Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)

Queen

About Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)

"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" is a song by the British rock band Queen and is the opening track on their fourth album A Night at the Opera. The song was written by Freddie Mercury about the band's fall-out with their original manager and Trident Studios owner Norman Sheffield. Though the song makes no direct reference to him, Sheffield sued both the band and the record label for defamation. This resulted in an out-of-court settlement, thus revealing to the public his connection with the song. Roger Taylor also noted that despite the success of "Killer Queen" and Sheer Heart Attack, the album preceding A Night at the Opera, the band was broke before the album was made. Sheffield denied that he or his companies had mistreated the band in his capacity as manager, and cited the original 1972 management contracts between himself and Queen in his autobiography published in 2013, Life on Two Legs: Set The Record Straight, in his defence. The song was recorded and mixed at Sarm East Studios in late 1975. As with "Bohemian Rhapsody", most of the guitar parts on the song were initially played on piano by Mercury, to demonstrate to Brian May how they needed to be played on guitar. 


Year:
1979
3:32
93 
#5

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Aah
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 pigheaded 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 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

Aah
Talk like a big business tycoon
But you're just a hot-air balloon
So no one gives you a damn
You're just an overgrown school-boy
Let me tan your hide

A dog with disease
You're the king of the 'sleaze'
Put your money where your mouth is Mr. know all
Was the fin on your back part of the deal...(a shark!)

Death on two legs
Tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You've never had a heart of your own
(You never did, 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
Make yourself null-and-void
Make me feel good
I feel good

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Queen

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of the late Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). Queen's earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works, incorporating more diverse and innovative styles in their music. After the late and great Freddie Mercury died, Queen continued to tour with multiple acts including Paul Rodgers, and currently, Adam Lambert. more »

76 fans

Written by: Freddie Mercury

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band Member Composition
"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" is a song by British rock band Queen. The band consists of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bass guitarist John Deacon.
Album Information
The song is the opening track on the band's fourth studio album, "A Night at the Opera," which was released in November 1975.
Songwriter
The song was written by the band's lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury.
Inspiration
"Death on Two Legs" is reportedly a vitriolic rant by Freddie Mercury, dedicated to the band's early manager, Norman Sheffield, with whom they had financial disputes.
Duration
The song, being 3 minutes and 43 seconds long, is one of Queen's longer songs.
Musical Style
"Death on Two Legs" demonstrates the band's penchant for mixing various music genres—it has been described as a 'savage' hard rock song blended with elements of progressive rock and opera.
Song Structure
The album version begins with a piano introduction played by Mercury, followed by a section of guitar feedback and sound effect produced by multi-tracking May's 'Red Special' guitar.
Controversy
There was some controversy surrounding the track, as Sheffield took legal action against the band because of the song's allegedly defamatory lyrics.
Live Performances
The song was often used to open Queen's live shows and was performed on their 1977 and 1979 tours.
Sequel Song
The song "White Queen (As It Began)" from Queen's second studio album "Queen II," is seen as a predecessor to "Death on Two Legs," with similar chord progressions and complex harmonies.

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