Bicycle Race
"Bicycle Race" is a single by the English rock band Queen. It was released … Read Full Bio ↴"Bicycle Race" is a single by the English rock band Queen. It was released on their 1978 album Jazz and was written by Queen's front-man Freddie Mercury. The song is unusual for a Queen single in that it shows off the band's humorous side. Among other comic moments it has a middle eight which features bicycle bells. Fans would often replicate this at Queen concerts with their own such bells.

Mercury was inspired to write 'Bicycle Race' while Queen were in France to work on their 1978 album release (Jazz) during the annual Tour de France.

To release this song Queen staged a bicycle race with 65 naked women. The video was originally banned and subsequently re-edited with added special effects to censor the offensive imagery.
A great backlash would follow after Queen released promotional posters featuring a woman's nude backside atop a bicycle. Queen, as always, took it in stride in their typical tongue-in-cheek fashion.

"People think we take ourselves a lot more seriously than we actually do", Roger Taylor said in a press conference at the time. Lead singer Mercury went further and said of the poster, "It's cheeky - naughty, but not lewd. Certain stores, you know, won't run our poster. I guess some people don't like to look at nude ladies."

This song was released as a double-A side with "Fat Bottomed Girls" and contains the line "Fat Bottomed Girls, they'll be riding today/ so look out for those beauties, oh yeah". For its part, "Fat Bottomed Girls" contains the line "Get on your bikes and ride!" A crudely retouched photograph of a naked cyclist from the bicycle race was used for the single cover (now sporting a bikini bottom).

Bicycle Race
Queen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like

You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey, man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars

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
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way

So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah

On your marks, get set, go

Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
(I want a) bicycle race

Hey

You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it, man
I don't wanna be the President of America

You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is

Bicycle (yeah) bicycle (hey) bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (come on), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Bicycle Race" by Queen display Freddie Mercury's love of bicycles and his firm belief in individual freedom. The opening lines emphasize his longing to ride a bike, and the varying responses of others to the idea. It suggests an underlying theme of people being free to pursue their respective interests, without conforming to social norms. The lyrics are also full of references to several popular culture figures, like Star Wars, Jaws, Superman, etc., and the lines hint at a tug of war between Mercury's quirky preferences and the mainstream preferences of society. The chorus "I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle" repeats throughout the song, suggesting an underlying theme of the quest for independence, which is also reflected in the line "I want to ride it where I like." Mercury was known for being an advocate of queer liberation, and the chorus could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the defiance of society’s gender norms and expectations.


The second section of the song emphasizes Mercury's determination to remain true to himself. He says "I don't believe in Peter Pan/Frankenstein or Superman" signifying that his interests may not align with mainstream preferences, and he is not ashamed of it. The next lines "All I wanna do is bicycle, bicycle, bicycle" reiterate the theme of individualism. The third section of the song briefly touches on different opinions, such as "you say coke, I say 'caine" and "you say smile, I say cheese" before returning to the main chorus.


Line by Line Meaning

Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
The singer of the song is expressing their love for their bicycle in repetition


I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
The singer's desire to ride their bicycle is expressed even more explicitly than before


I want to ride my bicycle
The singer is determined to ride their bicycle regardless of any barriers


I want to ride my bike
Another way of saying the same thing as the previous line


I want to ride it where I like
The artist doesn't want anyone to limit where and when they ride their bicycle


You say black, I say white
The singer is expressing a philosophical opposition to others' opinions and choices


You say bark, I say bite
The singer reacts differently than others might in the same situation


You say shark, I say hey man
The artist isn't afraid of the things that others consider scary


Jaws was never my scene
The artist didn't like the popular movie Jaws


And I don't like Star Wars
The artist didn't like the popular movie Star Wars


You say Rolls, I say Royce
The singer is saying they don't care about the distinctions that others do


You say God give me a choice
The artist resents being told what to do by God or anyone else


You say Lord, I say Christ
The singer is making a similar statement to the one above


I don't believe in Peter Pan
The singer doesn't believe in fairy tales or myths


Frankenstein or Superman
The singer doesn't believe in science fiction or fantasy


All I wanna do is
The artist is trying to bring the focus back to their one true desire


Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bike
Repetition of the chorus, just slightly reworded


I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
The artist is excited for some upcoming bicycle races


So forget all your duties, oh yeah
The singer is encouraging listeners to forget their obligations and join in the fun of bicycle racing


Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
The artist is suggesting that all types of people can enjoy bicycle racing, not just the stereotypical athlete


So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
The singer is admiring the diverse group of people who enjoy bicycle racing


On your marks, get set, go
The start of a bicycle race is being announced


Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
The song is building up to a climactic moment by emphasizing the excitement of the race


Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


(I want a) bicycle race
The singer is making it clear that their one true desire is to race their beloved bicycle


You say coke, I say 'caine
The singer is flip-flopping and challenging the listener's expectations


You say John, I say Wayne
The artist doesn't conform to the stereotype of liking popular figures


Hot dog, I say cool it man
The artist is annoyed with the listener for not paying attention to what they're actually saying


I don't wanna be the President of America
The artist wants listeners to know that they don't care about power or authority


You say smile, I say cheese
The singer is saying that the listener is too cliché


Cartier, I say please
The artist doesn't care about expensive jewelry or material possessions


Income tax, I say Jesus
The singer is reacting negatively to the mention of a serious topic


I don't wanna be a candidate
The singer doesn't want to run for political office or anything like that


For Vietnam or Watergate
The singer is rejecting anything that represents war or politics


'Cause all I want to do is
The artist is pleading with listeners to understand their singular desire


Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bike
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus


I want to ride it where I like
Repetition of the chorus




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@mohammadnurfiansyah3030

Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
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
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
On your marks, get set, go
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
(I want a) bicycle race
You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it man
I don't wanna be the President of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like



All comments from YouTube:

@veronikapichova5236

Freddie: Guys, we need about 100 bicycles and girls... naked girls.
John: What?
Brian: Why?
Roger: Okey Fred, I'm gonna look for some.

@vlapratt1

lol of course Roger loves the idea

@leshak4575

Imagine now, that one of these girls is Rogerine

@Swagwagon-gj8is

lesha k he wants to break free

@Love-xl9ep

roger: oh fred i got some right here heh heh

@s0phiaamber18

Kushiro Dragon I could give you there names but there only available on Saturday

23 More Replies...

@yemkaxd

20% Bicycle
60% Queen
20% Girls
150% LEGEND

@parmesanflakes

the more eco-friendly version of im in love with my car

@ScarV_13

I wanna like your comment but it has 39 likes... I can't ruin it

@parmesanflakes

@@ScarV_13 well now it has 42 so please go ahead and thank you!

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