The Show Must Go On
Queen feat. Adam Lambert Lyrics


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Empty spaces, what are we living for?
Abandoned places, I guess we know the score
On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for?
Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore?

The show must go on
The show must go on, yeah
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on, does anybody want to take it anymore?
I guess I'm learning (I'm learning), I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning (turning, turning) 'round the corner now
Outside, the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free

The show must go on
The show must go on (yeah)
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly, my friends

The show must go on, yeah
The show must go on, yeah
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On with the show

Ooh, I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
(On with the, on with the show)





The show must go on

Overall Meaning

Queen's timeless classic, The Show Must Go On, is a poignant anthem about the human spirit's resilience, portrayed through the lens of theater and show business. The opening lines, "Empty spaces, what are we living for? Abandoned places, I guess we know the score" reflect on the fleeting nature of human existence and society's tendency towards callousness and neglect. Freddie Mercury's evocative lyrics then proceed to explore the human psyche's complexities, questioning the purpose of life and the search for meaning. The lines, "On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for? Another hero, another mindless crime Behind the curtain, in the pantomime Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore?" express the exhaustion and desperation of searching for something deeper in life.


The song's chorus, "The show must go on," embodies the theatrical metaphor, alluding to the players who, no matter the situation, must put on a brave face and deliver a performance that meets the audience's expectations. Through these lyrics, the song conveys the empowering message that, no matter how dark the situation, one must never give up or lose hope. The lyrics reflect on the triumph of the human spirit over grief, heartbreak, and loss, proving that the show must always go on.


Line by Line Meaning

Empty spaces, what are we living for?
What is the reason for us to exist? There seems to be no purpose or direction in life.


Abandoned places, I guess we know the score
We are aware that the places we leave behind will eventually be forgotten and forsaken.


On and on, does anybody know what we are looking for?
We continue to search for something, but we are not sure what exactly it is that we seek.


Another hero, another mindless crime
We see the same cycle repeat with someone else stepping up as a hero, only to encounter another pointless crime.


Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
Life can often feel like a stage performance, with things happening behind the scenes that we aren't aware of.


Hold the line, does anybody want to take it anymore?
We are barely holding on, and we wonder if anyone else wants to keep going.


The show must go on
We need to keep going despite our struggles, and our lives must continue no matter what.


The show must go on, yeah
We emphasize that the show must go on - this phrase serves as a reminder that we must keep pushing forward.


Inside my heart is breaking
We are hurting and struggling internally while trying to put on a brave face for others.


My make-up may be flaking
We may seem okay on the outside, but we are falling apart internally.


But my smile still stays on
Despite the pain we feel, we continue to put on a positive facade, refusing to show any weakness.


Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
We understand that there is only so much control we have over our lives, and we are willing to let fate decide our outcomes.


Another heartache, another failed romance
We have experienced heartbreak and disappointment in our love lives before, and we accept that this may happen again.


On and on, does anybody want to take it anymore?
We wonder if it's worth continuing to put ourselves out there for love, only to face more pain and disappointment.


I guess I'm learning (I'm learning), I must be warmer now
We acknowledge that we are growing and evolving as people and we need to be more compassionate and understanding towards ourselves and others.


I'll soon be turning (turning, turning) 'round the corner now
We sense that a change is coming soon, and our lives may take a different turn.


Outside, the dawn is breaking
The start of a new day reminds us that there is always a chance for new beginnings.


But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free
Despite the hope for a brighter future, we still feel trapped by our current struggles and long for freedom.


My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
We see ourselves as vibrant and dynamic individuals who can grow and change just like the metamorphosis of a butterfly's wings.


Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die
We hold onto the stories and memories of the past, knowing that they will always be a part of who we are.


I can fly, my friends
We feel confident in our abilities and know that we are capable of great things.


I'm never giving in
We refuse to give up or be defeated by the challenges we face.


On with the show
We encourage ourselves and others to keep going and not lose hope in the face of adversity.


Ooh, I'll top the bill, I'll overkill
We are willing to go above and beyond to achieve our goals and succeed.


I have to find the will to carry on
We understand that finding the motivation to push through tough times is crucial to our success and well-being.


The show must go on
We reassert that, no matter what, we must keep going and persevere.




Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@marlenemalin9808

He is a gifted(genetics) singer indeed.
What he does is use his magical instrument to soaring heights.
He perfected that voice over the years and it is still today stunning.

I just saw him in Vegas...he was unbelievable..there are no words..

He has such stage presence and emotional ties to all he sings.

He makes.it look effortless. Maybe for him it is. But we mere mortals know that he has a special gift.



All comments from YouTube:

@LauriellenLOLpsychic

Adam never sings a song, he PERFORMS the song. Every note has a nuance, a movement, an emotion.

@cheeterable

He even tops himself. Unbelievable. Love it.

@mankivenon7261

Adam Lambert is a rare e pure talent.

@erikagolcher1353

@Patricia Cardiff Miming who? FM never sang this song live, he died.

@cibilsesco2106

@Erika Golcher but he shot the official video before he died. Brian May asked if he could go on. He slammed down a shot if whiskey, said "I'll f*****g DO it, darling." Nailed the video in one take.

@erikagolcher1353

@Cibil Sesco And? He never performed it live, he died. Its not the same a record that is produce that a song perform live. Two different things.

3 More Replies...

@erikagolcher1353

There are not enough words for Adam talent: the power of his voice, the raw emotion, the performance. Adam is really a Gift from God to become the most amazing vocalist of the XXI century.

@NoelleWalley

No one sings like Adam Lambert.... he's in a league of his own. 🎤🎶👑👏

@davelospinoso9022

If you told me Adam was an alien I would believe you. Absolutely amazing

@ScorpioBert

He's from Planet Fierce, did you know that?

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