Queen
Queen & David Bowie Lyrics

Doo-pah-tum-ka-kum-bah-pah-ta-da-da
An unintelligible opening line that sets the tone for the surreal, stream-of-consciousness lyrics that follow.

Ah yeah
An exclamation of approval, signaling the start of the singer's musings on his romantic failings.

Oh yeah
A continuation of the above sentiment, as the singer voices his dissatisfaction with his current situation.

I'm up on the eleventh floor
The artist is in a hotel room, high above the bustling city below.

And I'm watching the cruisers below
The artist observes the people on the street, perhaps with a sense of detachment.

He's down on the street
Referring to the man who is vying for the affections of 'sister Flo.'

And he's trying hard to pull sister Flo
The man is attempting to win over Flo, who is the object of the singer's affection.

Oh, my heart's in the basement
The artist's mood is low, with his emotions feeling heavy and leaden.

My weekend's at an alltime low
The artist's recent experiences have been disappointing, leaving him feeling even worse than usual.

'Cause she's hoping to score
Flo has her own interests in mind, and is looking to 'score' in some way.

So I can't see her letting him go
The singer thinks that Flo is unlikely to reject the other man's advances.

Walk out of her heart
The artist wishes he could erase his feelings for Flo completely, as they are causing him pain.

Walk out of her mind
He would also like to be able to forget about Flo entirely, so as not to dwell on what might have been.

Oh, not her
Despite his desire to move on, the singer is still drawn to Flo.

She's so swishy in her satin and tat
The singer admires Flo's style, which is elegant and fashionable.

In her frock coat and bipperty-bopperty hat
The use of nonsensical language here underscores the surreal nature of the song and its loose, improvisational structure.

Oh God, I could do better than that
Despite his admiration for Flo, the artist thinks that he could be a better match for her than the other man.

She's an old-time ambassador
Flo is a veteran of the social scene, someone who knows how to get what she wants.

Of sweet talking, night walking games
She is skilled at using language and social cues to her advantage, manipulating situations to her liking.

Oh and she's known in the darkest clubs
Flo has a reputation for being bold, daring, and perhaps a little bit dangerous.

For pushing ahead of the dames
She is not afraid to take risks or break with tradition, even if it means leaving other women behind.

If she says she can do it
Flo is confident in her abilities and doesn't shy away from challenging herself or others.

Then she can do it, she don't make false claims
When Flo sets her sights on something, she is determined to make it happen, without resorting to deceit or trickery.

But she's a queen and such a queen
Flo's charisma and talent have earned her a lot of admiration and respect, making her a kind of royalty among her peers.

Such a laughter is sucked in their brains
The singer is suggesting that Flo's influence is so powerful that it can leave an indelible mark on those around her, making them feel like they're under her spell.

Now she's leading him on
The other man is falling for Flo's charms, which the singer finds frustrating and unfair.

And she'll lay him right down
Flo is seducing the other man, perhaps with the intention of sleeping with him.

Yes, she's leading him on
The artist is emphasizing how manipulative and calculating Flo can be when it comes to romance.

But it could have been me
The artist is reiterating his own regrets and longing for what might have been, had he been more assertive in pursuing Flo.

Why didn't I say? Why didn't I say?
These lines reflect the singer's disappointment in himself for not having acted on his feelings sooner and more definitively.

No, no, no
An expression of frustration, regret, and sadness from the singer, who knows it's too late to change the past.

So I lay down a while
The artist is reflecting on his own feelings, taking time to process his emotions in a quiet, contemplative way.

And I gaze at my hotel wall
The hotel room becomes a metaphor for the artist's own stasis and melancholy, providing a blank canvas against which he can project his musings.

Oh, the cot is so cold
The bed symbolizes his loneliness and isolation, as well as his inability to find solace or companionship with anyone else.

It don't feel like no bed at all
The singer's sense of alienation and estrangement is so profound that he can't even find comfort in his surroundings.

Yeah, I lay down a while
Continuing the previous thought and suggesting that the artist feels trapped in his own emotional morass.

And look at my hotel wall
The wall becomes a kind of mirror, reflecting the singer's own despair and sense of hopelessness back to him.

And he's down on the street
The other man is still out there, pursuing Flo and enjoying his own romantic conquests.

So I throw both his bags down the hall
The singer expresses his frustration and anger by lashing out at the other man's belongings, which are a surrogate for the man himself.

And I'm phoning a cab
The artist decides to leave the hotel and distance himself from the situation, seeking a fresh start and a new perspective.

'Cause my stomach feels small
The artist is feeling physically ill, perhaps as a result of his emotional distress or anxiety.

There's a taste in my mouth
The singer is experiencing a sensation of disgust or bitterness, which reflects his disappointment with how things have turned out.

And it's no taste at all
The singer's despair is so profound that it renders him numb and incapable of experiencing pleasure or satisfaction.

It could have been me
The artist reiterates his sense of loss and missed opportunities, even as he tries to move on from his unrequited love for Flo.

Oh yeah, it could have been me
A repetition of the previous line, underscoring the artist's sadness and longing.

Why didn't I say? Why didn't I say?
The artist is still grappling with his own sense of inadequacy and regret, unable to shake the memory of what might have been.

No, no, no
A final expression of pain and disappointment from the singer, as he faces the reality of his own romantic setbacks and missed chances.

Oh you betcha
A sardonic or ironic comment, suggesting that the artist is resigned to his fate and doesn't expect things to get better anytime soon.

Uh-huh
A muttered agreement or acknowledgement, underscoring the singer's sense of defeat and despair.

Mmm
A final sound of resignation, as the singer accepts his own shortcomings and the limitations of his own existence.