:29) (appears on the 'special features' screens on the DVD, and in two parts in episode 5. This is a keyboard version of the main theme, with no guitar)
3. Funeral March (0:32) (appears on the 'scene selection' screens on the DVD. This is a normal version of the funeral march, featuring drums and keyboards, but no guitar)
I Don't Want Nobody (Teasing Around With Me)
Written by Billy 'The Kid' Emerson. Length 3:49.
This track is a cover version, the original was recorded by Billy 'The Kid' Emerson in 1954, titled as 'No Teasing Around'.
It is a slow, bluesy track, with strong vocals and guitar, and appears on some copies of the Japanese version of the 2001 Sun Records tribute album, 'Good Rockin' Tonight - The Legacy Of Sun Records'. I don't want nobody
Teasing around with me
No, nobody
I don't want nobody
Teasing around with me
I may be weak
I may be strong
I may be right
Lord knows, I may be wrong
But I don't want nobody
Teasing around with me
I've been in love lately
I'm not a fool you see
You left my heart aching
A lonely, lonely melody
So say you want me
You want me back
Darling, I'll give you loving
Baby you've never had
Oh, I don't want nobody
Teasing around with me
Hey
Yeah baby
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah, yeah
I may be deaf
I may be blind
Baby I can talk
And I'm sure gonna speak my mind
Oh I don't want nobody
Teasing around with me
Oh, I don't want nobody
Il Colosso
Music by Brian May and Lee Holdridge, lyrics by Brian May. Length 7:35.
This track is available on the soundtrack album of the 1996 film 'Pinocchio', while a different version appears in the film.
It has a very operatic feel, and includes two shorts parts of 'What Are We Made Of?'.
The vocals sung by 'Pinocchio', and officially credited to 'Just William', are actually sung by Brian but slightly speeded up.
Details are also available of an unreleased demo version. 1. Film Version (7:11) (only in the film; this is similar to the soundtrack album version, with some parts edited out. However, there are changes and also additional film dialogue) No to tyranny
He shall not have his pleasure
The goodness shall prevail
No to felony
He'll save our greatest treasure
In this we can not
In this we can not fail My dearest daughter
Will no-one save her
Ah, my kingdom
He offers half his kingdom
And no-one dare to save me from the hassles
I will
Now all the world is waiting (all)
The maiden I must save (the world is)
Don't wait, no hesitating (waiting)
If only I were brave (and now is the hour)
This time I must be the hero
It's my call, that's my fate
It's everything or nothing
Look out he's coming through
I'll save you princess
Puny peasants
No
Behold the giant
He stands out proud, defiant
The princess shall be mine She will be mine
Who next? Hey you up there, with the b-b-beard
Oh, I was made of freedom
Nobody pulls my strings
A knight can equal any man
In all the grown up things Oh, I was made of mischief
They tell me I must learn
But nothing is coincidence
Whichever way I turn And I will do or die
For I know one thing after all
The bigger any giant comes
The harder he may fall
My hero
He saved me
My hero, my hero, my hero, my hero, my hero, my hero
Hail the hero
At last we have a hero
So I'm told he is only a p - p - p - peasant
Only a peasant
He's nothing but a peasant
He's so daring and handsome and charming
But a peasant - how very alarming He's so clever and brave and heroic
But those peasants, they're all protozoic Altogether we dance and play
We're bright and gay, aloud, hooray
Altogether we greet the day
Colossus is no more Altogether we celebrate the very hills reverberate
To the heavens we elevate
The hero we adore All of a sudden the world is light
The sun is up and shining bright
All of a sudden the birds do sing
And spring is at the door All together in harmony
In chorus song and symphony All together the angels sing
The giant is no more What are we made of
Can we know what we will be
What are the chances
I can find a better path
A better life
A better me What are we made of
Is it written in the sand
Where are we sailing
To a strange and distant land
Take my hand and sail with me What are we made of
If you think you know the answer
Turn around, think again
No! A monster
A fire breathing monster
At last we are undone
Hail the general
He'll make his work indelible
And now the chosen fun
Has begun Stand for justice
Stand for honour
Stand with courage (we will) Stand with valour (we will)
Ahh-ahhh, ahh-ahhh
Ahh-ahh-ahh
Ahh-ahhh, ahh-ahhh
Ahh-ahh-ahh Hail the general
Here comes the mighty general
He will tend to
He must tend to
He must tend to
Oh, I was made of
So I was made of
I am made of What are we made of
Just for this moment take your life into your hands
You will decide
What you are made of
What it is that I can be Think again, my friend Turn around, think again
My Boy
Written by Brian May. Length 2:00.
This track was included on a various-artist compilation called 'Lullabies With A Difference', released in 1999.
It is a slow ballad, with Brian singing and playing the piano, and very few other instruments. It is believed to have been recorded in 1982 during sessions for Queen's 'Hot Space' album. Strange how soon the party's over
I should know by now
My hand no longer guides your footsteps
Now you guide your own
And all that's left is the sound of your voice
And your face as you were on the screen
Hush, don't you cry
There'll be no pain
The bad wolf is gone
He'll have no part of our game
All too soon the dream world's fading
Says farewell
Since my boy became a man
Don't make it too soon
My small boy
New Horizons
Written and composed by Brian May and Don Black. Length 4:20.
According to the 12" single:
"This work is a tribute to the NASA New Horizons team, who successfully achieved the most distant encounters ever by the human race - with the planet Pluto and the Kuiper Belt Object 2014 MU69, affectionately nicknamed 'Ultimate Thule'".
The song was premiered on 1 January 2019 in a live broadcast from the New Horizons control center in Maryland, USA, and released as a download later that day. It was also released as a 12" single on 13 April 2019, as an extended version, alongside an instrumental version.
The various versions contain three sections - an intro (featuring sound effects and dialogue from the launch), the main song, and an outro (featuring additional dialogue from Stephen Hawking). Featuring Stephen Hawking, with kind permission of the Estate of Stephen Hawking
All vocals and instruments by Brian May, except drums by John Miceli
Produced by Brian May
Co-produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson, additional engineering by John Miceli
Recorded and mixed at Allerton Hill Studios, England 1. Ultimate Thule Mix (4:20) (available on the download only; this contains the main song and outro only)
2. Ultimate Thule Extended Mix (4:41) (available on the 12" single only; this contains all three sections)
3. Ultimate Thule Instrumental (3:50) (available on the 12" single only; this is an almost complete instrumental version of the main song)
4. Video Version (4:14) (this contains the intro and the main song only) T minus 15 seconds. Ready, roger? (15 seconds) 11 (11 seconds), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, wooh! We have lift-off of NASA's New Horizons space programme (undecipherable dialogue) The revelations of New Horizons
May help us to understand better
How our solar system was formed New horizons to explore
New horizons no-one's ever seen before
Limitless wonders in a never ending sky
We may never, never reach them
That's why we have to try
New horizons to take our breath away
New horizons getting closer every day
Somewhere in the distance a wonder will appear
One day new horizons will be very, very near
Oooh-oooh, that's why we're here
Tonight the hand of man reaches out
To throw light on how life came about
Computer is reckoning an all time high
The future is beckoning
Onward and onward we fly
Oooh
New horizons the dream coming true
New horizons that will change our point of view
The fruits of wishful thinking, we taste them for real
We're off to new horizons, so hold onto the wheel
Hey, hey, that's how we feel
New horizons every day New horizons New horizons
New horizons
Every day (yeah)
(Ooh) alright We explore because we are human
And we want to know
One Night In Hell
Written by Brian May and Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Length 2:01.
This is an instrumental track, featuring the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, which combines elements from Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Queen's 'We Will Rock You', and new guitars from Brian. The track appears in the animated film 'One Night In Hell', which Brian co-produced and briefly appears in.
The 1812 Overture also appears as part of Cozy Powell's Drum Solo on the 'Live At Brixton Academy' album. Engineered and co-produced by Kris Fredriksson
Mixed by Kris Fredriksson, Richard Stockwell and Justin Shirley-Smith
Recorded by Stanislav Baroch at CSNO Studios, Prague
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Steve Sidwell.
Save The Badger Badger Badger
Written by Brian May and Weebl. Length 1:08.
This track is based on 'Flash' by Queen and 'Badger Badger Badger' by Weebl, which was an animated video produced in 2003.
The track features new guitars and vocals, with Weebl on backing vocals, and Brian Blessed, who speaks the last line. It was released as a download, to raise awareness of the badger cull, probably in the UK only. It topped the iTunes rock chart, reached #39 in the iTunes mainstream chart, and reached #79 in the UK Singles chart.
The video of the track is animated, based on imagery from the 'Flash Gordon' film and Weebl's original video. Oh no! A car
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Save the badgers
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Save the badgers
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Save the badgers
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger
Oh no! A car
Oh, stop the car
Bad-ger
Save all the badgers
Keep the badgers alive!
Sideburns
Written by Brian May. Length 1:06.
This track was released on the 'Guitarist Magazine' CD, issue 216, in November 2001.
It is an instrumental track, with Brian playing the new Burns Red Special guitar, alongside a drum beat from Justin Shirley-Smith.
The CD also includes another track in which Brian discusses the differences between the guitars, and demonstrates the difference.
The Alps Guitar Solos
Written by Brian May.
Brian contributed five different guitar solos to the film The Alps, along with some reworkings of other Queen tracks. Unfortunately these solos are very short, but are very typical of his normal style. The pieces were recorded by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson.
Piece 1 : two solos of length 13 and 23 seconds during 59 second piece.
Piece 2 : a 14 second solo during a 34 second piece.
Piece 3 : a much slower and more gentle solo, over a 50 second piece.
Piece 4 : two solos of length 17 and 21 seconds during a 50 second piece.
Piece 5 : an 18 second solo during a 58 second piece.
The Amazing Spider-Man
Written by Brian May, and released under the name of 'MC Spy-d And Friends'.
Parts of this track were used as the theme tune and music for the 1995 BBC Radio 1 series of the same name, which was later released on cassette.
The Mastermix was also released as a single, and contains a sample of the Rick Rubin Remix of 'We Will Rock You'. 1. The Amazing Spider-Man Mastermix (4:12) (on all singles; this is the single version)
2. The Amazing Spider-Man White Trouser Mix (8:11) (on all singles; this is an extended dance version, which adds a dance beat, additional instrumental sections featuring some different instruments, and some different lyrics)
3. The Amazing Spider-Man Sad Bit (1:47) (on all singles; this is a short guitar instrumental)
4. The Amazing Spider-Person Brown Trouser Mix (0:07) (only on the CD single; this is a short burst of guitar)
5. The Amazing DJ Perk - MC Spy-d's Favourite Stings (0:51) (only on the CD single; a collection of sound effects)
6. The Amazing Spider-Man Solution Mix (5:45) (only available on a black vinyl promo 12"; a dance remix)
7. The Amazing Spider-Man Solution Chilled Mix (7:59) (only available on a black vinyl promo 12"; a dance remix) The amazing spider-man
Before I was just a nobody - now I'm a freak There's a new street fighter on your window sill
The weapon is beast the word is chill, yeah
Look up there - that's not possible
I've seen that guy somewhere - on TV
Spy-d, spy-d
Spy-d
Our hero is 'live and as thin as a rake
He's as sharp as a scythe with the muscles of a snake
He can run, he can crawl, he can graft in the air
Watch him wrap it all up without turning a hair
The amazing spider-man
Wow - a spider - ow, it, it bit me
Oh, too bad I stepped on it - yow
It's Peter - he's on the ceiling
Now the city's sleeping
Spy-d do his creeping
Creeping he is creeping
We'll be weeping, weeping, weeping, oh
To the wall he's clinging
A spider's web he's spinning
A better life he's bringing
For all the stranded pretty, pretty women
Ah, Mr Fantastic, I, I need help
I think, I think I'm turning into a spider
And I'm not even 18 yet
Is he man, is he insect, all we now is he's great
Watch him weaving his magic into a web of fate
The incredible
Help, help - my God
See the girl hanging from the 53rd storey window
Nobody could climb up there except
Spy-d?
You were expecting Tom Cruise?
See the guy running off with the cash and the choker and sponge
He's getting away
None can stop him except
Spy-d
Spy-d
I will not be ignored, I shall rule you all, I shall - what?
Package for Dr Octopus
Spider-man
Spy-d
It's clobbering time
Spy-d
Every scuzz-bag and creep better hide yourself well
He'll be hot on your heels, he's the spider from hell
He laughs at the dangers, just as he brings
The web-wielding avenger for whom the world sings
The amazing, the amazing
Spider-man
I'm not sure I hope for this long underwear character
Gangway
I'm a pumpkin bomb, a pumpkin bomb
You won't last long with a pumpkin bomb
Here I go - 5, 4
Ooops, ooheee Help, help
Cool, oh yeah
Spy-d, oh yeah
Spy-d
Oooh
Oh, yeah, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, oh, oh
Ooh, oooh, ooh, oooh
Wooh
Wow - a spider - ow, it bit me
Oh, too bad I stepped on it - yow
It's Peter - he's on the ceiling
Spy-d, get down
Cool, ah yeah
Um, looking good
Ow, yeah
Hit me
Do it again
Huh
Ooh, oooh
Wow, oh, yeah, yeah
Spin for me spy-d
Oh, oh, ooh
Do it spy-d
I will not be ignored, I shall rule you all, I shall - what?
Package for Dr Octopus
Spider-man
It's clobbering time
Every scuzz-bag and creep better hide yourself well
He'll be hot on your heels, he's the spider from hell
He laughs at the dangers, just as he brings
The web-wielding avenger for whom the world sings
The amazing, amazing
Gangway
Spider-man
The Fire Within
Presumably written by Michael Kamen. Length 8:51.
This track was conducted by, and presumably written by, Michael Kamen, who previously worked on 'Highlander'.
It features mostly classical music, with Brian's guitar playing the part of 'The Fire Within'.
It was performed at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 8 February 2002, although Brian's guitar solo was pre-recorded.
I have seen a number of versions of this track, but they are all derived from the full version, and just vary the amount of classical music included.
The Stretch
Presumably written by Brian May. Length 1:04.
This track was the theme tune to 'The Stretch', a 2000 TV mini-series on Sky starring Anita Dobson and Leslie Grantham.
It is a heavy, fast paced instrumental, dominated by guitar and drums. The start of the track features some sound effects, and it ends with an explosion.
What Are We Made Of?
Written by Brian May. Length 3:42.
This track is sung as a duet between Brian and Norwegian singer Sissel.
The full version is only available on the soundtrack to the 1996 film 'Pinocchio', although excerpts appear as part of 'Il Colosso'. Produced by Brian May and Spencer Proffer
Recorded at Allerton Hill, Windlesham, Surrey
Engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith, assisted by Pete Malandrone
Orchestral Arrangements by Lee Holdridge
Backing vocals by Brian May and Cathy Porter What are we made of
Can we know what we will be
What are we made of
Think again
There's a wind of changes blowing
There's a fire deep inside
There's a place we could be going
If we could only get it right
And the river keeps on flowing
And the morning lights the sky
When they said it would be easy
I guess they must have lied
What are we made of
Can we know what we will be
What are the chances
I can find a better path
A better life
A better me
What are we made of
If think you know the answer
Turn around
Think again
Whatever were you thinking
Did you turn your life around
When you know your world is sinking
Can you find a solid ground
Is there really a road to heaven (we'll find a way)
And a road leads down below (someway somehow)
Does anything really matter
If only we could know
What are we made of
Is it written in the sand
Where are we sailing
To a strange and distant land
Take my hand and sail with me
What are we made of
'Cos I have to understand
Yeah
Yeah, yeah
What are we made of
Can we know what we will be
What are the chances
There's a place for you and me
What are we made of
Just for this moment take your life into your hands
You'll decide
What you are made of
What it is that you can be
Think again my friend
Turn around, think again
