Most bitterest of songs ever. And it's awesome.
I'm a fan of my bitter "fuck you" songs when needed, but this is a whole new level of fuck you...
I love Queen. They're second only to Alanis on my list of "holyshiteverythingyouveevermadeisamazingevenifihaventhearditallandiwanttolickyou" musicians (and I like to think I can make them both #1; she's my favorite artist, they're my favorite band), but, I'll be honest, I don't have nearly as much of their stuff as I should.
So I know I need to add 10+ of their CDs to my collection, but in the meantime I thought I'd prowl iTunes and grab a few of their songs I was lacking, as well as a random song or two I didn't know, just for the hell of it. And I picked "Death on Two Legs" solely because of the title. Perhaps everyone else has heard it and I'm just years behind, but I had never stumbled upon it. And I didn't even preview the track when I bought it. Holy. Shit.
It starts all beautiful and melancholy on the piano, but around 18 seconds it gets slightly darker. At 38 seconds you get lulled back into a delightful, some-what chipper, piano and guitar sense of security; classic Queen, if you will. Then at 1:05 Mercury proceeds to dick-slap you in the face with malice. When he growls out "Screw my brain till it hurts" I get goosebumps. I'm not sure if I'm turned on or in fear that someone is seriously pissed at me and I should be cowering in shame and fear. Sweet Jesus.
It has (easily) one of the best repeating guitar riffs I've ever heard (sure it's no Money for Nothing, but kudos on the playing, Mr May!... cause, you know, he reads this....) and the lyrics are amazingly bitter. It's not my favorite Queen song (that spot will be forever held by Killer Queen), but it is certainly in the top 5, if not top 3. Out of the 150+ songs they have out there I am certainly happy I stumbled onto this one.
You suck my blood like a leech
You break the law and you preach
Screw my brain till it hurts
You've taken all my money
And you want more
Misguided old mule with your pig headed rules
With your narrow minded cronies
Who are fools of the first division
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You've never had a heart of your own
Kill joy bad guy big talking small fry
You're just an old barrow boy
Have you found a new toy to replace me?
Can you face me?
But now you can kiss my ass goodbye
Feel good? Are you satisfied?
Do you feel like suicide?
(I think you should)
Is your conscience all right?
Does it plague you at night?
Do you feel good? Feel good?
You talk like a big business tycoon
You're just a hot air balloon
So no one gives you a damn
You're just an overgrown schoolboy
Let me tan your hide
A dog with disease
You're the king of the sleaze
Put your money where your mouth is
Mister know-all
Was the fin on your back
Part of the deal? Shark
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You've never had a heart (you never did)
Of your own (right from the start)
Insane you should be put inside
You're a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride
Should be made unemployed
Then make yourself null and void
Make me feel good I feel good
I love Queen. They're second only to Alanis on my list of "holyshiteverythingyouveevermadeisamazingevenifihaventhearditallandiwanttolickyou" musicians (and I like to think I can make them both #1; she's my favorite artist, they're my favorite band), but, I'll be honest, I don't have nearly as much of their stuff as I should.
So I know I need to add 10+ of their CDs to my collection, but in the meantime I thought I'd prowl iTunes and grab a few of their songs I was lacking, as well as a random song or two I didn't know, just for the hell of it. And I picked "Death on Two Legs" solely because of the title. Perhaps everyone else has heard it and I'm just years behind, but I had never stumbled upon it. And I didn't even preview the track when I bought it. Holy. Shit.
It starts all beautiful and melancholy on the piano, but around 18 seconds it gets slightly darker. At 38 seconds you get lulled back into a delightful, some-what chipper, piano and guitar sense of security; classic Queen, if you will. Then at 1:05 Mercury proceeds to dick-slap you in the face with malice. When he growls out "Screw my brain till it hurts" I get goosebumps. I'm not sure if I'm turned on or in fear that someone is seriously pissed at me and I should be cowering in shame and fear. Sweet Jesus.
It has (easily) one of the best repeating guitar riffs I've ever heard (sure it's no Money for Nothing, but kudos on the playing, Mr May!... cause, you know, he reads this....) and the lyrics are amazingly bitter. It's not my favorite Queen song (that spot will be forever held by Killer Queen), but it is certainly in the top 5, if not top 3. Out of the 150+ songs they have out there I am certainly happy I stumbled onto this one.
Click to viewYou suck my blood like a leech
You break the law and you preach
Screw my brain till it hurts
You've taken all my money
And you want more
Misguided old mule with your pig headed rules
With your narrow minded cronies
Who are fools of the first division
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You've never had a heart of your own
Kill joy bad guy big talking small fry
You're just an old barrow boy
Have you found a new toy to replace me?
Can you face me?
But now you can kiss my ass goodbye
Feel good? Are you satisfied?
Do you feel like suicide?
(I think you should)
Is your conscience all right?
Does it plague you at night?
Do you feel good? Feel good?
You talk like a big business tycoon
You're just a hot air balloon
So no one gives you a damn
You're just an overgrown schoolboy
Let me tan your hide
A dog with disease
You're the king of the sleaze
Put your money where your mouth is
Mister know-all
Was the fin on your back
Part of the deal? Shark
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You've never had a heart (you never did)
Of your own (right from the start)
Insane you should be put inside
You're a sewer rat decaying in a cesspool of pride
Should be made unemployed
Then make yourself null and void
Make me feel good I feel good