Before Queen, Taylor founded Smile with Brian May. Smile released one album in Japan which is now available throughout the world as Ghost of a Smile. Smile wrote a few of the songs which would later appear on Queen's self-titled debut album, and one - Doin' Alright was featured on the Smile album.
Taylor also fronted another band, The Cross from 1987 to 1991. The first album, Shove it (1988) was a solo album by Taylor in all but name - he wrote all the songs and played most of the instruments himself. This was an experiment that didn't really work for Taylor and in the other two albums by The Cross he allowed the other members of the band to contribute more, resulting in more traditionally styled rock albums.
Out of the four original members of Queen Taylor and guitarist Brian May continued to play as Queen + Paul Rodgers between 2004 and 2008. Of the other original members singer Freddie Mercury tragically died in 1991 and bassist John Deacon retired from music business in the mid-1990's.
In 2009, after the partnership between him, Brian and Paul ended, Roger worked on some new solo material from which his single The Unblinking Eye (Everything is Broken) was digitally released at 23th November at Queenonline.com. At the moment it is unclear how the future of Queen will look like, though Roger has announced that he will do a short tour in the spring of 2010.
Man On Fire
Roger Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find some work just to earn my pay
Just to make some plans for you some day.
But plans don't work and it's not that fine,
When you got no money all you got is time;
Don't it make you stop and wonder why?
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
I walk these streets each and every night,
Feel like I'm playing my role but it fits too tight.
Watch my life go by in black and white.
When times are hard and times are rough
Then you better be made of sterner stuff.
You'll find it's time to stop and wonder why.
I'm smokin', I'm burnin',
I'm twisting and turning
But one thing I'm learning.
It's the power of your love keeps me under their thumb
'cause the beat of your heart is the beat of my drum;
Don't it make you stop and wonder why?
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town
The lyrics of Roger Taylor's song, Man On Fire, seem to be about the struggles of a working-class individual trying to make ends meet in an oppressive society. The first verse talks about the daily struggles of finding work to earn a living and make plans for the future, but the reality is that plans often don't come to fruition when one doesn't have enough money. This leads to a sense of longing and desperation, which is expressed through the lines "sometimes I feel like a man on fire" and "sometimes I feel like a man possessed." There's a feeling of restlessness that can't be contained, and the only solution seems to be to "burn down this crazy town."
The second verse describes the same struggles, but this time it feels more personal. The singer is aware of their role in life but feels like it's too restricting, and they're just watching their life go by without any control. They know that tough times call for a strong will, and it's easy to wonder why things are the way they are when things get hard. However, amidst all the chaos and confusion, the singer finds solace in the love of someone special. This person's love is the only thing that keeps them grounded and gives them the strength to keep going, even when they feel like they're burning from the inside out.
Overall, Man On Fire paints a vivid picture of the struggles of the working class and their longing for something more significant. The song captures the feeling of being trapped in an oppressive society and the subsequent desire to break free and live on one's terms. However, amidst all the pain and frustration, love serves as a beacon of hope and gives the singer the strength to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk these streets each and every day
Roger Taylor walks the streets everyday in search of work to earn money.
Trying to find some work just to earn my pay
Roger Taylor is trying hard to find some work to get paid.
Just to make some plans for you some day.
Roger Taylor is trying to make some plans for his future.
But plans don't work and it's not that fine,
However, he feels that his plans are not working as expected.
When you got no money all you got is time;
Roger Taylor understands that one has all the time when they have no money.
Don't it make you stop and wonder why?
This situation makes him wonder why is it so.
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Roger Taylor feels intense emotions like a man on fire.
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
At times, Roger Taylor feels like he is possessed.
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
Roger Taylor expresses his frustration by saying that he wants to burn down the town.
I walk these streets each and every night,
Roger Taylor ventures out at night to walk the streets.
Feel like I'm playing my role but it fits too tight.
Roger Taylor feels that his life is like a tight-fitting role.
Watch my life go by in black and white.
Roger Taylor watches his life go by without much color or diversity.
When times are hard and times are rough
Roger Taylor understands life can be difficult and challenging.
Then you better be made of sterner stuff.
He also understands that one must be strong to face these challenges.
You'll find it's time to stop and wonder why.
He suggests that it is crucial to stop and reflect on life's struggles.
I'm smokin', I'm burnin', I'm twisting and turning
Roger Taylor feels the heat, emotional upheavals, and confusion in life.
But one thing I'm learning.
He is learning something from this experience.
It's the power of your love keeps me under their thumb
He credits the power of love that keeps him under control in tough times.
'cause the beat of your heart is the beat of my drum;
He feels that his loved one's heartbeats and his heartbeats are synchronized.
Don't it make you stop and wonder why?
This connection makes him wonder as well.
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
Roger Taylor still burns with emotion.
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
He still feels possessed at times too.
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
And still, he wants to burn down the town.
Sometimes I feel like a man on fire,
His emotions keep running high.
Sometimes I feel like a man possessed,
He still feels like he's possessed.
Sometimes I want to burn down this crazy town.
And still, he has extreme feelings about burning down the town.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROGER TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Le6ioN
sublime version de un temazo!
grande Roger
suryadi santoso
roger taylor the best of drummer
Phoenix Phoenix
Man on fire (1983/84) (Queen version) The Works sessions
Philip Hubbard
@TheQueenSpace. Thank You, for a great discussion, very rare these days, on, YouTube, take care, my friend.
TheQueenSpace.
@Philip Hubbard i know of the Mother Love
Philip Hubbard
@TheQueenSpace. Mother Love, couldn't be finished, has, Freddie, was to ill and told, Brian, he would be back, but sadly, he never returned to a studio again, so, Brian, had to sing the last verse, Let Me Live, date's back to, 1984, which started with, Rod Stewart, but there's only a small vocal, Freddie, did, back then, so, Roger, Brian and, John, patched it up and turned it in to a full song, I was disappointed with, Made In Heaven, album, has there stack's of unreleased, Queen's, demo's, one being, guide vocals, by, Roger, for the song, Innuendo.
TheQueenSpace.
@Philip Hubbard yes and back this only in Made in Heaven with Let Me Live and Mother Love
Philip Hubbard
@TheQueenSpace. But, they did stop doing this, on, The Game, album, apart from the non album track, A Human Body, which was the, B-Side, to, Play The Game.