The RPO was founded in 1946 by Thomas Beecham and played its first concert in Croydon on September 15, 1946. Beecham was principal conductor until his death in 1961. He was followed by then assistant conductor Rudolf Kempe, who was given the title of Conductor for Life in 1970. Subsequent musical directors and principal conductors have been Antal Doráti (1975-78), Walter Weller (1980-85), André Previn (1985-92), Vladimir Ashkenazy (1987-94). Yuri Temirkanov was appointed principal conductor in 1992, and Daniele Gatti music director in 1996.
The orchestra toured the United States in 1950, thus becoming the first British orchestra to visit America since the London Symphony Orchestra in 1912.
As well as performing works from the classical repertoire, the RPO has recorded a number of film scores, including those for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Red Shoes.
Associated with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, which is devoted to playing lighter classics. It was formed in 1987.
They had a single in the summer of 1981 called Hooked On Classics and also another single which was the BBC Grandstand Theme in 1982.
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooo
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooo (anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning very very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro - magnifico
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Bismillah! No we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go let me go
Will not let you go let me go (never)
Never let you go let me go
Never let me go ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
For me
For me
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out just gotta get right outta here
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters nothing really matters to me
Anyway the wind blows
The opening lyrics of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's song Bohemian Rhapsody can be interpreted as a philosophical reflection on the nature of reality. The question, "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" sets an introspective tone that is reinforced by the references to being caught in a landslide and having no escape from reality. The singer acknowledges his humble origins as a poor boy who needs no sympathy but is caught up in the whims of fate ("easy come, easy go, anyway the wind blows").
The next section of the song shifts the narrative to the singer's confession to his mother that he has killed a man. The lines "But now I've gone and thrown it all away, Mama ooo, didn't mean to make you cry" suggest a sense of regret and sorrow for his actions. Despite the gravity of the situation, the singer encourages his mother to carry on without him if he doesn't return, suggesting a sense of acceptance of his fate.
The song continues with a dream-like sequence that includes surreal imagery such as a "little silhouetto of a man," a "Scaramouch" doing the fandango, and references to Galileo and Magnifico. The singer's poor background is once again emphasized, and he pleads for his life to be spared from a monstrosity. The repeated use of "Bismillah" (an Islamic phrase meaning "In the name of Allah") adds a religious and solemn tone to the segment.
The final section of Bohemian Rhapsody depicts the singer being stoned and left to die by those who once loved him. He expresses a desire to escape before finally acknowledging that nothing really matters in life. The line "anyway the wind blows" is repeated, once again underscoring the element of fate that runs throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this the real life?
Asking the question on the reality of the situation
Is this just fantasy?
Asking question to refer whether everything is surreal
Caught in a landslide
Being stuck in a difficult situation
No escape from reality
Feeling trapped in a situation with no way out
Open your eyes
Encouraging somebody to see the true state of affairs
Look up to the skies and see
Looking for guidance from above
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Acknowledging that I’m in a tough spot, but don't need anyone’s pity
Because I'm easy come, easy go
I’ll take whatever comes my way and deal with it
A little high, little low
Referring to the ups and downs in life
Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me, to me
No matter what happens, I’ll get through it
Mama, just killed a man
Telling my mother that I’ve done something terrible
Put a gun against his head
Describing how I killed the man
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Describing the act of taking a life
Mama, life had just begun
Explaining that there was still so much I hadn't done yet
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Expressing regret for what I’ve done
Mama, ooo
Calling out to my mother with a cry
Didn't mean to make you cry
Apologizing for causing my mother pain
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Telling my mother that I may not return
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters
Urging people to continue with their lives even if I’m gone
Too late, my time has come
Accepting that the time has come for me to face the consequences of what I’ve done
Sends shivers down my spine
Feeling afraid about what’s going to happen next
Body's aching all the time
Feeling the effects of stress and anxiety on my body
Goodbye everybody I've got to go
Saying goodbye to everyone because it's time for me to face the music
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Acknowledging that I must take responsibility for my actions
I don't want to die
Expressing fear of what’s to come
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
Feeling regret about my life choices
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Describing how I’m feeling trapped and helpless
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Asking if there's anyone who can help me break free from my situation
Thunderbolt and lightning very very frightening me
Feeling overwhelmed and anxious
Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo Figaro - magnifico
Just a series of names and nonsensical phrases that don't have a clear meaning
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
Feeling unloved and like a loser
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Describing how little hope there is for me coming out of the situation
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Pleading with someone to forgive me and let me live
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Begging for forgiveness and asking to be set free
Bismillah! No we will not let you go - let him go
Rejecting my plea for forgiveness and freedom
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Reiterating that I can't be forgiven
Bismillah! We will not let you go let me go
Pleading again for freedom and forgiveness
Will not let you go let me go (never)
Saying there's no hope in trying to be forgiven or free from the consequences of my actions
Never let you go let me go
Repeating my plea for freedom and forgiveness again
Never let me go ooo
Acknowledging that I’ll never be able to escape the consequences of my actions
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Being told that there is no chance for me to escape or be forgiven
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Crying out for release
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
Feeling like there's no chance for me to be saved
For me
Acknowledging that my fate may be sealed
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
Feeling angry and defiant towards those who have judged me
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Feeling betrayed by those who were close to me
Oh baby can't do this to me baby
Expressing my pain at being hurt by someone I loved
Just gotta get out just gotta get right outta here
Desperately trying to escape the difficult situation
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
Expressing a desire to be free
Nothing really matters
Feeling like nothing is significant anymore
Anyone can see
Everyone can recognize how bad the situation is
Nothing really matters nothing really matters to me
Accepting that there seems to be no solution to my problems
Anyway the wind blows
Accepting that there may be no end to my problems or suffering
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mel L.
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy
I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows
Doesn't really matter to me
To me
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama!
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on
As if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody
I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind
And face the truth
Mama!
(Anyway the wind blows)
I don't wanna die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche! Scaramouche!
Will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning
Very, very frightening me!
Galileo! Galileo!
Galileo! Galileo!
Galileo, Figaro!
Magnifico!
I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life, from this monstrosity
Easy come, easy go
Will you let me go?
Bismillah!
No, we will not let you go!
(Let him go!)
Bismillah!
We will not let you go!
(Let him go!)
Bismillah!
We will not let you go!
(Let me go!)
Will not let you go!
(Let me go!)
Never, never let you go!
Never let me go!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia!
Mamma mia, let me go!
Beelzebub, has a devil put aside for me!
For me!
For me!
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby!
Can't do this to me, baby!
Just gotta get out
Just gotta get right outta here!
Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
Anyway the wind blows
Culture & Pop
Hermoso sin lugar a duda, y debe tener una dificultad grande para poder reproducirlo en una sinfónica, porq si se fijan bn hay ciertas notas altas o q deben ser de más tiempo y no caen tan perfecto como a Freddie le quedaban, no me refiero a los instrumentos q tocan como voz no, a los de la musicalización, era un Grande vivirá x siempre en nuestros corazones y en nuestra música... De todas formas la Orquesta hizo lo mejor q pudo Bravo!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
TheSupersonicLiam
Unbeliavable Extraordinary Stunning enough said... among the 20 best songs of all time...
Rupak Bhattacharya
Very few songs give me goosebumps ... This one does it for me all through the performance..
Mel L.
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Open your eyes
Look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy
I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows
Doesn't really matter to me
To me
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama!
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on
As if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody
I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind
And face the truth
Mama!
(Anyway the wind blows)
I don't wanna die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche! Scaramouche!
Will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning
Very, very frightening me!
Galileo! Galileo!
Galileo! Galileo!
Galileo, Figaro!
Magnifico!
I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life, from this monstrosity
Easy come, easy go
Will you let me go?
Bismillah!
No, we will not let you go!
(Let him go!)
Bismillah!
We will not let you go!
(Let him go!)
Bismillah!
We will not let you go!
(Let me go!)
Will not let you go!
(Let me go!)
Never, never let you go!
Never let me go!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia!
Mamma mia, let me go!
Beelzebub, has a devil put aside for me!
For me!
For me!
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby!
Can't do this to me, baby!
Just gotta get out
Just gotta get right outta here!
Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
Anyway the wind blows
M S
You know you've become a legend when royal philharmonic orchestra is singing your songs
Gregg Anderson
Truly a masterpiece! Ah! and he died so young..... what other masterpieces may we have heard......
Larii Silva
E se fizessem um desenho animado, tipo Tom e Jerry, mas com os personagens sendo a banda Queen em desenho e essa música de fundo musical?? Amaria! 😍
Eles cometeram trapalhadas no ensaio, mas no final ficaria tudo bem, como no final da música.
AlanKey86
Thanks for uploading this! This is definitely my favourite arrangement of the song. I've overbudded Queen's original vocals onto this for an altogether... different listening experience. I'll post it as a video response.
AUREO CLAUDINO
fantástico essa musica é muito mágica e com um arranjo dessa orquestra puts demais!
Giuliano Antelo
B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!!! I think this is the first time I like a version of boh rhap without freddie just as much as i love it when he is singing!