Queen "Hot Space" album and song lyrics

Released 21 May 1982, reached no 4, on chart for 19 weeks, achieved Platinum status.
Album length 43:43, 2011 bonus EP length 23:00.

Produced by Queen and Mack
Engineered by Mack and David Richards
Recorded at Mountain Studios, Switzerland, and Musicland, Munich, September 1981 - March 1982

'Under Pressure' was written, produced and performed by Queen and David Bowie
Album package concept by Freddie Mercury
Artwork by Norm Ung, John Barr and Steve Miller
Inner sleeve photography by Simon Fowler
Special thanks to Arif Mardin who arranged and produced some hot and spacey horns on 'Staying Power'

2011 Reissue Notes:
This 2011 version has been meticulously re-created using the finest modern analogue and digital technology from the original first-generation master mixes.

Executive producers - Brian May and Roger Taylor
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, ME
Audio supervised by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson.
Additional audio restoration by Kris Fredriksson
Special thanks to Greg Brooks and Gary Taylor
Sleeve notes by Greg Brooks and Gary Taylor
Bonus material mastered by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine, audio restoration by Kris Fredriksson.
Special thanks to Greg Brooks, Gary Taylor, Declan O'Regan, All at British Grove Studios and FX Copyroom.

Staying Power

Track 1. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 4:10.
Details are also available of an unreleased early alternate mix.
Additional Assistance:
Arif Mardin (horns arrangement) (he was formerly the Bee Gee's and Aretha Franklin's producer)
John Luongo (extended version remixing)
Alternate Versions:
1. Extended Version (5:50) (on a US promo 12" only)
Live Versions:
1. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (3:45) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982, also appears on 'Greatest Video Hits II', and as audio on the 2011 double disc reissue)
Lyrics:
Huh
Let me show it to you
Yeah
Oh
Ha, yeah

See what I got
I gotta hell of a lot, yeah
Tell me what you feel
Is it real
Is it real, huh
You know I got what it takes
And I can take a lot
Did you hear the last call baby
You and me got staying power, yeah
You and me we've got, huh, staying power
Staying power, I got, I got it
Ha

I wonder when we're gonna make it
I wonder when we're gonna shake it
Rock me baby rock me
Come on you can shock me
Let's catch on to the groove
Make it move, make it move, yeah
You know how to shake that thing
We'll work it, work it, work it
You and I can play ball baby
You and me got staying power, yeah, yeah
You and me we've got staying power

Not bad, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, wow
Yeah, come on
Wow, yes-ah

Huh
Oooohhh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ha
I wonder when we're gonna make it
I wonder when we're gonna shake it
I've got fire down below
I'm just a regular dynamo
Want some smooth company
Don't lose control just hang on out with me
Got to get to know each other
But we got plenty of time
Did you hear the last call baby
You and me got staying power, yeah
Huh, you and me we've got staying power
Ha, yeah, yeah
Power, power, power, power
Power, power, power, staying power

I wonder when we're gonna stick it
I wonder when we're gonna trick it
Blow baby blow
Let's get down and go, go
Get yourself in the mood
Got to give a little bit of attitude
Baby don't you crash
Let's just trash, trash, trash
Did you hear the last call baby
You and me got staying power, yeah
You and me we got staying power, I like it
Staying power, yeah, yeah, gotcha

Dancer

Track 2. Written by Brian May. Length 3:48.
Details are also available of an unreleased early demo (titled 'Catfight For The Rest') and early alternate mix.
Lyrics:
I'm not invited to the party
Been sitting here all night
I'm all alone at the party
I don't feel all right
Ain't got no black coat
Ain't got no tie
I gotta shape up now
Come on baby, you gotta know why

Come on - take off
Dancer, dancer
I can't live with it, I'm gonna die without it
Dancer, dancer
Ain't no doubt about it
Dancer, dancer
Why don't you kick off you're dancing shoes
And come and ride with me
Cool

You're the life and soul of the func - tion
It took me all night
To get hold of the right introduction
Blew me out of sight
I taste your lipstick (yeah)
I look in your eyes (wow)
You feel fantastic (yeah)
My body cries (yeah, yeah, yeah)
That's what I say

Dancer, dancer
I can't live with it, I'm gonna die without it
Dancer, dancer
Ain't no doubt about it
Dancer, dancer
Why don't you kick off your dancing shoes
And come along with me
Oh, oh, hot space, let's go

Oh yeah
Wow
Ha, ha, yeah, yeah
Oh, ho
Oh, oh, oh
Take it
Yeah, I won't be your baby
Who

Dancer, dancer
Oh, can't believe you're dancing
Dancer, dancer
Can't take you home, I gotta take you dancing
Dancer, dancer
Bring on the funk and dance the night away
Dancer, yeah, dancer
You've got to boogie

Ooooh, that's good
Shout about it
Yeah
Please say yes

Dancer, dancer, oooh, your reputation
Dancer, dancer, oh, yeah
Dancer, dancer
Come on baby dance, dance, dance, dance

Female voice on telephone: Guten Morgen, Sie wunschten, geweckt zu werden

Dancer, dancer
Dancer, dancer
Dancer, dancer, come on sugar
Shake on out

Back Chat

Track 3. Written by John Deacon. Length 4:34.
The working title of this track was 'Wooly Hat'.
Details are also available of two unreleased early alternate mixes, and the 'Greatest Video Hits II' surround sound mix.
Alternate Versions:
1. Single Version (4:12) (on the 7" single, the 'Queen Singles Collection 2' boxed set, on 'Greatest Video Hits II', and on the 2011 double disc reissue; this loses the four second drum intro, an instrumental section from 2:38 to 2:46, and fades out slightly earlier. It also loses some of the outro vocals, and has a slightly crisper sound)
2. Extended Version (6:50) (on the 12" single only; this features a new intro, instrumental section and repeated verses)
Live Versions:
1. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (4:49) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982)
Lyrics: (the lyrics in red are lost from the single version)
Yeah, yeah, hah
Bah, bah, bap, bah bap

Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticising all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analysing what I say
Back chat (hah) back chat
And you always get your way
Oh yeah, see what you've done to me

Back chat, back chat
You're driving me insane
It's a battle to the end
Knock you down you come again
Talk back (huh) talk back
You've got me on the rack
Twisting every word I say
Wind me up and get your way
Fat chance I have
Of making a romance
If I'm ever gonna win
Have to get the last word in
Take it from there
Oooh

Twisting every word I say, ha
Wind me up and let me play
Back chat (oh yeah) back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat (hah) back chat
Criticising all you see
Back chat (hey) back chat
Analysing what I say
Back chat (yeah) back chat
And you always get your way

Blow

Oooh, get down to me

Come on now
Wake up, stand up
And drag yourself on out
Get down, get ready
Scream and shout
Back off me, be cool
And learn to change your ways
'Cos you're talking in your sleep
And you're walking in a daze

Don't push your luck with me
I'm ready to attack
'Cos when I'm trying to talk to you
All you do is just talk back
You stand so tall
You don't frighten me at all
Don't talk back, don't talk back, don't talk back
Just leave me alone, ha

Hey
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat (huh) back chat
Criticising all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analysing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way

Yes you do, ha
Yes you do, baby
Come on back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat, you know where it's at
Come on baby, back chat, back chat
Hit me, go for it, back chat, go for it, back chat, go for it baby, wow

Back chat, yeah, back chat, have you been giving me the run-around
Yes I have, criticising me
Oh yeah, analysing me
Oh yeah, back chat, bad time, bad trash, huh
Well baby, yeah, merci beacoup, thank you, thank you
Yes, (talk to me) let's go on down, back chat
Let's get on down, back chat
Back chat, get on down, yeah
Wow

Action This Day

Track 5. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 3:33.
Freddie sings most lead vocals, but many are sung by Roger.
Details are also available of an unreleased early alternate mix.
Live Versions:
1. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (4:46) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982; also available on the 2011 iTunes LP as a bonus video)
2. Tokyo 1982 (5:05) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 3 November 1982, only available on the 2011 double disc reissue)
Lyrics:
Action

This street honey is a mean street
Living in this street honey needs a mean streak
We've got criminals living in this street
But there's a heartbeat pulse that keeps on pumping
Like a jukebox playing the same dead record
Or a radio in the corner keeps blaring
I gotta feeling this world is using me

This town honey is a dead town
Living in this town honey is a let down
Coming to this town honey is a show down
But there's a heartbeat pulse that keeps on pumping
Some sunshine ray through a crack in the shutter
Or a sight of a light at the end of the tunnel
Still there's a feeling this world is using me

Action this day
Action this night
Oh, we've gotta learn to love to live
You can't say it ain't right

Action this day
Action this night
Oh, you've got the power
You've got the power
You've got the power to love and to live
You can't say it ain't right

Your mind honey is a bleak place
Living in your mind's living in a blank space
Your mind is coming from a rat race
But there's a heartbeat pulse that keeps on pumping
Like a jukebox playing the same dead record
Or a radio in the corner keeps blaring
I gotta feeling that just won't quit, this world is using me

Action this day, yeah
Action this night, oh
We've gotta learn to love to live
We can't say it ain't right

Action this day, yeah
Action this night, oh
You've got the power
You've got the power
You've got the power to love, to live
You can't say it ain't right

Action, hey, oh, oh
Action this day, oh, oh
Action this day, action this day
Action this day, action this day
Action this day, ha

Action - living in this street, honey
Living in this street, honey
Action - living in this street, street, just a middle street, yeah, come on
Action, yeah, action this day
Action, action, action this day
Action, action this day
Action, action this day
Action, action this day
Action

Put Out The Fire

Track 6. Written by Brian May. Length 3:18.
This track was engineered by Mack and Stefan, according to the 'Queen Rocks' booklet.
Details are also available of an unreleased early alternate mix.
Live Versions:
1. Live In Japan (2:07) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 3 November 1982, and also appears on the 'Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl' DVD)
Lyrics:
They called him a hero
In the land of the free
But he wouldn't shake my hand boy
He disappointed me
So I got my handgun
And I blew him away
That critter was a bad guy
I had to make him pay

You might fear for my reason
I don't care what they say
Look out baby it's the season
For the mad masquerade
Put out the fire
Put out the fire
Put out the fire
Oh, you need a bullet like a whole in the head
Put out the fire
Put out the fire
Put out the fire
Don't believe what your grand-daddy said

She was my lover
It was a shame that she died
But the constitution is right on my side
'Cos I caught my lover in my neighbour's bed
I got retribution, filled 'em all full of lead
I've been told it's the fashion
To let me on the streets again
It's nothing but a crime of passion
And I'm not to blame

Put out the fire
Put out the fire
Put out the fire
You need a weapon like a hole in the head
Put out the fire
Put out the fire, baby
Put out the fire
And let your sons and your daughters
Sleep sound in their beds

You know a gun never killed nobody
You can ask anyone
People get shot by people
People with guns, oh yeah

Put out the fire, wow
Put out the fire, come on
You need a gun like a whole in the head
Put out the fire, wow
Put out the fire
Put out the fire, yeah, yeah
Just tell me that old fashioned gun law
Is dead

Ha
Hey
Take aim and fire
Come on
Yeah
Shoot, shoot, ha
Shoot, shoot, shoot

Las Palabras De Amor

(The Words Of Love)

Track 9. Written by Brian May. Length 4:30.
The other Spanish phrase in the song, 'Despacito mi amor', means 'slowly my love'.
Details are also available of an unreleased early alternate mix, rejected mix, and acetate version, and the 'Greatest Video Hits II' surround sound mix.
Alternate Versions:
1. The Eye Version (0:43) (only available within the game; an instrumental version of 0:10 to 0:53, with dialogue over the top)
2. Greatest Flix III Version (3:59) (on the video only, not on 'Greatest Video Hits II'; an edit, fading out early from about 3:51 to 3:59)
Queen Live Versions:
1. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (0:29) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982, this is an acoustic warm-up played by Brian on guitar as an intro to 'Love Of My Life')
Queen Live Versions Without Freddie:
1. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (4:30) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 April 1992, with lead vocals by Zucchero)
Lyrics:
Don't touch me now
Don't hold me now
Don't break the spell darling
Now you are near

Look in my eyes
And speak to me
Those special promises
I long to hear

Las palabras de amor
Let me hear the words of love
Despacito mi amor
Love me slow
And gently

One foolish world, so many souls
Senselessly hurled through the never ending cold
And all for fear, and all for greed
Speak any tongue but for God's sake we need

Las palabras de amor
Let me hear the words of love
Despacito mi amor
Let me know, this night and evermore

For evermore

This room is bare
This night is cold
We're far apart and I'm
Growing old

But while we live
We'll meet again
So then my love
We may whisper once more
It's you I adore

Las palabras de amor
Let me hear the words of love
Despacito mi amor
Touch me now, ooooh, oh, oh
Las palabras de amor
Let us share the words of love
For evermore

For evermore
Oooh, oooh, ooh

Under Pressure

Track 11. Written and performed by Queen and David Bowie. Length 4:04.
Produced by Queen and David Bowie.
The 'Absolute Greatest' album is the only Queen compilation to include the regular album version, although it also appears on the David Bowie albums 'Best Of Bowie 1980/1987' (also included in 'The Platinum Collection' set) and 'Nothing Has Changed'.
All studio versions, edits and remixes have the line 'insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking', while all released live versions have 'cracking' instead of 'breaking'.
This track was later remixed for the 1999 'Greatest Hits III' album, full details are available on the 'Under Pressure' Remixes page.
The bassline was also later included in a Bass Solo on the 2008 Queen + Paul Rodgers tour.
Details are also available of the original track 'Feel Like', and the 'Greatest Video Hits II' surround sound mix.
Additional Musicians & Assistance:
David Bowie (vocals, co-writing, co-production)
Justin Shirley-Smith (mixing of the 'Knebworth Mix')
Alternate Versions:
1. 'Greatest Hits II' Edit (3:55) (available on the CD, the Japanese CD 'Queen Jewels', and the David Bowie albums 'The Singles Collection' and 'Best Of Bowie'; this loses one of the lines of 'this is our last dance' at the end, from about 3:19 to 3:24, and some of the fingerclicking outro)
2. 'Classic Queen' Version (4:01) (available on the 'Classic Queen' album, and the David Bowie US album 'The Singles 1969-1993'; this has a crisper sound, particularly the drums, loses two words of lyrics, and loses some of the fingerclicking outro)
3. Album Version Edit (3:50) (on the 'Greatest Flix I & II' Video-CD and 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' DVD only; this is a slight edit of the album version, which fades out earlier, and retains two fingerclicks at the end)
4. Instrumental Version (3:50) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' 1998 CD and video, and also 'Greatest Video Hits II' disc 2, on the 'Hot Space' menu; an instrumental version of the album version, fading out as the above edit but retaining only one fingerclick at the end, and some backing vocals)
5. Instrumental Version (4:04) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' 2004 CD and DVD only; this is identical to the above version, but it features thirteen fingerclicks at the end which extend the outro)
6. 'A Sample Of Magic' Promo Excerpt (0:55) (available on the promo CD only, this is a straight excerpt of the track from approximately 0:24 to 1:20)
7. 'Eight Good Reasons To Buy 'Greatest Hits II'' Promo Edit (0:48) (on the promo cassette only, seguing from 'I Want To Break Free' and into 'Who Wants To Live Forever', containing the section from approximately 1:18 to 2:06)
8. Mr Mixx Remix (3:58) (on the 'Basic Queen Bootlegs' US promo only; a dance remix which replaces the music with a percussion beat and DJ effects, and rearranges the vocals)
9. 2011 Promo Video Edit (3:41) (on the 'Days Of Our Lives' DVD and Blu-ray only; this is a slight edit of the track, which loses some of the introduction from 0:09 to 0:14, the same edit as the 'Greatest Hits II' Edit, and fades out slightly earlier by about 3:49)
10. Guitar Hero Video Game Version (3:51) (on the 'Guitar Hero 5' video game only; this is identical to the album version, but loses the fingerclicks at the end)
Queen Live Versions:
1. We Will Rock You / Queen Rock Montreal (3:37) (recorded in Montreal, Canada, on 24/25 November 1981; not released on the original 60 minute VHS release)
2. Queen On Fire - Live At The Bowl (3:23) (recorded in Milton Keynes, England, on 5 June 1982, and also available on the 2004 US 'Greatest Hits' CD)
3. Live In Japan (3:19) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 3 November 1982)
4. Final Concert Live In Japan (3:20) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
5. Mannheim 1986 (3:30) (recorded at Maimarktgelande, Mannheim, Germany, on 21 June 1986; available on the 'On Air' 6CD set)
6. Live At Wembley, First Night (3:27) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD only)
7. Live At Wembley, Second Night (3:28) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986)
8. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt 1 (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above live version from 0:04 to 0:29)
9. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt 2 (1:00) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD 'Queen Cam' Freddie screen; an edit of the above live version from 0:05 to 1:05)
10. Live Magic / Live In Budapest / Hungarian Rhapsody (3:27) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986)
11. Knebworth Mix (3:25) (recorded at Knebworth Park, England, on 9 August 1986, available on the 'Under Pressure' Rah remix CD1 single and in the 'Queen Singles Collection 4' boxed set)
Queen Live Versions Without Freddie:
1. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Rehearsal (3:48) (recorded at Bray Studios, England, in 1992, with lead vocals by David Bowie and Annie Lennox; available on the 2002 and 2013 reissues)
2. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (3:49) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 April 1992, with lead vocals by David Bowie and Annie Lennox)
3. Queen's Day 2002 (3:49) (recorded at the Musumplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 30 April 2002, with lead vocals by Roger and Patti Russo; available on the Heineken 'Queen's Day' CD-Rom)
Queen + Adam Lambert Live Versions:
1. Live In Japan (3:43) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 17 August 2014, with lead vocals by Roger and Adam)
'We Will Rock You' Musical Tracks:
1. London Cast Recording (3:23)
2. Spanish Cast Recording (3:19) (lyrics in Spanish)
3. German Cast Recording (3:24)
David Bowie Live Versions:
1. Outside Tour 1995 (3:51) (recorded in Birmingham, 1995, and released on the 'Hallo Spaceboy' CD single)
2. Reality Tour 2003 (3:58) (recorded in Dublin, 2003, and released on 'The Reality Tour' CD and DVD)
Lyrics: (the lyrics in white are sung by Freddie, those in red by David Bowie, and those in blue are jointly sung; the 'Classic Queen' version loses the single lyric 'that's OK')
Um, boom, bah, bay
Um, boom, bah, bay
Ba, ba, boom, bah, baby

Pressure pushing down on me
Pushing down on you, no man ask for
Under pressure
That burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets

Um, bah, bah, bay
Um, bah, bah, bay
Eh, day, dah
Eh, day, dah
That's OK

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends screaming
Let me out
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets

Day, day, dah
Ah, ha
Bah, dah, bap, ba, boom
OK

Chipping around - kick my brains around the floor (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
These are the days, it never rains but it pours
Eh, bay, bop (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Eh, ba, ba, bop (ooh-ooh-ooh)
Eh, doh, dop (ooh)
Be, dop

People on streets
Eh, dah, dee, dah, day (ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh)
People on streets
Eh, dah, dee, dah, dee, dah, dee, dah (aahhhh)

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends screaming
Let me out
Tomorrow - gets me higher, higher
Pressure on people (high)
People on streets

Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Why - why - why?

Love (love, love, love, love)
Insanity laughs under pressure we're breaking

Can't we give ourselves one more chance
Why can't we give love that one more chance
Why can't we give love, give love, give love
Give love, give love, give love, give love
'Cos love's such an old fashioned word (give love, give love)
And love dares you to
Care for the people on the
Edge of the night (people on streets)
And love dares you to (people on streets)
Change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves

Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure

Soul Brother

Non Album Track. Written by Queen. Length 3:36.
This track is available on the 'Under Pressure' single, the US 'Heaven For Everyone' single, the boxed-set only LP 'Complete Vision', within the 'Queen Singles Collection 2' boxed set, and on the 2011 double disc reissue.
This track contains references to many other Queen songs. There is much debate as to whether the track was recorded during the 'The Game' or 'Hot Space' sessions.
Alternate Versions:
1. Canadian Single Version (3:35) (available on the 'Under Pressure' Canadian 7" single only; this is a slight edit of the track, starting with the vocals at 0:04; as such it omits Freddie's count-in)
2. US 1995 Single Version (3:40) (available on the 'Heaven For Everyone' US singles only; this is exactly the same as normal, but the left and right stereo channels are reversed)
Lyrics:
Freddie: A one, two, three, a one, two, three

God bless my soul, here he comes now
The man with the most, how does he do it, ha
Sure he's got style
He's so heavy
He's a trip
He can do anything, anything, anything
He's my soul brother

He's my best friend
He's my champion
And he will rock you, rock you, rock you
'Cos he's the saviour of the universe
He can make you keep yourself alive
Make you keep yourself alive
Oooh brother

'Cos he's somebody, somebody, you can love
He's my soul brother

When you're under pressure
Feeling under pressure (yeah), pressure (yeah), pressure
He won't let you down
When you're under pressure, oooh
Feeling under pressure, pressure
He won't let you down
Soul brother won't let you down
He won't, he won't, he won't let you down
He can do anything, anything, anything
He's my soul brother

Yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oooh, oooh, oooh
Soul brother
Anything (soul brother), anything (soul brother), anything (soul brother)
He's my soul brother, brother, brother, brother, brother

Anything (soul brother), anything (soul brother)
Anything (soul brother)
He's my soul

Soul brother
He can do anything
He can do anything
'Cos he's
He's my soul brother

Hot Space

Staying Power

Dancer

Back Chat

Body Language

Action This Day

Put Out The Fire

Life Is Real

(Song For Lennon)

Calling All Girls

Las Palabras De Amor

(The Words Of Love)

Cool Cat

Under Pressure

Soul Brother