Bohemian Rhapsody Multiplicity!

In my book "The Metatronic Chronicles: a family affair" (currently in editing), Michael Wilder is a Wisconsin teenager who also happens to be the archangel Michael. However, like any teen, he has more issues and problems than he has gifts, which is a central point of the story. However, one of his gifts is a voice with an 8 octave range, almost unheard of. With his brother Daniel, Michael takes the stage, backed by their band "Heavensent" and shoots to stardom when the band performs a piece Daniel has written called "The Seven Paths to Hell".

My inspiration for this particular bit of writing came directly from bands such as Queen, Procol Harum and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, who incorporated classical and operatic themes in their music.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is perhaps the pinnacle of this form of rock. Written by Freddie Mercury back in the mid seventies, the meaning of it's lyrics remain a debated mystery but everyone who ever sang a song would love to be able to tackle this one. This page features some of those people from the superb to the...well...weird, taken from the pages of where else, Youtube. I hope you enjoy this little collection of rock opera brilliance and oddity.

Freddie never really told anyone the truth behind the lyrics, but I have a personal theory which follows.

There are two people singing in this song. They are two young male lovers who have just taken the next step in erotic fantasy--death.

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,
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me

The opening acapella stanza talks about how the man who has just taken his lover's life is suddenly caught up in a shock-induced delusion.

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, ooh, 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

But he finally realizes what has happened and in a panic returns home to his mother, whom he loves dearly. He confesses his crime to her, then tells her that he is going to try to get away with it but that she should act as if nothing has happened.

Too late, my time has come,
Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time
Goodbye, ev'rybody, I've got to go,
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooh, I don't want to die,
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

Telling the rest of his family and friends that he has done something very bad and has to get away and come to terms with himself. He has never been happy and now has done away with the only person who ever meant anything to him..

I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very fright'ning me

The murdered lover has arrived in hell (the thunder and lightning) and the demons have spotted him. They are calling him a clown and demanding that he dance.

(Galileo) Galileo (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo figaro

I'm not sure about this one (like I'm sure of anything I'm writing here). Perhaps referring to the fellow's name (Galileo Figaro) or to the historical Galileo and operatic Figaro. It might just be a choral insert that sounded nicely operatic.

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

Galileo (if that's his name) pleads his case to the devil (calling him magnifico) that he doesn't deserve to be in Hell. The tortured souls of hell voice their support.

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) Will not let you go (Let me go) Ah
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

He still pleads to be released with the tortured souls in Hell joining with him, but the the devil refuses in the name of God (the arabic phrase "bismillah") to let him go.. Is his mother really the devil? A special demon has been assigned to him probably to make sure he stays there.

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

Frustrated at his inability to get released from Hell, Galileo has turned his rage on his former lover who still is on earth. If he gets out of Hell, he will make him pay!

Nothing really matters, Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters,
Nothing really matters to me
Any way the wind blows

His lover still alive on earth knows that his fate is sealed and whatever happens, happens. One day he will join his lover in hell and have to pay for his crime.

So there it is--my rather preposterous theory on what this song really means. If you agree or just think I'm nuts, post a note in the guest book!