In a 1983 interview with BBC Radio One on their Guitar Greats segment, May elaborated on the writing and recording process of the song. "That was the quickest song I EVER wrote in my life, I just wrote it down. Itās funny because itās one of the ones Iām quite pleased with as well. Itās not trying too hard, itās not highly subtle but I think it leaves me with quite a good feeling.'
'It was sort of a one-take thing as well. Although, I messed around with the take a lot and chopped it about and rearranged it, it was basically the first take, which we used. So, it has that kind of sloppy feel that I think works with the song. Which we never would have DREAMED with the previous albums. We always used to work on the backing tracks until they were a million percent perfect and if they werenāt we would splice together two which were. Weād go to great lengths, but for this album we wanted to get that spontaneity back in. "
Sleeping On The Sidewalk
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My trumpet was my only toy
I've been blowin' my horn
Since I knew I was born
But there ain't nobody wants to know
I've been sleepin' on the sidewalk
Rollin' down the road
But I sure don't want to go home
So round the corner comes a limousine
And the biggest grin I ever seen
Here sonny won't you sign
Right along the dotted line
What you sayin' are you playin'
Sure you don't mean me?
I've been sleepin' on the sidewalk
Rollin' down the road
I may get hungry
But I sure don't want to go home
(Now I tell you what happened...)
They took me to a room without a table
They said 'blow your trumpet into here'
I played around as well as I was able
And soon we had the record of the year
I was a legend all through the land
I was blowin' to a million fans
Nothin' was a missin'
All the people want to listen
You'd have thought I was a happy man
And I was sleepin' like a princess
Never touch the road
I don't get hungry
And I sure don't want to go home
(Have to have some fun...)
Now they tell me that I ain't so fashionable
An' I owe the man a million bucks a year
So I told 'em where to stick the fancy label
It's just me and the road from here
I'm back to playin' and layin'
I'm back on the game
I'm sleepin' on the sidewalk
Rollin' down the road
I sure get hungry and
I sure do want to go home
(Yeah)
The lyrics to Queen's song Sleeping On The Sidewalk tell the story of a struggling musician who is sleeping on the sidewalk and has nowhere to go. He has been playing his trumpet for as long as he can remember but no one seems to be interested in listening to his music. The singer's situation changes when a limousine arrives and offers him a record deal. Even though he hesitates at first, he eventually signs the dotted line and ends up playing his trumpet to millions of fans. However, the success does not last, and he finds himself back on the sidewalk, playing his music and living on the road.
The song is a reflection on the harsh realities of the music industry and the struggles faced by many aspiring musicians. It highlights the contrast between the highs and lows of fame and how it can be fleeting and unpredictable. The story also touches on the importance of staying true to oneself and not compromising one's art for commercial success.
Line by Line Meaning
I was nothin' but a city boy
I was a boy who grew up in the city
My trumpet was my only toy
I only had my trumpet to play with
I've been blowin' my horn
I have been playing my trumpet
Since I knew I was born
Since I can remember
But there ain't nobody wants to know
But nobody is interested in me or my music
I've been sleepin' on the sidewalk
I have been sleeping on the pavement
Rollin' down the road
Traveling around
I may get hungry
I might become hungry
But I sure don't want to go home
But I do not want to return home
So round the corner comes a limousine
A limousine appears around the corner
And the biggest grin I ever seen
And the person in the car has a big smile on their face
Here sonny won't you sign
Would you like to sign, young person?
Right along the dotted line
Sign on the dotted line of this contract
What you sayin' are you playin'
Are you serious or joking?
Sure you don't mean me?
Are you sure you want me to sign?
They took me to a room without a table
They took me to a room that had no table
They said 'blow your trumpet into here'
They instructed me to play my trumpet
I played around as well as I was able
I played the trumpet the best I could
And soon we had the record of the year
And soon we had the best-selling album of the year
I was a legend all through the land
I became very famous throughout the country
I was blowin' to a million fans
I played my trumpet in front of a million fans
Nothin' was a missin'
Everything was perfect
All the people want to listen
Everyone wanted to hear me play
You'd have thought I was a happy man
It would seem that I was a content person
And I was sleepin' like a princess
I was sleeping very well
Never touch the road
I was always traveling in luxury
I don't get hungry
I am never hungry
And I sure don't want to go home
And I do not want to return home
Now they tell me that I ain't so fashionable
Now they tell me that I am not popular anymore
An' I owe the man a million bucks a year
And I have to pay the man one million dollars every year
So I told 'em where to stick the fancy label
So I told them to keep their fancy label
It's just me and the road from here
It is just me and the road from now on
I'm back to playin' and layin'
I am back to playing music and traveling
I'm back on the game
I am back in the music industry
I sure get hungry and
I definitely become hungry
I sure do want to go home (Yeah)
I really want to return home
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rebeccabaer1701
I love Brian's voice in this song. It's so smooth.
@HarekaTysiri
So different from his ussual soft voice. I almost didn't believe that it's a queen's song
@tanishqkanojia1163
@Hareka Tysiri I didn't knew Freddie wasn't on the vocals but somehow already know that it's brian
@giannatr7604
Itās beautiful! I knew it sounded off, but I love this!!
@mariabretbec94
He's fantastic šš
@tatianaroveda
@Hareka Tysiri It took a minute since Bri sang in his "American" accent! Great post-
@angelagautreauxbarnes3388
people forget that both Brian and Roger have some awesome voices in their own right! Freddie just had a frontman flair that few could even dream of attaining to! A great band knows where to play on their strengths, but Queen is not your ordinary "great band"! QUEEN is your "EXTRAORDINARILY GREATEST OF ALL BANDS"! Nothing they can't put their hand to!
@jmccuanu2
I agree! What amazes me about Queen was that all four members wrote songs that were included on their albums, and I think all four members wrote songs that became hits, or at the very least, were favorites in concerts! The true definition of a band. Seems like they all got along very well, and were very aware of the talent among each other as bandmates. Total respect to Queen!
@OlJackBurton
yes, all 4 members wrote songs that charted #1 in some country or territory. as of yet, they are the only 4+ member band where every member was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. There have been previously and since duos (Hall & Oates) and trios (Bee Gees; Crosby, Stills and Nash but not Young) inducted but not an entire 4 man band.
@jmccuanu2
Thanks so much for that additional info. Amazing! Queen Rules!!