A “Scaramouche” is a deceitful clown character from the Italian commedia dell’arte. The character usually wears an all black outfit and can be portrayed as either clever or a buffoon. Scaramouche is also portrayed as a coward, thus he is frightened of thunderbolts and lighting. The “fandango” is a couple’s dance that starts slowly and …
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What is the meaning behind “I see a little silhouetto of a man”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
This line refers to the ambiguity surrounding the persona’s new identity as he figuratively dies (“goodbye everybody”), leaving his old self behind. “Silhouett[es]” by definition are vague outlines that represent such uncertainty, while “little” could refer to the lacking agency he has over his life. Additionally, the backing light of a silhouette could express the …
What is the meaning behind “[Guitar Solo]”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
After the second verse, the song climbs in intensity to a guitar solo by Brian May . The solo is played in the key of E♭ Major and features a screechy, shimmering tone Brian managed to pull off using a Vox AC30 amplifier , bassist John Deacon’s “Deacy amp” , and multiple treble boosters . …
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What is the meaning behind “Mama, ooh (Any way the wind blows)”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
In describing oneself as a “boy”, the persona perceives himself as lacking power and control over his life. In contrast, a mother is often the co-determinant of her son’s early wellbeing. Thus, as the adult persona emotionally regresses to a deeply helpless state, he turns once-again to his ‘mother’ (“Mama”). Here, the maternal figure is …
What is the meaning behind “Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
The truth, in this case, is probably a reference to being judged in the afterlife. Freddie Mercury believed in Zoroastrianism, where people who die are judged, not by a person, but by a bridge. As such, this line is a reference to facing the Bridge of Judgement.
What is the meaning behind “Goodbye, everybody, I’ve got to go”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
He (Freddie Mercury, as the protagonist-character of the song), is both lyrically and metaphorically saying goodbye, a decision to go to where no rock/pop song would dare go, to “face the truth”, perhaps capital punishment? These lines take us closer to the surreality of a case whose jurisdiction is in opera-court drama-Hell, a musical thrill …
What is the meaning behind “Too late, my time has come”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
“My time has come” is an expression meaning “I’m near the end of my life.” This throws the first verse into sharp relief as the singer says, “I can’t keep writing, I’m about to die.”
What is the meaning behind “Mama, ooh, didn’t mean to make you cry If I’m not back again this time tomorrow Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
“Mama” may refer to Freddie Mercury’s former partner Mary Austin , with whom he lived for about seven years. Freddie started work on “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1972 but really got to finishing it in 1975, the same year he started his first love affair with a man . These lines may be telling Mary that …
What is the meaning behind “Mama, just killed a man Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he’s dead Mama, life had just begun But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away”? Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Queen never revealed the meaning of this song, but Freddie Mercury’s biographer, Lesley-Ann Jones, believes these lines represent Freddie killing his old self and revealing his new bisexual self. A 2015 article by the New Zealand Herald quotes lyricist, Sir Tim Rice , who says: It’s fairly obvious to me this was Freddie’s coming-out song. …