1) Born on 1… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 artists with the name Brian May
1) Born on 19th July 1947 in Feltham, England to parents Harold and Ruth May, Brian May is probably best known as the guitarist for English rock band Queen. Within the band he introduced unique triple layered guitar harmonies, created on his home made guitar "Red Special", which has become his trademark over the years. He also made his mark during the Queen's jubilee by playing God Save The Queen on top of Buckingham Palace to begin the concert.
In addition to having huge success as a member of Queen, Brian May also has a string of solo albums including "Back To The Light" and "Another World", as well as having written soundtrack material such as "Furia". Brian also collaborates with artists like Paul Rodgers, Ian Hunter, Eddie Van Halen and many more.
Besides being a talented musician (he can play guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, keyboards, and many other instruments, as well as having the ability to sing), Brian is also a recognized astronomer. He has been made a Doctor in the field of Physics, and has recently been awarded a Doctorate in Astronomy after finishing his thesis, started in the early 1970s before Queen gained recognition. In 2006 he collaborated with Sir Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott to release "Bang! The Complete History Of The Universe". It has since been released in a number of languages.
In recent years Brian has toured with Queen & Paul Rodgers with fellow Queen member Roger Taylor. The collaboration has seen the release of three live albums, "Return of the Champions (2005)," "Super Live in Japan (2006)," and "Live in Ukraine (2009)" and one studio album "Cosmos Rocks (2008)". The band has since split up on friendly terms and do not rule out working together again in the future. For 2010, Brian May will be working on projects outside of the recording studio including the potential We Will Rock You Movie, based on the musical of the same name.
2) Born in Adelaide in 1934 and died in 1997, Brian May (no relation to Brian Harold May of Queen) was one of the first composers to achieve international acclaim as an Australian composer and was best known as the composer of MAD MAX and THE ROAD WARRIOR (MAD MAX II). May received his musical training as a pianist, violinist and conductor at the Adelaide Elder Conservatorium. He joined the Australia Broadcasting Company in 1957, where he formed the ABC Adelaide Big Band, an ensemble that performed all manner of light music for broadcast, and May became a leading figure in Australian light music as a result. He moved to Melbourne in 1970 to arrange and conduct the ABC’s Melbourne Show band. Moving into film music in a period of time when Australia’s film industry was just beginning to take its place among international film circles, May composed such notable film scores as RACE FOR THE YANKEE ZEPHYR, ROAD GAMES, CLOAK AND DAGGER, DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, MISSING IN ACTION 2, SKY PIRATES, STEEL DAWN, DR. GIGGLES, FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHT MARE and BLINDSIDE. He won the Australian Film Institute Award for best original score with MAD MAX; many other awards followed, including the Golden Award from the Australian Performing Rights Association. He continued to score films until 1993, composing music for more than 30 films and many hours of television, most of which he orchestrated himself. Sadly, the composer passed away in 1997 at the age of 63.
Just One Life
Brian May Lyrics
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'Til the day they gathered, to bid you farewell
And they painted your picture and as I looked around
I felt I saw you in the words and the sound
Your talent came flowing, through the stories they tell
And through the faces of those who loved you so well
Your life gave them a treasure, a piece of themselves
Just one life, just one life, just one life
That is born, and is, and is gone, just one life
And I'm so glad to know you, as I know you now
Perhaps inside you, you were messed up like me
But to them you were whole and strong and a friend in their need
And what you left behind you and what swept over me
Says that your life's work rolls on and on, a piece of eternity
Just one life, just one life, just one life
That is born, and is, and is gone, just one life
Did you ever have a chance to find out
What life is all about
I did not know you, our lives never touched
'Til the day we gathered, to say our farewell
The lyrics of Brian May's song "Just One Life" are about the universal theme of human mortality and the impact that each person's life can have on others, even if they never knew each other while still alive. May describes attending the funeral of someone he never knew personally, but whose life and legacy he was able to witness through the stories and memories shared by those who loved them. He connects with the deceased person through their shared experiences of struggle and imperfection, understanding that despite any personal demons they may have faced, to those who knew and loved them they were the invaluable treasure of a true friend.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the fragility and preciousness of life. May acknowledges that every person only gets one chance at life, and that it is both fleeting and unique. The final lines of the song suggest that perhaps the most important thing any of us can do with our lives is to try and understand what it really means to be alive, and to appreciate the ways that we are all connected to each other across time and space.
In a broader sense, "Just One Life" can be interpreted as a meditation on the concept of legacy, and the ways in which the actions we take in our own lives can have a ripple effect long after we are gone. May's implication is that even if we only touch one other person's life in a positive way, that impact can have a much larger significance than we may ever realize.
Line by Line Meaning
I did not know you, our lives never touched
I had never met you before, we had no prior connection
'Til the day they gathered, to bid you farewell
The day everyone gathered for your funeral or memorial service was the first time I saw you
And they painted your picture and as I looked around
Amidst all the memorials and remembrances, your image was present and stood out
I felt I saw you in the words and the sound
It was as though I could see or feel a part of you through the things people said and the music played
Your talent came flowing, through the stories they tell
People recounted tales of your exceptional abilities and how they touched their lives
And through the faces of those who loved you so well
The expressions of love and admiration from your closest friends and family spoke volumes about the impact you had
Your life gave them a treasure, a piece of themselves
Through your life, they gained something valuable that they will always cherish
Something they carry, and still serves them well
That treasure continues to have a positive influence on their lives, and they carry it with them always
Just one life, just one life, just one life
Life is short, we only have one
That is born, and is, and is gone, just one life
Our time here is finite, we are born, live, and eventually pass away
And I'm so glad to know you, as I know you now
Even though we never met when you were alive, I am grateful to know you in this way
Perhaps inside you, you were messed up like me
Maybe you struggled with internal issues that I can relate to
But to them you were whole and strong and a friend in their need
Despite any personal struggles, to others you were a steadfast friend and a source of strength
And what you left behind you and what swept over me
Your legacy and impact on the world is reflected in the emotions I feel, even though we never met
Says that your life's work rolls on and on, a piece of eternity
Your influence and contributions continue to reverberate and are timeless
Did you ever have a chance to find out
Did you ever get the opportunity to discover for yourself
What life is all about
The true meaning and purpose of life
I did not know you, our lives never touched
Once again, we never had the chance to meet and our lives didn't intersect
'Til the day we gathered, to say our farewell
But on the day of your memorial, I felt a certain closeness to you and was honored to pay my respects
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind