As the double A-side with "We Are The Champions", "We Will Rock You" reached number 4 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart, becoming their second hit in the U.S. On the 45 of the song's original vinyl record release, the song was actually the flip side of "We Are the Champions" in Britain, however the American record company requested to put the two songs together as a "double A-side" because American radio stations were playing them back to back. This is a reason why the songs are often paired on the radio and at sporting events, where they are frequently played. The songs are also paired back to back on the album, and they are still played together to this day on American classic rock radio stations.
Queen also performed the song in another arrangement (known as the "fast version"), which featured a faster tempo and a full guitar, bass and drums backing track throughout. The band would often open their live sets in the late 1970s and early 1980s with this version, as captured on their 1979 Live Killers double album, on Queen Rock Montreal (2007), and on the Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl album released in 2004.
The "stomp, stomp, clap" sounds were later reused in the Queen + Paul Rodgers song "Still Burnin'", a composition which was also written by May.
"We Will Rock You," as recalled by May in a 2002 interview with Guitar World magazine, "was a response to a particular phase in Queen's career, when the audience was becoming a bigger part of the show than we were. They would sing all the songs. And in a place like Birmingham, they'd be so vociferous that we'd have to stop the show and let them sing to us. So, both Freddie and I thought it would be an interesting experiment to write a song with audience participation specifically in mind. My feeling was that everyone can stamp and clap and sing a simple motif, so We Will Rock You was based on that.
"We recorded it at [Basing Street] Wessex, which is an old converted church that has a natural good sound to it. There are no drums on the track. It's just us clapping and stamping on boards, overdubbed many times over with many primitive delay machines. A bit of singing, a bit of guitar playing, and that's it. The amazing thing is to go to football [soccer] matches or sports events in general and hear people do it. It's very gratifying to find that it has become part of folklore, sort of. I'll die happy because of that."
In a recent interview with Terry Gross (host of "Fresh Air"), conducted on August 3rd 2010, May was asked to elaborate on writing the song.
Terry Gross: " So what inspired that song? I mean, it's been played at so many sports stadiums over the decades. What were you thinking about when you wrote it? Were you thinking of it as a sports anthem?"
Brian May: No, not really. I was thinking of it more as a rock anthem, I suppose, and a means of uniting an audience or taking advantage, you know, enjoying the fact that an audience is united. And I didn't realize that it would transfer to sports games and this is quite an amazing thing. It's wonderful for me to see what "We Will Rock You" has done. You know, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions," of course, have kind of transcended the normal framework of where music is listened to and appreciated. They've become part of public life, which I feel wonderful about. It's fantastic to me if I go to a, you know, a football game or a soccer game or basketball or whatever or any place all around the world, and there it is. And I think, "My God. Most people don't even realize that I wrote it. Most people don't realize that it was written". "
Gross: That's right.
May:: It's sort of become …
Gross:: (laughs) That’s right.
May: …one of those things that people think was always there. You know, it sort of goes back into pre-history. So in a way, that's the best compliment you could have for a song.
Gross:: Well, I think, you know, that's if people don't even realize it was written, it's in part because it almost sounds like an old-school cheerleader cheer, you know, because...
May: Yeah. It's become part of the fabric of life.
Gross:: ... of that stomp-stomp-clap thing and because it's a chant.
May: Yeah, that's right. Well, the stomp-stomp-clap thing, yeah, people think it was always there, but actually it wasn't. And I don't know how it got into my head. All I can tell you is we played a gig sort of the middle of our career in a place called Bingley Hall near Birmingham. Now, Birmingham is the sort of home of heavy metal, as you probably know. You know, Sabbath and Slade and people come from there. And it was a great night. People were just, the audience were just responding hugely, and they were singing along with everything we did. Now, in the beginning, we didn't relate to that. We were the kind of band who liked to be listened to and taken seriously and all that stuff, you know. So people singing along wasn't part of our agenda. Having said that and then having experienced this wave of participation of the audience, particularly in that gig in Birmingham, we almost to a man sort of reassessed our situation.
I remember talking to Freddie about it and saying, “Look, you know, obviously, we can no longer fight this. This has to become something which is part of our show, and we have to embrace it, the fact that people want to participate. And really, everything becomes a two-way process now.” And we sort of looked at each other and went, “Hmm, how interesting”. And he went away that night and to the best of my knowledge wrote "We Are the Champions" with that in mind. I went away and woke up the next morning with this... (Vocalises 'stomp-stomp-clap') ... in my mind somehow because I was thinking to myself, "What could you give an audience that they could do while they're standing there and they're all crushed together? They can stamp, and they can clap, and they can sing some kind of chant." So for some reason, it just came straight into my head, the "We Will Rock You."
And to me, it was kind of a uniting thing. It was an expression of strength. And the words came out very quickly. In fact, everything came out very quickly, and I think that's a good sign when you're writing a song. It should happen quickly, very often, and that means the flow is a good one. And the words are something completely different. If you ask me what I was thinking of in the words of the verses, it's something different. It's although it's related.
Gross:: About the boy who's told he's no good?
May: Yeah, it's about the development of a boy into a man and his dreams and how he sees himself and how he views his power in the world. It's a kind, it's sort of a contemplative song, really, although it's a big chant with fist in the air. It's about balancing your power with acceptance, I think.
Gross: So how did you record the stomp-stomp-clap so it would sound grand and reverberating, as opposed to three people, four people stomping their feet and clapping?
May: Well, I'm a physicist, you see. (LAUGHING) So I had this idea, if we did it enough times, and we didn't use any reverb or anything, that I could build a sound which would work.
We were very lucky. We were working in an old, disused church in North London, and it already had a nice sound, not an echoey sound but a nice, big, crisp sound to it. And there were some old boards lying around. I don't know what they were, but they just seemed ideal to stamp on. So we kind of piled them up and started stamping. And they sounded great anyway.
But being a physicist, I thought,"Well, supposing there were a thousand people doing this, what would be happening?" And I thought, "Well, you would be hearing them stamping. You would also be hearing a little bit of an effect, which is due to the distance that they are from you." So I put lots of individual repeats on them, not an echo but a single repeat and at varying distances. And the distances were all prime numbers.
Now, much later on, people designed a machine to do this, and I think it was called Prime Time or something, but that's what we did. As we recorded each track, we put a delay of a certain length on it, and none of the delays were sort of harmonically related. So what you get is there's no echo on it whatsoever, but the claps sound as though they're spread around the stereo, but they're also kind of spread as regards distance from you. So you just feel like you're in the middle of a large number of people stamping on boards and clapping …
Gross: That's amazing.
May: … and also singing.
TS: Now, here's another really interesting thing to me about "We Will Rock You." It's the most famous song that you've written. It's a largely a cappella song. You come in for your guitar solo at the very end. So until, like, the very, very end, like you're not even playing on it, and it's just kind of amazing that you as the guitarist would write a song that you're barely featured on.
May: Well, I'm featured stamping and clapping.
Gross: Well, yes.
May: And I'm featured singing, so...
Gross: And you're very good at that.
(LAUGHING)
May:: Thank you, yeah. Well, we're all featured, yeah. Yeah, well, you see, songs aren't about guitars to me. Songs are about, truthfully, a song is about a singer in my opinion, and if the singer gets the idea across, then you're almost home and dry.
You know, you can make the most beautiful piece of production, and I love production. You know, production is a big part of my life. But I'm always aware that if you don't have the right singer, and he doesn't have the right feeling, that you're wasting your time. So a song is a song to me, and it doesn't matter what song. It could be a piano accordion on it. You know, if it's the right song and the right singer, and you feel passion, that's what it's about.
The guitars, yeah, I didn't want us to be standard. I didn't want it to be like oh, here's a guitar solo, and then we sing another verse. I wanted it to be something stark and different. So it was very deliberate that I left the guitar solo to the end just because that was a final statement and a different statement, taking it off in a completely different direction. It changes key into that piece, too, you know, so it's a whole different kettle of fish. It was not a standard pop song.
(From here, the host played the remainder of the song)
Gross: So that's the end of "We Will Rock You," written by my guest, guitarist and singer and songwriter, Brian May, who was one of the founding members of Queen. So ...
May: I should, can I comment on the end of that?
Gross: Yeah, please.
(LAUGHING)
May: Interesting that you play the end of the song. You can hear the guitar waiting in the wings. That was, you can hear this little feedback note. And so the guitar is present, although it's not taking center stage, all through the last choruses, and then finally, it bursts upon the scene. And you notice, Freddie goes “All right”, which means he's kind of handing over to the guitar, and we're in a different universe once the guitar starts, and that was the intention. And it's very sort of informal.
And you may notice - there's a lot of things to notice. You may notice that the last piece, the very last little riffs, are repeated, and they're not just repeated by me playing them again. They're repeated by cutting the tape and splicing it on again and again. So, and that's deliberate, too. It's a way of getting a sort of a thing that makes you sit up towards the end. And then it stops. There is nothing after it, which I really enjoy. (laughs)
There's no big ending. It just stops and leaves you in mid-air, thinking, “Well, what happened there?”
We Will Rock You
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you (sing it out)
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you
Alright
The lyrics of Queen's "We Will Rock You" are an anthem for anyone who wants to make a mark in the world, regardless of their age or background. The song begins with a young boy in the streets, being told to make a big noise and play hard because he will be a big man someday. The verse repeats and adds that the boy has mud on his face - a symbol of hard work and perseverance. The chorus begins, with the declaration that "we will rock you." The repetition of this statement is electric and seeks to excite the listener with a sense of anticipation and unity.
The next verse follows the same pattern, but now the boy has grown up to be a young man. He is shouting in the streets, telling the world that he is ready for anything. Again, he has blood on his face, but this time it signifies strength and endurance. The chorus repeats, stating that "we will rock you" with even more intensity, as if the listener is being egged on to join in.
The final verse is more reflective, with the boy now an old man. He is pleading with his eyes for some peace, but someone better put him back into his place because he still has mud on his face. The chorus repeats again, with the crowd joining in and the song fading away triumphantly. Overall, "We Will Rock You" is a song that encourages people to be bold, brave, and to stand up for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Hey there, young man, don't be shy or quiet! Make some noise and make a statement.
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
Even if you're just playing around now, you have the potential to become something great in the future.
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
You may not look perfect, but that doesn't matter. Keep being yourself and doing your thing.
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
As you go on your journey to becoming a man, people may try to knock you down or hold you back. But keep moving forward and don't let them get to you.
We will, we will rock you
Others may doubt you, but we believe in you and your potential. You will succeed and become great.
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
As you get older, life can get tougher. But don't back down from the challenges and obstacles that come your way.
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
Be confident and speak up for what you believe in. You have the power to make a difference in the world.
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
You may have faced some tough situations and come out bruised or battered, but that doesn't make you any less of a person.
Waving your banner all over the place
Stand up for your beliefs and show the world what you stand for. Be proud of who you are and what you represent.
We will, we will rock you (sing it out)
Raise your voice and let the world hear you. Don't be afraid to make some noise and show the world what you're capable of.
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Even if you've gone through some tough times or have faced some hardships in life, you still have value and worth.
Pleading with your eyes, gonna make you some peace someday
You may have some regrets or things you wish you could change, but don't lose hope. You can still find peace and happiness in the future.
Somebody better put you back into your place
Don't let others try to control or push you around. Stand up for yourself and be your own person.
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will continue to support you and believe in you, no matter what challenges or hardships you may face.
We will, we will rock you, everybody
Everyone has the potential to make a difference and achieve greatness. We all have something valuable to contribute to the world.
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will continue to push forward and make a difference, no matter what obstacles we face or what others may say.
We will, we will rock you
Through hard work, determination, and perseverance, we will achieve our goals and make a positive impact on the world.
Alright
Let's do this.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Harold May
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-tb2jy9lu3d
For those not familiar with the lyrics:
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street
Gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Kicking your can
All over the place, singing
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street
Gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face
You big disgrace
Waving your banner
All over the place
We will, we will rock you (Sing it out)
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes
Gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face
Big disgrace
Somebody better put you back
Into your place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you, alright
@kiryukazuma-f1h
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street
Gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Kicking your can
All over the place, singing
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street
Gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face
You big disgrace
Waving your banner
All over the place
We will, we will rock you (Sing it out)
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes
Gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face
Big disgrace
Somebody better put you back
Into your place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you, alright
@erickywilges9257
[Verse 1]
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singing
[Chorus]
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
[Verse 2]
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
[Chorus]
We will, we will rock you
Sing it out
We will, we will rock you
[Verse 3]
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place
[Chorus]
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you, alright
[Guitar Solo]
@alwayzrimz
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you, sing it!
We will, we will rock you, yeah
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna get you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place, do it!
We will, we will rock you, yeah, yeah, come on
We will, we will rock you, alright, louder!
We will, we will rock you, one more time
We will, we will rock you
Yeah
@LeannShih
Lyrics
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you, sing it!
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you
Alright
@Subversive_Static
Lyrics:
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you, sing it!
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you
Alright
@ДамирМолдашев-о6г
Buddy you’re a boy make a big noise
Playin’ in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo’ face
You big disgrace
Kickin’ your can all over the place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you’re a young man hard man
Shoutin’ in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo’ face
You big disgrace
Wavin’ your banner all over the place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you’re an old man poor man
Pleadin’ with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face
You big disgrace
Somebody better put you back in your place
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
@Лёва-ь2ж
Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playin' in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face
You big disgrace
Kickin' your can all over the place
Singin'
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Buddy you're a young man hard man
Shouting in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo' face
You big disgrace
Wavin' your banner all over the place
We will we will rock you
Sing it
We will we will rock you
Buddy you're an old man poor man
Pleadin' with your eyes gonna make
You some peace some day
You got mud on your face
Big disgrace
Somebody betta put you back into your place
We will we will rock you
Sing it
We will we will rock you
Everybody
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you
Alright
@cincinnatibrutality0201
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna make you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place
We will, we will rock you, sing it
We will, we will rock you, everybody
We will, we will rock you, hmm
We will, we will rock you
Alright
@universefight2193
This song is 45 years old and is still as popular as the day it was released
@ylledaj
damn really 😨
@claudinarodrigues4123
Omg 🤟🏼😲😎🤩
@claudinarodrigues4123
Seas 😭
@Aephyrica
Hands fucking down.
@aliusman5
At the time I'm replying, the song is 50 urs old
@alenaxp
Say Hi for all those guys from future 2019+ Year
@angelmar1
Hi
@EpaZote-
Hi xd
@sand7_7x
Hello 2019 men