Just adding a discussion that may be worthwhile though it sounds preposterous at first.
Thanks to the paparrazzi photo of John from 2014... let's revitalize him into a discussion.
Is it possible that the lyrics of IWTBF were written as a statement about his band at the time?
Possibly Freddie?
His family life may not have been rocky at the time ( who the fuck knows) but it's considerably a strange statement to make for a happy family man.
Considering the band was allegedly at the point of breaking up. ... Isn't it a considerable position?
To who else would he be writing this to?
Self satisfied. ... I don't need you
I've fallen in love (personal life above commercial life)
The way you do the things you do. ..
(Temptations reference)
When I walk out that door. How I want to be free.
Oh and yes. As per EVERY John Deacon discussion I MUST add this addendum.
John. .. If you're not using your P-Bass anymore... I'd love to be able to use it.
I'm not begging.... just "sayin" .
I'd make use of it in an ambitious but semi professional musical forum and nobody but my family would know. Oh please? Immortal spirit of John Deacon. .. There's no turning back!
- Matt.
*(p.s. I happen to think that single was fun as heck. It's a shame there was very little play in the USA)
There are some similar themes you COULD potentially read into John's lyrics in 'If You Can't Beat Them' too, certainly with regard to feeling alienated from the rest of the band, basically having to go along with their ideas etc...
I just tried reading the lyrics for the first time in years (Now i just hear the songs since i have no time for reading lyrics anymore)... sounds like John may have had a reggae tune in mind... not any one in particular, but just based on the phrasing. I can definitely see a rework of this song with kettle drums... and it would sound pretty awesome.
Sounds like it *could* have been a get out of Queen song... but I'm not sure it's that clear. Could have been commentary on something a friend told him. Maybe he was happily married but he had someone on the side and he was considering it.. clearly he would never act on it as the songs states "want" and is never in the past tense. Could have been commentary based on a scene in a movie.
At the end of the day, I think he wanted to write a reggae song... and Freddie and the band shat on the idea... helped him turn it into a hit. Now he makes a lot of money because of it :-)
That's not impossible, Jimmy Dean. Have you ever heard how it could have sounded in "Who Needs You" style?
Como librarme de ti- I want to break free-queen-k…: link
Cheers,
Ogre-
Why do so many assume that song writers alway write about themselves. JD could have written IWTBF in the third person. It could be about someone he know, who none of us have heard of, it could be about a fictional character like in Spread Your Wings.
Maybe too much is being read into this song.