Photo: Kraft74 / Shutterstock
Queen, a legendary musical phenomena.
By Amanda Sawyer — Written on Jan 20, 2022
Legendary rock band Queen has been inspiring millions since its London formation in 1970, with the charismatic, musical genius frontman born Farrokh Bulsara — aka Freddie Mercury — on lead vocals and piano, Brian May on vocals and guitar), John Deacon on vocals and bass), and drummer Roger Taylor.
Queen represents musical vision and freedom, boldly expressed through their pioneering and creative approaches to both composition and poetic, on-point song lyrics. The band continues to earn new fans of all ages and backgrounds more than years later.
And although he passed away in 1991, Freddie Mercury's best quotes and Queen song lyrics prove he was a true musical legend.
In 2018, 20th Century Fox released the film "Bohemian Rhapsody," a biographical movie tribute to Queen, earning actor Rami Malek the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his near-flawless portrayal of Mercury on the silver screen.
If you are already a long-time fan (such as I am), enjoy this sampling of the best Queen song lyrics, Freddie Mercury quotes and music videos that show off his unparalleled genius.
Best Freddie Mercury Quotes
1. "I fall in love much too quickly and that results in me getting badly hurt. The problem with love is that you lose control and that is a very vulnerable state to be in." — Freddie Mercury
Photo: Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2. "We're a very expensive group; we break a lot of rules, It's unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear." — Freddie Mercury
3. “Oh, I was not made for heaven. No, I don’t want to go to heaven. Hell is much better. Think of all the interesting people you’re going to meet down there.” — Freddie Mercury
4. "I am a romantic, but I do put up a barrier around myself, so it is hard for people to get in and to know the real me." — Freddie Mercury
5. “You either have the magic or you don’t. There’s no way you can work up to it.” — Freddie Mercury
6. "Who wants to live forever?" — Freddie Mercury
7. “Excess is part of my nature. Dullness is a disease. I really need danger and excitement. I’m never scared of putting myself out on a limb.” — Freddie Mercury
8. "I'm just me." — Freddie Mercury
9. "The reason we're successful, darling? My overall charisma, of course." — Freddie Mercury
10. "The whole point of Queen was to be original." — Freddie Mercury
11. “What will I be doing in twenty years’ time? I’ll be dead, darling! Are you crazy?” — Freddie Mercury
12. "If you see it there, darling, then it's there!" — Freddie Mercury
13. "I think my melodies are superior to my lyrics." — Freddie Mercury
14. "Music is limitless." — Freddie Mercury
Photo: Kraft74 / Shutterstock
15. "You know, I designed the Queen crest, I simply combined all the creatures that represent our star signs and I don't even believe in astrology." — Freddie Mercury
16. "A concert is not a live rendition of our album, It's a theatrical event!" — Freddie Mercury
17. “I dress to kill, but tastefully.” — Freddie Mercury
18. "I'm very emotional, I think I may go mad in several years time." — Freddie Mercury
19. "The bigger the better; In everything." — Freddie Mercury
Photo: Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
20. "Years ago, I thought up the name Queen. It's just a name, but it's regal, obviously, and sounds splendid." — Freddie Mercury
21. "I think all my songs are under the label emotion. The more I open up, the more I get hurt, so basically what happens is I'm just riddled with scars." — Freddie Mercury
22. "We've gone overboard on every Queen album, but that's Queen." — Freddie Mercury
23. "What will I be doing in twenty years' time? I'll be dead, darling! Are you crazy?" — Freddie Mercury
24. "I want to lead the Victorian life, surrounded by exquisite clutter." — Freddie Mercury
25. "I'm just a musical prostitute, my dear." — Freddie Mercury
26. “You can be anything you want to be, just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be.” — Freddie Mercury
27. “I’m possessed by love, but isn’t everybody?” — Freddie Mercury
Photo: Carl Lender, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
28. “In terms of love, you’re not in control and I hate that feeling. I seem to write a lot of sad songs because I’m a very tragic person. But there’s always an element of humor at the end.” — Freddie Mercury
29. “One year of love is better than a lifetime alone.” — Freddie Mercury
30. “The most important thing is to live a fabulous life. As long as it’s fabulous I don’t care how long it is.” — Freddie Mercury
31. “Money may not buy happiness, but it can damn well give it!” — Freddie Mercury
32. “I won’t be a rock star. I will be a legend.” — Freddie Mercury
33. “A lot of my songs are fantasy. I can dream up all kinds of things. That’s the kind of world I live in. It’s very sort of flamboyant, and that’s the kind of way I write. I love it.” — Freddie Mercury
34. “We don’t do it for the money, we do it for the music.” — Freddie Mercury
35. “You can have everything in the world and still be the loneliest man. And that is the most bitter type of loneliness, success has brought me world idolisation and millions of pounds. But it’s prevented me from having the one thing we all need: A loving, ongoing relationship.” — Freddie Mercury
36. "I'm as gay as a daffodil, my dear!" — Freddie Mercury
37. “If I die tomorrow I will not regret. I really did everything I could.” — Freddie Mercury
38. "We're a bit flashy, but the music's not one big noise." — Freddie Mercury
39. “My soul has painted like the wings of butterflies; Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” — Freddie Mercury
40. “Does it mean this, does it mean that, that's all anybody wants to know. I'd say what any decent poet would say if anyone dared ask him to analyze his work: if you see it, darling, then it's there!” — Freddie Mercury
41. "In the early days, we just wore black onstage. Very bold, my dear. Then we introduced white, for variety, and it simply grew and grew." — Freddie Mercury
Best Quotes from Queen Song Lyrics
42. "It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, I feel good, no one is going to stop me now." — Queen, "It's a Beautiful Day"
43. "I want to break free from your lies. You're so self-satisfied I don't need you." — Queen, "I Want To Break Free"
44. "You say Rolls, I say Royce. You say God, give me a choice. You say Lord, I say Christ. I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein, or Superman. All I wanna do is bicycle bicycle bicycle." — Queen, "Bicycle Race"
45. "It's a kind of magic. There can be only one. This rage that lasts a thousand years will soon be done. This flame that burns inside of me. I'm hearing secret harmonies. It's a kind of magic. The bell that rings inside your mind is challenging the doors of time. It's a kind of magic." — Queen, "It's A Kind Of Magic"
46. "Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time. I feel alive, And the world I'll turn it inside out, yeah. I'm floating around in ecstasy. So, don't stop me now." — Queen, "Don't Stop Me Now"
47. "My game of love has just begun, love runs from my head down to my toes. My love is pumping through my veins. Play the game, driving me insane." — Queen, "Play The Game"
48. "So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye? So you think you can love me and leave me to die? Oh baby, can't do this to me baby! Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here!" — Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
49. "I had a dream, when I was young. A dream of sweet illusion, a glimpse of hope and unity, and visions of one sweet union. But a cold wind blows, and a dark rain falls, and in my heart it shows. Look what they've done to my dream." — Queen, "One Vision"
50. "Love of my life, you've hurt me. You've broken my heart, and now you leave me. Love of my life, can't you see? Bring it back, bring it back, don't take it away from me, because you don't know what it means to me." — Queen, "Love Of My Life"
51. "Buddy you're a young man, hard man. Shouting in the street gonna take on the world someday. You got blood on yo' face, you big disgrace. Wavin' your banner all over the place." — Queen, "We Will Rock You"
52. "I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things We can do the tango just for two. I can serenade and gently play on your heartstrings. Be your Valentino just for you." — Queen, "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy"
53. "To avoid complications she never kept the same address. In conversation, she spoke just like a baroness. Met a man from China, went down to Geisha Minah, then again incidentally if you're that way inclined." — Queen, "Killer Queen"
54. "I'm just the pieces of the man I used to be, too many bitter tears are raining down on me I'm far away from home and I've been facing this alone for much too long. Oh, I feel like no one ever told the truth to me about growing up and what a struggle it would be in my tangled state of mind. I've been looking back to find where I went wrong." — Queen, "Too Much Love Will Kill You"
55. "Born to be kings, princes of the universe, fighting and free. Got your world in my hand. I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand. We were born to be princes of the universe." — Queen, "Princes Of The Universe"
56. "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies. Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die. I can fly, my friends. The show must go on." — Queen, "The Show Must Go On"
57. "Friends will be friends. When you're in need of love they give you care and attention. When you're through with life and all hope is lost, hold out your hand 'cause right till the end, friends will be friends." — Queen, "Friends Will Be Friends"
58. "I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair spreading his hands on the multitude there. A man who cried for a love gone stale and ice cold hearts of charity bare. I watched as fear took the old men's gaze, hopes of the young in troubled graves. I see no day, I heard him say, so grey is the face of every mortal." — Queen, "The Prophet's Song"
59. "But touch my tears, with your lips. Touch my world, with your fingertips. And we can have forever and we can love forever. Forever is our today." — Queen, "Who Wants To Live Forever"
60. "Success is my breathing space. I brought it on myself. I will price it, I will cash it, I can take it or leave it. Loneliness is my hiding place, breastfeeding myself. What more can I say? I have swallowed the bitter pill, I can taste it. Life is real." — Queen, "Life Is Real"
61. "It started off so well... They said we made a perfect pair. I clothed myself in your glory and your love. How I loved you, how I cried." — Queen, "Save Me"
62. "This thing called love, I just can't handle it. This thing called love, I must get round to it. I ain't ready. Crazy little thing called love. This thing called love, it cries (like a baby) in a cradle all night. It swings (woo woo), it jives (woo woo), it shakes all over like a jellyfish. I kinda like it. Crazy little thing called love." — Queen, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
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Amanda Sawyer is a writer who focuses on pop-culture topics.