The band formed in London in 1970 after May and Taylor's former band Smile split after having released an album and single. Freddie replaced lead vocalist Tim Staffell, after the latter's departure from the original trio.
There was much deliberation as to what the band's name would be. May and Taylor had settled upon the Grand Dance, derived from a C.S. Lewis Trilogy of books Out Of The Silent Planet.
Ultimately, the band went with Queen, a name that was entirely Freddie's. Originally Roger and, especially, Brian did not like the name, though Mercury would eventually persuade them both that it was "right" for the band.
"Years ago I thought up the name Queen... It's just a name, but it's very regal, and it sounds splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. "
- Freddie Mercury.
Queen went through several bass players before a young electronics major by the name of John Deacon arrived on the scene in January of 1971.
"Until John, it had been exploding bass player syndrome. If they musically worked they'd look all wrong, and if they felt all right they couldn't play. - Brian May.
This quite shy guy turned up with his immaculate Rickenbacker bass and immaculate amplifier, plugged in, and as soon as he started playing we realized it was right." - Brian May.
Later that year, the band was secured recording time at the newly built De Lane Lea studio, and used the opportunity to record several songs that would later appear on their debut album - Liar, Keep Yourself Alive, Jesus, and The Night Comes Down. The demo reel was passed around from producer to producer with little success, until a staff member of Trident records by the name of Roy Thomas Baker was introduced to the band by fellow Trident producer John Anthony. Baker dropped in to watch the band at work and, clearly liking what he heard, recommended Queen to his superiors.
It was eventually agreed upon that the fledgling band could record at Trident studios, though after already-established artists had finished their work, such as the likes of Elton John and David Bowie. Relegated to the wee hours of the morning to record the remaining tracks of their first album, the band nonetheless stuck it out until they reached their ultimate goal of "perfection".
Queen's self-titled debut album was released in 1973 and received little attention from the general public. They quickly followed it a year later with a second album, "Queen II" which also failed to generate much interest from music fans in Britain, despite the success of the album's single, Seven Seas of Rhye, which would reach #10 on the charts after the band's mimed appearance on Top of the Pops.
The band's second album was recorded with a higher budget than the first, and the band threw everything they had into recording it. Queen II was somewhat of a "concept album", split into "White Side" vs. "Black Side".
As was in their nature, the band pressed onward after the mediocre success of their first two albums, immersing themselves in a world-wide tour to promote Queen II. Queen played in America for the first time, as a support act for Mott the Hoople.
Sheer Heart Attack would be released later that year, focusing more on being accessible to listeners, than the grand and complex ideas of the previous two albums. The recording of their third album was met with some hardships, as May fell victim to a series of illnesses brought on by an infected inoculation, required for the band's rigorous touring schedule.
Sheer Heart Attack brought even more success for the band, with May's Now I'm Here and the song that would be the band's "turning point", the Mercury-penned Killer Queen, the latter of which would reach #2 on the UK charts.
During this time, the band began developing a huge following in Japan and witnessed their popularity for themselves when they visited the country, mainly in 1975, to promote their fourth and most famous album "A Night At The Opera", featuring the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody".
Queen's popularity grew steadily through the latter half of the 70s as they released hit album after hit album, reaching its peak in the mid-80s after their "Live Aid" appearance, and continuing into the early 90s before Mercury's untimely death on 24th November 1991. The official cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
Over the course of their 30 year career, the band did sound tracks for two films ("Flash Gordon" and "Highlander"), released a string of live and studio albums, and had many many fans across the world.
In 1995, 4 years after Mercury's death, the band released the album "Made In Heaven". This album saw the surviving band members in the studio completing or reworking unused vocals, unreleased variations of Freddie solo material (a Queen version of "I Was Born To Love You" for example), and tracks where Brian and Roger added lyrics to flesh out a song ("Mother Love").
Queen have been on indefinite hiatus since 1997, when John Deacon decided to retire.
Several "Queen + ..." projects have been developed in the following years, a few of them mere remixes with no artistic involvement from the band. In 1999, a "Greatest Hits III" album was released. This featured, among others, "Queen + Wyclef Jean" on a rap version of "Another One Bites the Dust", a live version of "Somebody to Love" performed by George Michael, and a live version of "The Show Must Go On" performed live in 1997 with Elton John.
Brian May and Roger Taylor have performed together as Queen on several occasions (award ceremonies, charity concerts, and the like), sharing vocals with various guest singers. They have also recorded several covers of Queen's hits with guest vocalists, including "We Will Rock You" (first with Five and later Britney Spears, Beyonce, John Farnham and P!nk) and "We Are the Champions" (with Robbie Williams).
On the 14th of May 2002 the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You' opened in the Dominion theatre in London's 'West End'. A Musical about young people in the distant future who aren't allowed to listen to music not generated by computers. Various Queen songs are used in the story, played by a live band. This live band was supported by Brian May and Roger Taylor on the premiere evening.
At the end of 2004, May and Taylor announced that they would reunite and return to touring in 2005, with Paul Rodgers (founder and former lead singer of Free and Bad Company). Brian May's website also stated that Rodgers would be 'featured with' Queen as 'Queen + Paul Rodgers', not replacing Mercury. The retired John Deacon would not be participating.
Between 2005 and 2006 Queen + Paul Rodgers embarked on a world tour, the first leg in Europe and the second, Japan and then the US in 2006. On 15 August 2006, Brian May confirmed through his website and fan club that Queen + Paul Rodgers would begin producing their first studio album beginning in October, to be recorded at a "secret location". The album, titled The Cosmos Rocks, was released in Europe on 12 September 2008 and in the United States on 28 October 2008. Following the album the band again embarked on a tour through Europe, opening on Kharkiv's Freedom Square in front of 350,000 Ukrainian fans. The show in Ukraine was later released on DVD.
Queen and Paul Rodgers officially split up without animosity on 12 May 2009. Rodgers did not rule out the possibility of working together again.
Since 2012, Queen has been touring with Adam Lambert as the frontman.
More information about Queen + Paul Rodgers can be found on their last.fm page.
Official website: www.queenonline.com
Discography:
1.- Queen (1973)
2.- Queen II (1974)
3.- Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
4.- A Night at the Opera (1975)
5.- A Day at the Races (1976)
6.- News of the World (1977)
7.- Jazz (1978)
8.- The Game (1980)
9.- Flash Gordon (1980)
10.- Hot Space (1982)
11.- The Works (1984)
12.- A Kind of Magic (1986)
13.- The Miracle (1989)
14.- Innuendo (1991)
15.- Made in Heaven (1995)
Tie Your Mother Down
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get your party gown
Get your pigtail down
Get your heart beatin' baby
Got my timin' right
Got my act all tight
It's gotta be tonight my little
School babe
Your Mamma says you don't
Your Daddy says you won't
And I'm boilin' up inside
Ain't no way I'm gonna lose out this time, oh no
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Lock your daddy out of doors
I don't need him nosin' around
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight
You're such a dirty louse
Go get outta my house
That's all I ever get from your
Family ties, in fact I don't think I ever heard
A single little civil word from those guys
But you know I don't give a light
I'm gonna make out all right
I've got a sweetheart hand
To put a stop to all that
Snipin' an' grousin' goin' on all night
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Take your little brother swimmin'
With a brick (that's all right)
Tie your mother down - yeah yeah
Tie your mother down
Or you ain't no friend of mine, ooh no friend of mine
No no, ow, yeah, bad guy
Ooh, your Mammy and your Daddy gonna
Plague me till I die
They can't understand it, I'm just a
Peace lovin' guy
Ooh, tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Get that big big big big big big daddy out of doors
Tie your mother down - yeah
Tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight
All your love tonight
Give me every inch of your love - ooh
All your love tonight
Yeah, gotta get my timin' right hey
Ooh, all your love
Tie your mother down
The song "Tie Your Mother Down" by Queen is an anthem for rebellion against authority and parental expectations. The song is written in a fast tempo, and the opening verse encourages the listener to get ready for a wild party, while the next verse expresses confidence and determination to make the night count. The chorus of the song is a chant that urges the listener to tie their mother down and lock their daddy out of doors, to avoid interference and meddling from their parents.
The song's lyrics suggest a struggle for independence and defiance against restrictive social norms, with Queen dismissing the older generation's values and authority. The singer openly opposes and dismisses the parents' advice and critics them for being unapproachable and unsupportive. The song argues that while society may impose rules and restrictions, it is up to us to decide how to live our lives and determine our destiny. The singer is resolute in his belief that he will not let anyone hinder his aspirations, and he urges others to do the same.
Overall, "Tie Your Mother Down" is a bold and rebellious song that encourages listeners to be fearless, independent, and determined in pursuing their dreams. The song rejects traditional expectations and social norms and advocates for self-determination and individualism.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, ooh yeah, ooooh yeah
The singer is expressing excitement and enthusiasm about what they're going to sing about.
Get your party gown
Get dressed up and ready to have a good time.
Get your pigtail down
Let your hair down and get ready to have fun.
Get your heart beatin' baby
Get excited and ready to rock out to this song.
Got my timin' right
The singer is ready and prepared to perform the song at the perfect moment.
Got my act all tight
The singer is confident in their ability to perform the song flawlessly.
It's gotta be tonight my little School babe
The singer is urging their lover to tie up their family and spend the night with them.
Your Mamma says you don't
The lover's mother is against their relationship with the singer.
Your Daddy says you won't
The lover's father is also against their relationship with the singer.
And I'm boilin' up inside
The singer is feeling angry and frustrated about the resistance they're facing from their lover's parents.
Ain't no way I'm gonna lose out this time, oh no
The singer is determined not to give up on their lover and let them slip away.
Tie your mother down
The singer wants their lover to tie up their mother to prevent her from interfering with their relationship.
Lock your daddy out of doors
The singer wants their lover to lock their father out of the house to keep him from interfering with their relationship.
I don't need him nosin' around
The singer doesn't want the lover's father to be involved with their relationship in any way.
Give me all your love tonight
The singer wants their lover to focus on them and show them all their love tonight.
You're such a dirty louse
The singer is angry with their lover for not standing up to their parents and going along with their demands.
Go get outta my house
The singer is fed up with the lover and wants them to leave.
That's all I ever get from your Family ties
The singer is frustrated with the lover's family and doesn't want to deal with them anymore.
In fact I don't think I ever heard A single little civil word from those guys
The singer has never been treated kindly or respectfully by the lover's family.
But you know I don't give a light
The singer doesn't care about the lover's family and is willing to do whatever it takes to be with them.
I'm gonna make out all right
The singer is confident that they will be able to overcome the challenges facing their relationship and be together.
I've got a sweetheart hand
The singer is offering their love and support to the lover.
To put a stop to all that Snipin' an' grousin' goin' on all night
The singer wants to put an end to the fighting and arguments that are happening because of their relationship.
Take your little brother swimmin' With a brick (that's all right)
The singer is suggesting that the lover's little brother should be distracted and kept away from the situation.
Or you ain't no friend of mine, ooh no friend of mine
The singer is indicating that if the lover doesn't comply with their demands, they will not be friends anymore.
Ooh, your Mammy and your Daddy gonna Plague me till I die
The singer knows that the lover's parents will always be a problem in their relationship.
They can't understand it, I'm just a Peace lovin' guy
The singer doesn't understand why the lover's parents are against their relationship, as they are a peaceful person.
Get that big big big big big big daddy out of doors
The singer wants the lover to keep their father away from the situation.
Give me every inch of your love - ooh All your love tonight
The singer wants to be loved and cared for completely by their lover tonight.
Yeah, gotta get my timin' right hey Ooh, all your love Tie your mother down
The singer is emphasizing the importance of timing and being in the right place at the right time to be with their lover.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian May
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Always Wishing
That was awesome!
Blues Dave
Where the hell do I find a proper Tie Your Mother Down backing track in perfect time and tone without the vocals?
Lou Reginato Jr
Thanks for great music
Dona
rock n' roll time!!!!!!!!
FRE1991DDIE
The thing I hate about these is that they're not 100% instrumental. They're more like karaoke remixes, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE.