Credits

• Written by: Traditional, arranged by Brian May
• Produced by: Queen and Roy Thomas Baker
• Musicians:

Brian May - guitars

Roger Taylor - drums, timpani, orchestral cymbals

• Length: 1:11

Discography

Albums:

A Night At The Opera, 1975

Singles:

Keep Yourself Alive, 1974 USA B-side

Alternate Versions:

• 7" US (Extended Intro) - Keep Yourself Alive: Elektra E-45268 B

Queen Talks

"That's something that we've had in our stage act for a long while, y'know, and when we were recording A Night At The Opera, I felt it just lent itself. The whole thing is done by Brian. It's all Brian's guitar, every bit of it, with cymbals and things. I told you we have nobody else coming in. We don't use synthesizers... Brian can get all those sounds with his guitar."

Freddie Mercury - 21/05/1976, Record Mirror

Additional Information

• Recorded sometime during the tail end of the Sheer Heart Attack sessions in October 1974. Brian decided to arrange a guitar instrumental version of the British national anthem after hearing audiences sing the song before the band would appear onstage.
• A piano demo was performed by Brian, full of mistakes. Brian later played this demo in the DVD, The Making Of A Night At The Opera.

Covers

Cover Versions

Chords & Tabs

• chords

Lyrics