@ALBUM: Back To The Light 1992 All tracks published by Queen Music Ltd. / EMI Music Publishing Ltd. Except tracks 4,7 published by Queen Music Ltd. / EMI Music Publishing Ltd. / Mystery Music Ltd. track 12 published by EMI United partnership Ltd. Dear Folks, This is an album of songs, and the man who finished making it today is very different from the man who started it five years ago. So this is not a set of ideas put down at one moment, nor is it a story of my life; it is merely a collection of attempts made at various times to make sense of life's journey. Thus you wont find much in here about how fab it is to be a rock star in Queen; but you may find, in contrast, glimpses of someone quite small and insecure. I know him well. Music is joy to me, and living in it is sometimes the only safe place to be. Much of what is recorded here is for fun, escapism, music for its own sake, and though I mean what I say, take it with a small pinch of salt. In my mind, this album was always called 'Back To The Light'. At its beginning I felt no real hope of finding the light; now it glimmers dimly, encouragingly, but always intermittently in the hall of mirrors around me. I suppose if we ever knew exactly where the light was coming from, getting there would be easy..... Thanks for being with me. Enjoy the journey!!! Love Brian May 'Brian May 20th July 1992' Little Baby sweetly sleep Do not stir We will bring a coat of fur We will rock you, rock you, We will rock you, rock you..... See fur to keep you warm Softly round your tiny form @SONG: "The Dark" (May) Includes material engineered by Alan Douglas at the Townhouse Studios, 1980 @SONG: "Back To The Light" (May) Far, Far from the light Hear the night creatures call With cold breath they howl All the hollow hours they're calling I'll be there No matter what you're going through In the dark I care I'm holding on, I'm hoping on It's still the same old me inside chorus Back to the light Back to the street, that are Paved with gold Back to the light Back to the land where the Sunshine heals my soul Deep deep in the night When the world fills with tears And wind blows, colder and colder it grows And the fire dims with the same old fears I'll be there Though maybe you don't hear me babe I still care No matter when, I'll still be there When you make it to the other side chorus Back to the light etc On and on Searching for a clearer view Winning and losing an inner war Wonder what we do it for Though road seems never ending Hold on to the hope I'm sending through I'll be there No matter where you're going to In the dark I care I'm holding on - believe it - We'll be walking in the light 'Cos they'll be no place left to hide chorus Back to the light etc. Drums: Cozy Powell Bass: Gary Tibbs B.V's: Miriam Stockley, Maggie Ryder, Suzie O'List, Gill O'Donovan First ideas for this song engineered by Brian Zellis and Pete Schwier March 1988 @SONG: "Love Token" (May) Mama's in love, Papa's in love It's such a shame they don't love each other. Papa's in a jam, Mama's throwin' pans The game's up - it's time to run for cover Everybody's cryin' but they can't stop hopin' Everybody's lookin' for the door that's open Mama's making heat to keep the fire smokin' Papa's hangin' on his old love token You got love but you ain't got style You want your freedom but in a while You're lost children but you know for sure You gotta find out what your love is for [Oh baby life ain't what is used to be] (You're telling me - not since you 'been hangin' round here) [Mama's what you screamin' for actin' like a demon for] And hey mama quit wavin' them hands in the air (Don't talk to me that way) [well I don't see no reason to raise your voice to me] (You put fat in the fire you got meat for brains) [Well you don't give me comfort and a Man's gotta get it somewhere] (Ooh that's a shame) [Yeah, well...] Mama's hangin' on to every word that's spoken But Pap's hangin' onto his old love token Oh I don't wanna leave you Mama Oh I don't wanna leave you Papa Long haired women gonna you to stone You can't beat em - cos you need 'em You gotta live - you gotta love Your love token's gotta fit like a glove Listen to the story 'bout the dream that's broken You gotta keep a hold of your old love token Oh I don't wanna leave you Mama Oh I don't wanna leave you Papa No I don't wanna leave you alone But I'm gonna have to Babe Drums: Cozy Powell Bass: Neil Murray Piano: Mike Moran @SONG: "Resurrection" (Words: May, Music: May, Powell, Page) There's a pain in my brain Confusion in my heart My blood's fit for bursting My body apart - I'm gonna ride - Ride the night into the morning sun Gonna make my resurrection No more of this crap Got a whole new direction Ain't no turning back Resurrection is a-gonna come My spirit is weeping For freedom it cries Ben scraping my living In the Valley of Lies Ride the night into the morning sun I'm a victim of a victim Of a conspiracy >From a corpum derelictum Gonna fly and be free The resurrection is a-gonna come Clear the vision Heal the system Sins forgiven - RISE! Flee the prison Break the system Sins forgive - RISE!!RISE!! Ride the night- yes I know I'm still alive - Gotta ride the night - yeah I'm gonna ride - Gonna rise again in the morning light There's no use in counting The price of those years There's too many heartaches And too many tears Gotta ride the night into the morning sun Yes I thought I was dreaming But the East is ablaze With promise of the future Those Heavenly Days Ride the night into the morning sun Ride the night - into the morning sun Cos the resurrection is a-gonna come Drums: Cosy Powell Extra keyboards: Don Airey Includes material engineered by Sean Lynch and Leis Masses at Mono Valley Studios and Marcus Studios @SONG: "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (May,Musker,Lamers) I'm just the pieces of the man I used to be Too many bitter tears raining down on me I'm far away from home And I've been facing this alone for much too long I feel like no-one ever told the truth to me About growing up and what a struggle it would be In my tangled state of mind I've been looking back to find where I went wrong Too much love will kill you If you can't make up your mind Torn between a lover and the love you leave behind You're headed for disaster 'cos you never read the signs Too much love will kill you - every time I'm just the shadow of the man I used to be And it seems there's no way out this for me I used to bring you sunshine Now all I ever do is bring you down How would it be if you were standing in my shoes Can't you see that it's impossible to choose No there's making sense of it Every way I go I have to lose Too much love will kill you Just as sure as none at all. It'll drain the power that's in you Make you plead and scream and crawl And the pain will make you crazy You're the victim of your crime Too much love will kill you Every time Too much love will kill you It'll make your life a lie Yes, too much love will kill you And you won't understand why You'd give your life you'd sell your soul But here it comes again Too much love will kill you In the end... In the end. @SONG: "Driven By You" (May) Woh - Everything I do I do for you - We touch and you're afraid of me and We burn and now I'm at your feet High speed, but you know you're in safe hands In the dark we make a brighter light >From one spark to the horizon wide We trust, and together we tame the land You'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming But we're working night and day to make a dream come true Everything I do is driven by you Oh well it's tough to make a journey through The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me And you know we've still got time Hold on tight on the driving wheel This ride is really out of line Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime You know I love you but you drive me crazy 'Cos you're saying all the things I want to say to you (you say) Everything I do is driven by you Everything we do Everything we do Everything we do Everything we do is driven by you Inner children lost their way Now they know the price you pay I'm holding on to life with you 'Cos life without you just won't do Driven by you You know we're never going to know who's dreaming But we're working night and day to make a dream come true Everything I do is driven by you Everything we do Etc. Everything we do is Driven by Driven by Driven by Driven by you (Oooooh everything I dooo - I do it for you!) Recorded and mixed with David Richards co-producing, at Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland, 1991 @SONG: "Nothin' But Blue" (Words:May, Music:May, Powell) I look at your picture I'm nothing but blue I'm hearing you whisper The way you used to do And I can't stop wondering Just how things might have been No I'm nothin' but blue My life has no rhythm Somehow it's out of tune I keep trying to tell them We'll be seeing them soon But the truth keeps rushing back Guess you know what I mean... No I'm nothin' but blue No use in crying - that ain't what you would do - no Living or dying - we'll just keep on fighting through No I can't stop my wondering 'Bout all those things that might have been No I'm nothin' but blue Nothing... Nothin' but blue Drums: Cozy Powell Bass: John Deacon Extra keyboards:Don Airey Includes material engineered by Sean Lynch and Leis Masses at Mono Valley Studios and Marcus Studios @SONG: "I'm Scared" (Justin's Mix '92) (May) You take me to the party You put me on the stand You're pumpin' up my heart To the beatin' of the band You toss it in the air And you don't care where it lands You take it - you break it You're hurtin' me Because I wasn't prepared I couldn't go where you dared You got my whole soul bared i never knew that you cared I'm scared.....etc You take me out to dinner And you swallow me whole You're nothin' but sinner With a dar black soul I figured I could handle you But I'm just a toy You're gettin' bolder and bolder You're just a bad bad boy I'm scared.....etc What you starin' at You're such a scaredy cat When I know that I just can't fight it So what you starin' at You're such scaredy cat 'Cos I'm only scared that maybe I might like it.... Chaos Karaoke - do your own thing but try the following :- I'm scared to move, I'm scared of standing still I'm scared to change, I'm scared to stay the same I'm so scared I want to die I'm scared of dying I'm scared of not being liked, not being loved I'm scared to be alone I'm scared of being with people I'm scared of disapproval I'm scared of life I'm scared to love lose what I have built I'm scared of feeling scared I'm scared of being ugly, being boring, being dull I'm scared of my thoughts I'm scared of being found out I'm scared Steven Berkoff I'm scared to dance, I'm scared to speak, to sing I'm scared my body's awkward, the wrong shape, wrong smell I'm scared to say what I think I'm scared to say no, or yes too often I'm scared of disappointing I'm scared of losing control I'm scared of pain, I'm scared of hurting, being hurt I'm scared this will go on 'til I die I'm scared of losing my home, my love, my kids, my kids, my kids I'm scared my heart will break I'm scared of losing myself Because there might be no-one there at all I'm scared of unknown future I'm scared to make a wrong turn I'm scared of the dark I'm scared of failing I'm scared it may all be for nothing You push me to the limit You push me to the brink You left me with the blues When you found me in the pink You know just what you're saying But your metaphors stink I gotta lick it, or stick it, Or this is the and I'm scared.............etc. Drums: Cozy Powell Bass: Neil Murray Includes material engineered with by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards @SONG: "Last Horizon" (May) Keyboards: Mike Moran Includes material recorded with David Richards at Sarm Studios @SONG: "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" (May) If you've got time to stay and listen to my story Just a moment of your life is all I need Don't say we should be parted 'Cos we only just got started Let your heart rule your head tonight There's full moon shinin' on the water There's warm breeze blowin' off the sea And when my pulse starts a racin' I know life is for tastin' Let your heart rule your head tonight chorus Let your heart rule your head Let your heart rule your head Let your heart rule your head tonight When your whole world is sinkin' Come to my way of thinkin' Let your heart rule your head tonight It's been so long since I put my arms around you And I dont' know if it's real or it's a dream But don't pussy-foot about it - shout it Just cant' live without it! Let your heart rule your head (everybody) Let your heart rule your head...etc. You're starin' my face as though I'm crazy When I tell you that I need you every day Can't you see that I love you pretty baby And ol' time don't ever stop tickin' away Well your Mama don't mind And your Papa don't mind But you'll never be mine If you're thinkin' all the time We can work it out right When I'm holdin' you tight We can make it tonight 'Cos it ain't no crime Don't let the moment slip away..... Don't think about it - do it! Well I know that we're in a time of changes And in love there is a danger everywhere But consider every portion When you've taken your precautions Let your heart (let your heart) Let your heart (let your heart) Let your heart, let your heart, let your heart Let your heart tule your head.....etc. Bass: Gary Tibbs Drums: Geoff Dugmore B.V's: Suzie O'List, Gill O'Donovan Includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards at Sarm Studios, March 1988 @SONG: "Just One Life" (May) I did not know you Our lives never touched 'Til the say they gathered To bid you farewell And they painted your picture And as I looked around I felt I saw you In the words and the sound Your talent came flowing Through the stories they tell And through the the faces Of those who loved you so well Your life gave them a treasure A piece of themselves Something to carry And still serves them well Just One Life Just One Life Just One LIfe That is born, and is, and is gone Just One Life And I'm so glad to know you As I know you Perhaps inside you You were messed up like me But them you were whole and strong And friend in their need And what you left behind you And what swept over me Says that your life's work Rolls on and on A piece of eternity Just One Life Just One Life Just One Life That is born, and is, and is gone Just One Life Did you ever have the change to find out What life is all about I did not know you Our lives never touched 'Til the day we gathered To say our farewells Dedicated to Philip Sawyer Includes material engineered by David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux @SONG: "Rollin' Over" (Marriot,Lane) Goodbye sunshine I'm on my way I'll be long time gone by the break of day Tell everyone that I'm gonna find it There ain't nothin' gonna stop me - Rollin' Over, Rollin' Over Save all your lovin' till I get home To the sweetest lovin' sunshine that I've ever known Tell everyone that I'm gonna find it There ain't nothin' gonna stop me - Rollin' Over, Shak-do-way Rollin' Over, Yeah-yeah-yeah.... Vocals: Brian with Chris Thompson Drums: Geoff Dugmore Bass: Gary Tibbs Piano: Mike Moran B.V's: Miriam Stockley, Maggie Ryder, Chris Thompson Include material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards - March '88 at the Townhouse Produced By Brian May Co-produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith Technical Assistance by Brian Zellis Mastered by Kevin Metcalfe All vocals, backing vocals, guitars, keyboards and anything else around - Brian May unless otherwise stated. Recorded at Allerton Hill except where stated. Mixed at Metropolis Studios except where stated. (Assistant engineers Noel Harris and Heidi Cannavo) Management: Jim Beach and Julie Glover Tour management: Gerry Stickells. Sleeve design and photography by Richard Gray. Fan Club: 46 Pembridge Road London, London W11 3HN. These performances were digitally recorded on two linked Sony '3324' 24-track machines with Apogee filters and mixed back on to two tracks on the same machines. The album was then digitally compiled at West Heath Studios with Ian Sylvester. The guitars were played mainly either through 'Zoom' boxes or good old (or new) Vox AC30's. Extra expert programming by David Richards and Brian Zellis. My Thanks to: Jacky Gunn, Sally Hyatt, Val Moss, Allistair McLaren, Marjie Winter, Melanie Martin-Keady, Neal Levin, Peter Chant, Robert Lee, Vicky Vocat, Andre Gauchat, David Richards, Lolo at Sarm, Barabara Jefferies, Penny Robinson, Crystal, Martha, Big Martin, Ray Burdis, Dominic Anciano, Jill SInclair, Anita Keogh, Brenda Brooker, Spike Edney, The Wildes of Knebworth, Pete Schwier, Richard Edwards, Lonnie Donegan, Eddie Naughton, Gary Langan, Karen Goodman and all at Metropolis Studios, Peter Harrison, Maggie Winkworth, Alan Maclean, Tony (the sweet shop man), David Mallet, Debbie Mason, Wendy Laister, Roxy Meade, Derry Hawes, Diana Moseley, Jane Gregory, Malcolm Hill, Jim Jenkins, Michael Eisner, Peter Paterno and all at Hollywood Records, Gary Arnold, Rupert Perry, Tony Wadsworth, Andrew Pryor and all at EMI Records, Helmut Fest, Kork UK, Ian Southwell, HHB, Audio FX, Brazenrock, Bill Acton, Ian Sylvester, Lynne Carey, Bryn Bridenthal, Carmen Rivera, Alan Douglas, Eren Mehmed, Dave Potter, the good folks of The Sun, Windlesham, all members of the Queen Fan Club, Trip Khalaf, Jim Devenney, Patrick Woodroffe, Peter Hince, Rudi Dolezal, Hannes Rossacher, Stephenie Wagner, Paul Bobbins and Toby (the dog), Malcolm Thomas, Marie Ramsden, John (Tunbridge) Wells, Wally Gore, Ron The Dog. For the past 20 years I have been priviledged to work with the best team in the world. Thankyou Roger, John and out dear incomparable, sorely missed, Freddie, and all those who worked for Queen over the years, for getting me this far. My Special thanks also: To my dad for making my guitar with me. It should just see me out. To Dick Denney, for designing the AC30. To Jimmy May for keeping me clear about how cool I'm not, Louisa May for pet care and control, and Emily May for sunshine every day. To my dear mum for keeping Allerton Alive. For persistant freindship. much appreciated, Tom Short, Nathan East, Steve Ferrone, Rick Wakeman, Steve Vai, Paul Rodgers, E.V.H., Elton John, Axl, Slash and the Def Leps. To Joe Satriani for a magnificent guitar which makes its debut on 'Nothin' But Blue' To Justin, for hanging in there like the trooper he is and patiently dealing with my erratic recording habits. For support and encouragement, to Tommy Iommi, Joe Elliot, Nuno, Gary, Paul and Pat of Extreme, Niel Murray, Jack Nelson, Mike Moran and Cozy Powell, whose contribution to this album is inestimable. And to my lady, Anita Dobson, for having faith that I could fly. This album is dedicated to Harold May, Alfred Dobson and Freddie Mercury. And