Originally released on the band's 1989 album The Miracle, it was also released as a single that same year. Taylor claims that he got the inspiration to create the song while reading a book, and the bass line suddenly came into his head
This song marks the only time in any of Queen's songs that all four band members names are mentioned in the lyrics. Taylor calls out his bandmate's names, the first being Freddie Mercury, followed by John Deacon. Brian May's name is then mentioned twice,just before his guitar solo starts, perhaps as a nod to his technique of using delays, and lastly Mercury sings "RRRoger Taylor", rolling the "r" to emulate the drums at the end of the verse.
In the music video, a video game called "The Invisible Man" plays a large part, as a small child is playing a game while the band (all dressed in black), who are the "bad guys" in the game, enter the real world and perform the song in his room, while the boy is trying to shoot them with the game controller. From time to time, Mercury appears in various places in the child's room, vanishing before the boy can shoot him with the video controller. After Mercury emerges from the child's closet with his band in tow, John Deacon removes his cowboy hat and throws it to the floor. In perhaps a futile attempt to emulate him, the boy removes his baseball cap, and dons the other. The screen then shows an image of the band in the game once more, Deacon without a hat, and the child walks underneath them.
Roger Taylor - 29/05/1989, BBC Radio One (interview with Mike Read):
"I did that one but then everyone came in. I can't remember where the idea did come from. I think it came from a book I was reading, and it just seemed to fit in with a rhythmic pattern I had in mind."
The Invisible Man
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
(Freddie Mercury)
When you hear a sound
That you just can't place
Feel somethin' move
That you just can't trace
When something sits
On the end of your bed
Don't turn around
When you hear me tread
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you
I'm in your room
And I'm in your bed
And I'm in your life
And I'm in your head
Like the CIA
Or the FBI
You'll never get close
Never take me alive
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you
Hah, hah, hah, hello
Hah, hah, hah, okay
Hah, hah, hah, hello hello hello hello
Never had a real good friend, not a boy or a girl
No one knows what I've been through, let my flag unfurl
So make my mark from the edge of the world
From the edge of the world
From the edge of the world
Now I'm on your track
And I'm in your mind
And I'm on your back
But don't look behind
I'm your meanest thought
I'm your darkest fear
Put I'll never get caught
You can't shake me, shake me dear
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me (watch me)
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you
Look at me, look at me
Shake me, shake me, shake me dear
"The Invisible Man" is a classic rock song by the British band Queen. It is a song about a guy who thinks he's invisible and how he can go through life unnoticed, but the song is much more than that. It's a metaphor for anything that someone might hide from the rest of the world, such as insecurities or fears. The opening lines "I'm the invisible man, incredible how you can see right through me" suggest that the person is invisible on the outside, but on the inside, they are vulnerable and exposed.
The song's chorus "I'm the invisible man, incredible how you can see right through me" is a clever play on words. Although the man is supposed to be invisible, people can still see right through him because he's not physically invisible. The lyrics also suggest that the man is a spy, as he is compared to the CIA and the FBI. The line "you'll never get close, never take me alive" suggests he's someone who is wanted by the authorities.
The song also explores the idea of loneliness, as the person singing the song has never had a real friend. The line "let my flag unfurl" suggests that the person is coming out of hiding, revealing their true self to the world. Overall, "The Invisible Man" is an insightful song that delves into the depths of human emotion and insecurity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the invisible man
The songwriter is describing himself as the invisible man, someone who can easily blend in and not be noticed.
Incredible how you can
The songwriter is amazed how others can easily see through him.
See right through me
The songwriter is describing how transparent and unexceptional he is.
When you hear a sound That you just can't place
The songwriter is indicating how he lurks in the shadows and can be felt but not seen.
Feel somethin' move That you just can't trace
The songwriter is describing how he's like a ghost who can't be seen but who can be felt.
When something sits On the end of your bed Don't turn around When you hear me tread
The songwriter is telling a story of how he haunts people and plays tricks on them.
It's criminal how I can See right through you
The songwriter is indicating how he can easily figure out people and there's no hiding from him.
I'm in your room And I'm in your bed And I'm in your life And I'm in your head
The songwriter is describing how he's everywhere and nobody can get rid of him.
Like the CIA Or the FBI You'll never get close Never take me alive
The songwriter is indicating how he's like an invincible spy and nobody can get to him.
Hah, hah, hah, hello Hah, hah, hah, okay Hah, hah, hah, hello hello hello hello
The songwriter is using different variations of laughter as a way of taunting his victims.
Never had a real good friend, not a boy or a girl No one knows what I've been through, let my flag unfurl
The songwriter is describing how he's a person who has never had friends, who is lonely, and no one knows his struggles.
So make my mark from the edge of the world From the edge of the world From the edge of the world
The songwriter is indicating how he's a person who feels like he comes from the fringes of society.
Now I'm on your track And I'm in your mind And I'm on your back But don't look behind
The songwriter is describing how he's stalking his victims from a distance.
I'm your meanest thought I'm your darkest fear Put I'll never get caught You can't shake me, shake me dear
The songwriter is indicating how he's a person you can never escape from, and he's your worst nightmare.
Look at me, look at me Shake me, shake me, shake me dear
The songwriter is urging his victims to look at him and shake him, but he's implying that they can never get rid of him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MAY, FREDDIE MERCURY, JOHN DEACON, ROGER TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Userisused
Queen: Invisible Man
Roger: Invisible Drum
@brutal_declinec2243
This is such an underrated comment I spent like 10 minutes laughing
@mo8239
Brian: invisible eyes
@lilachristy4657
He used a snare.
@TheBigMclargehuge
You: Invisible IQ
@FernandaLaneri
LOL
@NeoAngeluu
Kid pushed his family outta his room to get his private Queen concert. Absolute Legend.
@MrCouchmen
Lol
@sarahcliffbar
honestly, fucking SAME
@renae292
I probably would have yeeted my family out the house, let the band have the whole damn house.