Love of My Life By: Queen

1. Love of My Life By: Queen

2. Basic Information • Composer: Freddie Mercury • Lyricist: Freddie Mercury • Year Written: 1975 • Album Released From: A Night at the Opera

3. Musical Considerations • Time Signature: 4/4 with some 3/4 and 2/4 • Key: D+ • Total # of Bars: 69 measures • Genre: Rock • Song Length: 3:39

4. Instrumentation • Freddie Mercury: Lead Vocals, Piano, Backing Vocals • John Deacon: Bass Guitar • Brian May: Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Harp • Roger Taylor: Cymbals

5. Form • Intro: 8 • Verse 1: 10 (4 + 4 + 3/4 + 1) • Pre-verse: 3 • Verse 2: 10 (4 + 4 + 3/4 + 1) • Pre-verse: 5 • Sub-chorus: 9 • Guitar Solo: 11 (3 + 3/4 + 2 + 3/4 + 3 + 2/4) • Unison: 4 • Chorus: 5 (2 + 3/4 + 2) • Coda: 4

6. Chords • AF#m • Love of my life - you've hurt me, • BmE • You've broken my heart and now you leave me. • AA7D • Love of my life can't you see? • BmF#m • Bring it back, bring it back, • GDGDBmEmAD • Don't take it away from me, because you don't know, what it means to me. • Love of my life don't leave me, • You've taken/stolen my love, and now desert me, • Love of my life can't you see, • Bring it back, bring it back, • Don't take it away from me because you don't know - what it means to me.

7. BmF#m • You will remember - When this is blown over • GD • And everything's all by the way - • BmF#mBCdimB • When I grow older I will be there at your side to remind you • EmA • how I still love you - still love you. • BmF#m • Hurry back - hurry back, • GD • Don't take it away from me, • GDBmEmAD • because you don't know what it means to me - • Bm • Love of my life • F#m • Love of my life...

8. Lyrical Considerations • Meaning of Lyrics: The lyrics are about the narrator lamenting the loss of the love of his life, and asking for her to return. • Mode of the Lyrics: Narrative. • Perspective: First person. • Tense: Present (some future).

9. Rhyme Scheme • Love of my life - you hurt me, a • You broken my heart and now you leave me. a • Love of my life can't you see, a • Bring it back, bring it back, b • Don't take it away from me, because you don't know, what it means to me. a • Love of my life don't leave me, a • You've taken my love, you now desert me, a • Love of my life can't you see, a • Bring it back, bring it back, b • Don't take it away from me because you don't know what it means to me. a

10. You will remember - a • When this is blown over a • And everything's all by the way - b • When I grow older a • I will be there at your side to remind you how I still love you - I still love you. c • Back - hurry back, a • Please, bring it back home to me, because you don't know what it means to me - b • Love of my life c • Love of my life... c

11. Lyrics Backstory • This song was written by Freddie Mercury after his break-up with long time partner Mary Austin, who he had a long relationship with in the 1970s. Their relationship was under stress due to Freddie Mercury's homosexuality. • Mary Austin remained a part of his life as a friend until Freddie Mercury's death, and Freddie Mercury's house was left to her in his will.

12. Other • The harp sounds recorded on the track are played by Brian May and recorded chord by chord. • When performed live, the song was re-arranged for acoustic 12-string guitar with solo vocals.

13. Studio Version / Live Version • Studio Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4lupqXayYI • Live Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3xwCkhmies (Wembley '86)