Mongolian Rhapsody? Freddie Mercury’s handwritten lyrics reveal what Queen anthem was nearly called… as 1,500 items belonging to late singer including flamboyant stage costumes go on sale for millions
- Lyrics were written on stationary from the now defunct British Midland Airways
- Mercury eventually crossed out ‘Mongolian’ and replaced it with ‘Bohemian’
Queen’s blockbuster anthem Bohemian Rhapsody was nearly called ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’, early draft lyrics written by frontman Freddie Mercury have revealed.
The lyrics were written on stationary from the now defunct British Midland Airways in 1974, a year before the song was released to huge acclaim.
Mercury, who died in 1991 after suffering from AIDS, eventually crossed out ‘Mongolian’ and replaced it with ‘Bohemian’, an act which changed music history.
The draft words also show how the start of the famous second verse – ‘Mama, just killed a man’ – was initially: ‘Mama, There’s a war began, I’ve got to leave tonight.’
The draft is among a trove of Mercury’s lyrics which are going on display in New York from today until next week before they are sold as part of a collection of more than 1,500 objects once owned by the singer.
The Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics on their own are expected to sell for up to £1.2million, while early drafts of Somebody to Love and We are the Champions could sell for up to £180,000 and £300,000 respectively.
Queen’s blockbuster anthem Bohemian Rhapsody was nearly called ‘Mongolian Rhapsody’, early draft lyrics written by frontman Freddie Mercury have revealed. The lyrics were written on stationary from the now defunct British Midland Airways in 1974, a year before the song was released
Bohemian Rhapsody was released to huge acclaim in 1975. It helped propel Queen’s members to superstardom
The draft of Bohemian Rhapsody is written across 15 pages of stationary from British Midland.
A third page, focusing on the operatic section of the piece, is totally covered with some of the phrases which became iconic, such as ‘Galileo’, ‘Fandango’ and ‘Scaramouche’.
However, there are also words that were never in the final song, such as ‘Matador’ and ‘Belladona’.
Dr Gabriel Heaton, books and manuscripts expert at Sotheby’s, who are handling the sale, said: ‘Thanks to the sheer complexity of the music to Bohemian Rhapsody, and especially its unusual and varied structure, the song rests especially heavily on its lyrics to lend its coherence.
‘In these pages we see Freddie Mercury wrestling in grand operatic terms with profound themes – sin, damnation, stoic acceptance – and witness the great efforts he goes to pinpointing precisely the right words to embody these emotions, and to create the most extraordinary narrative.
‘Quite unlike anything that had been released before, Bohemian Rhapsody was the band’s greatest risk, which swiftly became their greatest hit.’
Bohemian Rhapsody was released as the lead single on their fourth album, A Night at the Opera.
Music executives had Mercury and bandmates Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon that, at 5minutes and 55 seconds, the song was too long and would never be a hit.
The draft words also show how the start of the famous second verse – ‘Mama, just killed a man’ – was initially: ‘Mama, There’s a war began, I’ve got to leave tonight’
A third page, focusing on the operatic section of the piece, is totally covered with some of the phrases which became iconic, such as ‘Galileo’, ‘Fandango’ and ‘Scaramouche’
Other lyrics in the sale are those for Don’t Stop Me Now, which debuted on Queen’s 1978 album Jazz. The song is believed to have been an autobiographical work by Mercury. The lyrics are tipped to sell for between £120,000 and £180,000
The lyrics for We Are The Champions, which was released with the band’s sixth album News of the World in 1977, are written across nine pages
Lyrics and musical notation for Queen song Somebody to Love, which was released in 1976
A completely unseen notebook dating back to the early 1970s is tipped to sell for up to £180,000
As well as including his own working lyrics, Mercury noted down songs by other artists Queen were performing at the time, with set-lists for early gigs featuring Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock and The Rolling Stones’ Stupid Girl
The lyrics for Queen song Love of My Life, written in pencil by Mercury, are set to fetch up to £60,000
Killer Queen is written across 13 pages of Electra Records stationery. It is tipped to sell for up to £70,000
Critical reaction was also initially mixed, but it immediately proved hugely popular with the general public and is now regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time.
The Somebody to Love lyrics were also written on British Midland stationary. They span 19 pages and were written in black, blue, red and green ink.
Other lyrics in the sale are those for Don’t Stop Me Now, which debuted on Queen’s 1978 album Jazz.
The song is believed to have been an autobiographical work by Mercury. The lyrics are tipped to sell for between £120,000 and £180,000.
The lyrics for We Are The Champions, which was released with the band’s sixth album News of the World in 1977, are written across nine pages.
All the lyrics are going on display at Sotheby’s New York until June 8.
They will then return to London for a month-long exhibition in August prior to their sale in September.
The ‘Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own’ auction will see the sale of nearly all of Mercury’s private collection of objects.
They were all once stored in the rock legend’s beloved home, Garden Lodge in Kensington, where he died on November 24, 1991.
The ‘Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own’ auction will see the sale of nearly all of Mercury’s private collection of objects
Among the most highly valued items is a replica of St Edward’s Crown. Its accompanying cloak – in fake fur, red velvet and rhinestones – was made by the singer’s friend and costume designer Diana Moseley
Freddie Mercury lived in Garden Lodge in Kensington. His collection stayed at the home for over three decades after his death
The collection includes a replica of St Edward’s Crown and its accompanying cloak in fake fur, red velvet and rhinestones that were worn by the singer during some of his most famous concerts.
These include the legendary Live Aid in 1985, as well as the finale rendition of God Save The Queen during his last tour with Queen in 1986. It is set to fetch up to £80,000.
Queen fans could also get their hands on a 1975 Martin D-35 acoustic guitar on which it is thought
Mercury wrote and recorded Crazy Little Thing Called Love, for an estimated £30-50,000.
Mercury’s collection at Garden Lodge has remained largely untouched for some 30 years.
He left the house and his possessions to his friend Mary Austin, who told the BBC in April: ‘It’s a very intelligent, sophisticated collection and I don’t think one would really attribute that… to Freddie.’
The number of objects in the collection stands at more than 1,500, though they are are still being documented. Collectively they are worth more than £6million.
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