Queen "Queen" album and song lyrics

Released 13 July 1973, reached no 24, on chart for 18 weeks, achieved Gold status.
Album length 38:53, 2011 bonus EP length 30:50.

Produced by Queen, John Anthony and Roy Thomas Baker
Engineered by Roy Thomas Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe and David Hentschel
Recorded at Trident Studios, 1971 - 1972

Queen are:
Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano)
Brian May (guitars, piano, vocals)
Deacon John (bass guitar)
Roger Meddows-Taylor (percussion, vocals)

Representing at last something of what Queen music has been over the last three years, this album was produced by John Anthony, Roy Baker and Queen at Trident Studios, London, for Neptune Productions, and engineered by Roy Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe, David Hentschel.

Queen's equipment supervised by John Harris. Queen's photographer Douglas Puddifoot; cover design Douglas, Freddie and Brian
.......and nobody played synthesiser

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
Sleeve notes by Greg Brooks and Gary Taylor
Special thanks to Joshua J. Macrae, Greg Brooks and Gary Taylor
Bonus material mastered by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine, audio restoration by Kris Fredriksson.
Bonus tracks 1-5 produced by Queen, recorded and mixed by Louis Austin, transfer from original acetate by Miles Showell and Crispin Murray at Metropolis
Special thanks to Joshua J. Macrae, Greg Brooks, Gary Taylor, Paul Alexander and all at Cedar Audio

The 1994 Digital Remaster cassette, and possibly the original cassette, featured a re-arranged tracklisting as follows:
1. Keep Yourself Alive
2. Doing Alright
3. Liar
4. Jesus
5. Seven Seas Of Rhye...
6. Great King Rat
7. My Fairy King
8. The Night Comes Down
9. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll
10. Son And Daughter

Keep Yourself Alive

Track 1. Written by Brian May. Length 3:46.
The 'Long Lost Retake' is described by Brian May as: "a complete remake of 'Keep Yourself Alive'. This version never surfaced anywhere. It contains many new ideas and quirks, as well as reproductions of some of the old ones".
Details are also available of an early acetate version.
Alternate Versions:
1. De Lane Lea Demo Version (3:47) (available on the 2011 double disc reissue, taken from an acetate and recorded in December 1971)
2. Single Edit (3:29) (available in the USA only, on both of the 7" singles, Spun Gold 'Another One Bites The Dust' and 'Greatest Hits'; a straight edit with earlier fade out, from 3:19 to 3:29)
3. Long Lost Re-take (4:02) (on the US remaster CD, the 'A Night At The Opera' 2011 double disc reissue, and the 'Stormtroopers In Stilettos' single; this is a reworked version, recorded in January 1975 for a planned US single, which features a new intro, different percussion, and some different vocals and guitar)
4. Long Lost Re-take Edit (3:29) (on an acetate promo only; the same as the above version, but fading out earlier between approximately 3:11 and 3:33, and trimming around 3 seconds from the start)
5. 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' Edit (3:15) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' DVD only; this is an edit which fades in at 0:21, and fades out at 3:37)
6. Instrumental Version (3:15) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' CD, DVD and video; an instrumental version of the above edit, retaining some backing vocals)
7. Rock Band Video Game Version (3:36) (available as part of the 'Queen Extravaganza 01' download only; this has slight remixing at various points of the track, and features an alternate ending; at around 3:36 the music stops and there is a single a-capella 'keep yourself alive' to end the track)
Live Versions:
1. BBC Session 1 (3:48) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 5 February 1973; available on the 'Queen At The Beeb', 'On Air' and US 'Queen At The BBC' albums)
2. BBC Session 2 (3:49) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 25 July 1973; available on the 'On Air' album)
3. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 (2:20) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 31 March 1974; available on the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' double disc download and CD, and the 2 and 4 LP sets)
4. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 Reprise (0:58) (this is the reprise of the above track, after Roger's drum solo)
5. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 Edit (3:24) (available on a US promo CD only; presumably this includes the initial part, Roger's drum solo, and the track's reprise, with unknown sections edited out)
6. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 (2:22) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 19 or 20 November 1974; available on all of the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' releases, apart from the 2 LP set)
7. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 Reprise (0:59) (this is the reprise of the above track, after Roger's drum solo)
8. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 Reprise Edit (0:22) (this is an edit of the above reprise, retaining only the first 22 seconds before segueing into another track)
9. A Night At The Odeon (4:21) (recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 24 December 1975)
10. Rare Live (2:55) (a compilation of footage, recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 24 December 1975 and Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
11. Live Killers (3:46) (recorded at an unknown venue in Europe in 1979)
12. We Will Rock You / Queen Rock Montreal (2:32) (recorded in Montreal, Canada, on 24/25 November 1981; not released on the original 60 minute VHS release)
13. We Will Rock You / Queen Rock Montreal Edit (2:20) (released as a download to promote the Queen Rock Montreal album)
14. Live In Rio (2:45) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985)
15. Final Concert Live In Japan (2:33) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
Lyrics: (the single edit has lyrics upto the last 'to keep me satisfied', while the Rock Band version has the lyrics upto but excluding the last 'take you all your time and money', plus an extra 'keep yourself alive'. Click here for the lyrics to the 'Long Lost Retake')
Sing along

I was told a million times of all the troubles in my way
Might he grow a little wiser, little better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, bread and butter for a smile
Well, I sold a million mirrors in a shop in alley way
But I never saw my face in any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you be a superstar
But I tell you just be satisfied and stay right where you are

Keep yourself alive, yeah, keep yourself alive, ooh
Take you all your time and a money
And honey you'll survive

Ow

Well I loved a million women in a belladonic haze
And I ate a million dinners brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need to feed my body and my soul
Well I'll grow a little bigger, maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times of all the people in my way
How I'd have to keep on trying and get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, same as when I started

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
Oooh, take you all your time and a money
And honey you'll survive, shake it

Ow

Keep yourself alive, wow, keep yourself alive, oh
Take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied

Do you think you're better every day
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive, um
You take your time and take more money
Keep yourself alive

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive, um
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, come on, come on, keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and a money
To keep me satisfied

Keep yourself alive, keep yourself alive
Ooh, all you people keep yourself alive

Take you all your time and money honey
You will survive
Oooh, keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive

Long Lost Retake Lyrics: (the acetate version loses the lyrics in red)
I was told a million times of all the troubles in my way
Might you grow a little wiser, little better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, bread and butter for a smile
Well, I sold a million mirrors in a shop in alley way
But I never saw my face in any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you be a superstar
But I tell you just be satisfied and stay right where you are

Keep yourself alive, ooh, keep yourself alive, ooh
Take you all your time and money
And honey you'll survive

Ow

Well I loved a million women in a belladonic haze
And I ate a million dinners brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need to feed my body and my soul
Then I'll grow a little bigger, maybe that can be my goal
I was told a million times of all the troubles in my way
How I'd have to keep on trying and get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, same as when I started

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
Oooh, all you pretty people, keep yourself alive

Ooh, shake it

Keep yourself alive, oh yeah, keep yourself alive, ooh
Take your time and take my money
Keep you satisfied

Do you think you're better every day?
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave

Come on and
Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive, oh
Take you all your time and money
And honey you'll survive

Keep yourself alive, keep on, keep yourself alive, ooh
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, come on, come on, keep yourself alive
Come on and get it, get it, get it boy
Keep yourself alive

Keep yourself alive, keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive

Take you all your time and money
Honey, you will survive
Keep you satisfied
Oooh, keep yourself alive
Ohh, yeah
Now look on the bright side
Keep yourself alive
Yeah
Ooh yeah
Alive
Ooh

Great King Rat

Track 3. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 5:43.
Details are also available of several other unreleased early versions of the track.
Alternate Versions:
1. De Lane Lea Demo Version (6:07) (available on the 2011 double disc reissue, taken from an acetate and recorded in December 1971)
2. Preliminary Mix (5:43) (available on the Hollywood Records 1991 releases and the UK 1994 remasters; the mastertapes were damaged at the time so these used an alternate mix of the track, featuring stereo changes during the guitar intro and other places)
Live Versions:
1. BBC Session 3 (5:56) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 3 December 1973; available on the 'Queen At The Beeb', 'On Air' and US 'Queen At The BBC' albums)
2. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 (6:37) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 31 March 1974; available on the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' double disc download and CD, and the 4 LP set)
Lyrics:
Great king rat died today
Born on the twenty-first of May
Died syphilis forty-four on his birthday
Every second word he swore
Yes, he was the son of a whore
Always wanted by the law

Wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know people
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)
Would you like to see?

Now hear this
Where will I be tomorrow
Will I beggar, will I borrow
I don't care, I don't care anyway
Come on, come on, the time is right
The man is evil and that is right
I told you, ah yes, I told you
And that's no lie, oh no, no

Wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)
Would you like to see?
Show me

(Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)

A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
People, people
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?

Hit it

Now listen all you people
Put out the good and keep the bad
Don't believe all you read in the bible
You sinners get in line
Saints you leave far behind
Very soon you're gonna be his disciple

Don't listen to what mama says
Not a word, no, not a word mama says
Or else you'll find yourself being the rival, sure
The great Lord before he died
Knelt sinners by his side
And said 'you're going to realise tomorrow'

No, I'm not gonna tell you
What you already know
'Cos time and time again
The old man said it all a long time ago
Come on, come on the time is right
The evil man will fight
I told you once before (and that's no lie)
Ooh, here with me
The old man
The old man

A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
Just like I said before
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
The last time I tell you (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahhh)
Would you like to see

My Fairy King

Track 4. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 4:08.
This track was inspired by Robert Browning's poem, 'The Pied Piper Of Hamelin'.
Live Versions:
1. BBC Session 1 (4:07) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 5 February 1973; available on the 'Queen At The Beeb', 'On Air' and US 'Queen At The BBC' albums, and the 'Let Me Live' second CD single)
Lyrics:
(Ahhhhh)
(Ahhhhh)

In the land where horses born with eagle wings
And honey bees have lost their stings
They're singing forever, ooh yeah
Lions den with fallow dear
And rivers made from wines so clear
Flow on and on forever
Dragons fly like sparrows through the air
And baby lambs where Samson dares
To go on, on, on, on

My fairy king (he rules the air)
And can see the things that are not there for you and me to see (he rules the air and turns the tides, oooh yeah)
My fairy king (he guides the winds)
He can only do right and nothing wrong

Ahhhhh
Then came man to savage in the night
To run like thieves and to kill like knives
To take away the power from the magic hand
To bring about the ruin to the promised land

Ahhh, ah, ahh-ahhhh
Ahh-ahhhh

They turn milk into sour
Like the blue in the blood of my veins
(Why can't you see it)
Fire burning in hell
With the cry of a screaming pain
(Son of heaven set me free and let me go)
Sea turns dry no salt from sand
Seasons fly no helping hand
Teeth don't shine like pearls for poor man's eyes
No more

Someone, someone
Just drained the colour from my wings
Broken my fairy circle ring
And shamed the king in all his pride
Changed the winds and wronged the tides
Mother Mercury, look what they've done to me, yeah
I cannot run
I cannot hide

Liar

Track 5. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 6:24.
Alternate Versions:
1. De Lane Lea Demo Version (7:52) (available on the 2011 double disc reissue, taken from an acetate and recorded in December 1971)
2. Single Edit (3:00) (only available in the US, on the 7" or spun gold 'Killer Queen' singles; this is an edit, which retains from 1:14 to 2:17, 3:27 to 3:46, 4:14 to 4:57, and 5:31 onwards)
3. Hollywood Records Remix (6:26) (on the US remaster CD only; features additional percussion)
4. The Eye Instrumental Edit (1:24) (a straight instrumental edit of the first 1:23 of the album version, ending on a fade)
Live Versions:
1. BBC Session 1 (6:28) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 5 February 1973; available on the 'Queen At The Beeb', 'On Air' and US 'Queen At The BBC' albums, and the 'Let Me Live' second CD single)
2. BBC Session 2 (6:28) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 25 July 1973; available on the 'On Air' album)
3. Golder's Green 1973 (7:03) (recorded at Golder's Green Hippodrome, London, England, on 13 September 1973; available on the 'On Air' 6CD set)
4. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 (7:29) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 31 March 1974; available on the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' double disc download and CD, and the 2 and 4 LP sets)
5. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 (8:22) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 19 or 20 November 1974; available on all of the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' releases, apart from the 2 LP set)
6. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 Edit (4:15) (available on the 'Box Of Tricks' video only; an edit of the above version, which loses a number of sections throughout the song)
7. Rare Live (4:28) (a compilation of footage, from the two promo videos, and the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 19 or 20 November 1974)
8. A Night At The Odeon (8:15) (recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 24 December 1975)
9. Live In Rio (1:51) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985)
10. Final Concert Live In Japan (2:44) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
Lyrics: (the lyrics in red are missing from the single edit)
I have sinned dear father
Father I have sinned
Try and help me father
Won't you let me in
Liar, oh nobody believes me
Liar, oh, why don't you leave me alone

Sire, I have stolen
Stolen many times
Raised my voice in anger
When I know I never should
Liar, oh everybody deceives me
Liar, oh, why don't you leave me alone
Brian

Liar, I have sailed the seas
Liar, from Mars to Mercury
Liar, I have drunk the wine
Liar, time after time
Liar, you're lying to me
Liar, oh, you're lying to me
Father, please forgive me
You know you'll never leave me
Please will you direct me
In the right way

Liar, liar, liar, liar
Liar, that's what they keep calling me
Liar
Liar
Liar
Um, let me go

Listen
Oh, you gonna listen
Mama I'm gonna be your slave (all day long)
Mama I'm gonna try behave (all day long)
Mama I'm gonna be your slave (all day long)
I'm gonna serve you till your dying day (all day long)
I'm gonna keep you till your dying day (all day long)
I'm gonna kneel down by your side and pray
(All day long) and pray
(All day long) and pray
(All day long) and pray
(All day long), wow, (all day long), wow
(All day long), all day long
(All day long), yeah, all day long
(All day long), all day long
(All day long), all day long
Yeah, all day long
We have lift off

All day long, all day long, all day long

Liar, liar, they never ever let you win
Liar, liar, everything you do is sin
Liar, nobody believes you
Liar, they bring you down before you begin
Oooh, now let me tell you this
So now you know you could be dead before they let you

Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll

Track 7. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 1:48.
Roger Taylor sings lead vocals, and John Anthony provides backing vocals.
Alternate Versions:
1. The Eye Instrumental (1:43) (a full instrumental version, with no lyrics at all)
Live Versions:
1. BBC Session 3 (2:00) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 3 December 1973; available on the 'Queen At The Beeb', 'On Air' and US 'Queen At The BBC' albums)
2. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 (2:32) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 31 March 1974; available on the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' double disc download and CD, the 2 and 4 LP sets, the DVD and Blu-ray)
3. BBC Session 4 (2:45) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 3 April 1974; available on the 'On Air' album)
4. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 (3:12) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 19 or 20 November 1974; available on all of the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' releases, apart from the 2 LP set)
Lyrics:
Had to make do with a worn out rock and roll scene
The old bop is getting tired, need a rest, well you know what I mean
Fifty-eight that was great but it's over now and that's all
Something harder's coming up, gonna really knock a hole in the wall
Gonna hit you grab you hard, make you feel ten feet tall

Well I hope that big new baby's gonna come along soon
You don't know it could happen, any old rainy afternoon
With the temperature down and the juke box blowing no fuse
And the musical life's feeling like a long Sunday school cruise
And you know that there's one thing every single body could use

Yeah, listen little baby
Let me tell you what it's all about

Modern times - rock 'n' roll
Modern times - rock 'n' roll

Get your high heeled guitar styled boots and some groovy clothes
Get a hair piece on your chest and a ring through your nose
Find a nice little man who says he's gonna make you a big, big star
Stars in your eyes, ants in your pants, think you should go far
Everybody in this bum sucking world's gonna know who you are

Look out
Modern times - rock 'n' roll

Son And Daughter

Track 8. Written by Brian May. Length 3:19.
Alternate Versions:
1. Australian Censored Edit (3:12) (available on the Australian 'Keep Yourself Alive' 7" single only; this edits out the line 'the world expects a man to buckle down and a shovel shit', presumably from around 0:52 to 0:58, to give a clean version of the track)
Live Versions:
1. BBC Session 2 (6:01) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 25 July 1973; available on the 'On Air' album)
2. Golder's Green 1973 (3:44) (recorded at Golder's Green Hippodrome, London, England, on 13 September 1973; available on the 'On Air' 6CD set)
3. Golder's Green 1973 Reprise (1:31) (recorded at Golder's Green Hippodrome, London, England, on 13 September 1973; available on the 'On Air' 6CD set; this is the reprise of the above track, after Brian's guitar solo)
4. BBC Session 3 (7:08) (recorded at Langham One Studio, London, on 3 December 1973; available on the 'Queen At The Beeb', 'On Air' and US 'Queen At The BBC' albums)
5. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 (3:28) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 31 March 1974; available on the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' double disc download and CD, the 2 and 4 LP sets, the DVD and Blu-ray)
6. Live At The Rainbow, March 1974 Reprise (1:31) (this is the reprise of the above track, after Brian's guitar solo)
7. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 (3:40) (recorded at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on 19 or 20 November 1974; available on all of the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' releases, apart from the 2 LP set)
8. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 Edit (2:38) (available on the 'Box Of Tricks' video only; this is an edit of the above track, which loses some of the first two verses, and features some slightly different dialogue during the 'false stop')
9. Live At The Rainbow, November 1974 Reprise (1:31) (available on all of the 'Live At The Rainbow '74' releases, apart from the 2 LP set, and also on the 'Box Of Tricks' video; this is the reprise of the above track, after Brian's guitar solo)
10. A Night At The Odeon (1:32) (recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 24 December 1975)
11. Hammersmith 1975 Edit (1:22) (available on the 2011 iTunes LP as a bonus video; this is an edit of the above track, omitting the first ten seconds)
Lyrics:
I want you
Woman, yeah

Tried to be your son and daughter
Rolled into one
You said you'd equal any man
For having your fun
Now didn't you feel surprised to find
The cap just didn't fit
The world expects a man
To buckle down and a shovel shit
What'll you do for loving
When it's only just begun

I want you
To be a woman, yeah

Tried to be a teacher
And a fisher of men
An equal people preacher
Will you lead us all the same
Oooh, well I travelled all round
The world and found
A brand new word for day
Oooh, watching the time
Mustn't linger behind
Pardon me I have to get away
Oooh, what'll you think of heaven
If it's a back from where you came

I want you
To be a woman
I want you to be a woman
Yeah

Um, little baby mama gonna save the world
Um, now just begun
Alright

Mad The Swine

Non Album Track. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:19.
This track was first released in 1991 as an extra track on the 'Headlong' 12" and CD singles. It was later included on the US remaster of the album and on the 2011 double disc reissue. The released version was remixed by David Richards though apparently this is more 'polishing' than 'remixing'.
The track is believed to have been recorded in June 1972, and may have been intended to appear on the album between 'Great King Rat' and 'My Fairy King'.
Lyrics:
Been here before a long time ago
But this time I wear no sandals
Ages past I gave all you people food and water
Three feet tall, so very small, I'm no trouble
I bring you thunder, lightning, sun and the rain
For all the people in the land

A message of love
I bring you from up above
All good children gather around
Come join your hands and sing along

They call me mad the swine
I guess I'm mad the swine
I've come to save you, save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord

I'll walk upon the water just as before
I'll help the meek and the mild
And the lepers and the blind
And all the creatures great and small

Let me take you to the river without a ford
Oh and then one day you'll realise
You're all the same within his eyes
That's all I've come to say just like before

They call me mad the swine
Mad the swine
I've come to save you, save you
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord
Ooh
Fall now

All you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord
Don't ever fail me

Mad the swine
Mad the swine
I've come to save you, save you, fall now
Mad the swine
Mad the swine
So all you people gather around
Hold out your hands and praise the Lord
Hands and praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

Get down on my knees and praise the Lord