Good Company
Queen Lyrics


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Take good care of what you've got
My father said to me
As he puffed his pipe and Baby B
He dandled on his knee
Don't fool with fools who'll turn away
Keep all good company
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company

Soon I grew and happy too
My very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J
The girl from number four
Very soon, I begged her, won't you keep me company?
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

Come marry me, forevermore, we'll be good company

Now marriage is an institution, sure
My wife and I, our needs, and nothing more
All my friends by a year
By and by, disappeared
But we're safe enough behind our door

I flourished in my humble trade
My reputation grew
The work devoured my waking hours
But when my time was through
Reward of all my efforts
My own limited company

I hardly noticed Sally as we parted company
All through the years, in the end, it appears
There was never really anyone but me

Now I'm old, I puff my pipe
But no one's there to see
I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity




Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company

Overall Meaning

In the song "Good Company" by Queen, the lyrics are conveying the message of the significance of relationships and the company people keep. The lyrics begin with the singer's father advising him to take care of what he has and to keep good company. He warns him against interacting with foolish people who may lead him astray. The song progresses as the singer grows older but still decides to keep good company, which leads him to meet a girl named Sally, with whom he wishes to spend his life. They get married and, as time passes, their friends and company slowly fade away.


However, as the singer reflects, he realizes that he always had himself and the importance of taking care of oneself and the ones you care about proactively. Marriage, he says, is an institution, but his relationship with his wife is simple and nothing more than what they need. The singer's company may have dwindled, but he remained true to his father's words and continued to keep good company throughout his life. Overall, the lyrics teach us to value and cherish the people in our lives, pay attention to the company we keep, and take care of ourselves as well.


Line by Line Meaning

Take good care of what you've got
My father advised me to take care of what I have


My father said to me
My father gave me some advice


As he puffed his pipe and Baby B
He smoked a pipe and held a baby


He dandled on his knee
He played with the baby


Don't fool with fools who'll turn away
Don't hang out with people who will betray you


Keep all good company
Surround yourself with good people


Take care of those you call your own
Look after your loved ones


Soon I grew and happy too
I grew up and was happy


My very good friends and me
I had some really good friends


We'd play all day with Sally J
We used to spend the whole day playing with Sally J


The girl from number four
She lived in the house next door


Very soon, I begged her, won't you keep me company?
I asked her to be my friend


Come marry me, forevermore, we'll be good company
We decided to get married and be together forever


Now marriage is an institution, sure
Marriage is a well-established social norm


My wife and I, our needs, and nothing more
My wife and I only need each other


All my friends by a year
All my friends have died


By and by, disappeared
They gradually disappeared over time


But we're safe enough behind our door
My wife and I feel safe at home


I flourished in my humble trade
I did well in my small business


My reputation grew
I became well-known


The work devoured my waking hours
My work took up all my time


But when my time was through
But eventually I retired


Reward of all my efforts
My success was the reward for all my hard work


My own limited company
I started my own business


I hardly noticed Sally as we parted company
I did not really pay attention to Sally when we broke up


All through the years, in the end, it appears
As time went by, I realized


There was never really anyone but me
I was the only one that truly mattered


Now I'm old, I puff my pipe
Now that I am old, I smoke my pipe


But no one's there to see
But no one is around to witness it


I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity
I reflect on the lessons I have learned from my crazy life


Take care of those you call your own
It is important to care for your loved ones


And keep good company
Surround yourself with good people




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Harold May

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

Sir Khalid

Take good care of what you've got
My father said to me
As he puffed his pipe and baby B.
He dandled on his knee
Don't fool with fools who'll turn away
Keep all good company
Oo hoo oo hoo
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
Soon I grew and happy too
My very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J.
The girl from number four
Very soon I begged her won't you keep me company
Oo hoo oo hoo
Oo hoo oo hoo
Oo hoo oo hoo
Come marry me for evermore we'll be good company
Now marriage is an institution sure
My wife and I our needs and nothing more
All my friends by a year
By and by disappeared
But we're safe enough behind our door
I flourished in my humble trade
My reputation grew
The work devoured my waking hours
But when my time was through
Reward of all my efforts my own
Limited company
I hardly noticed Sally as we parted company
All through the years in the end it appears
There was never really anyone but me
Now I'm old, I puff my pipe
But no-one's there to see
I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company



All comments from YouTube:

Sean Chavarria

All of Brian's songs he sang were so beautiful, yet sad.

Jon Dunmore

'39 always makes me weep.

GladiatorKnightGhost

Not all of them - I mean, Fat Bottom Girls, Tie Your Mother Down, Tear It Up, I Want It All...but there are enough of Brian's songs that are actually really really sad that make me go "Uh, Brian, are you okay? Do you need to talk to someone about this?"

Iron Ox

@Dilophosaur sniper They meant the songs that he actually sang.

BilisNegra

@GladiatorKnightGhost All Dead, All Dead is remarkable in that department.

7 More Replies...

Queen’s Works

Brian: lead vocal, backings vocals and guitar
John: bass guitar
Roger: drums
Freddie: is smoking in the garden

Carla Lazzati

John also sings in this song . _.

Queen’s Works

Carla Lazzati John doesn’t sing in any Queen song. And certainly not in Good Company, there are no real choir in this song.

Carla Lazzati

@Queen’s Works Oh sorry, I read it on Wikipedia 😅 I didn't think they were lying to me :)

Evie Dawes

Freddie did not smoke then that's why his voice was so beautiful then🖤

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