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Freddie Mercury - Seven seas of Rhye
Identifier
022421
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
"Seven Seas of Rhye" was primarily written by Freddie Mercury, with Brian May contributing the second middle-eight. The song is officially credited to Mercury only. A rudimentary instrumental version appears as the final track on the group's debut album Queen (1973), with the final version on the follow-up Queen II (1974).
Freddie is being too evasive here – Rhye is Atlantis. Whenever he says “there is no deep meaning or concept”, there is.
Freddie Mercury – His Life in his own Words [compiled by Greg Brooks and Simon Lupton]
QUEEN ll (1974)
There was no deep meaning or concept in the album. At the time of recording we conceived it impulsively. I wrote a song, The March Of The Black Queen for the album and that's when we got the idea of having white and black sides - reflecting white and black moods. It became a good contrast.
Seven Seas Of Rhye is really just fictitious. I know it's like bowing out, or the easy way out, but that's what it is. It was just a figment of my imagination.
At that time I was learning about a lot of things in song writing, like song structure - I was just learning different techniques all the time.
A description of the experience
"Seven Seas Of Rhye"
Fear me you lords and lady preachers
I descend upon your earth from the skies
I command your very souls you unbelievers
Bring before me what is mine
The seven seas of rhye
Can you hear me you peers and privvy counsellors
I stand before you naked to the eyes
I will destroy any man who dares abuse my trust
I swear that you'll be mine
The seven seas of rhye
Sister - I live and lie for you
Mister - do and I'll die
You are mine I possess you
I belong to you forever
Storm the master-marathon I'll fly through
By flash and thunder-fire I'll survive
Then I'll defy the laws of nature and come out alive
Then I'll get you
Be gone with you - you shod and shady senators
Give out the good, leave out the bad evil cries
I challenge the mighty titan and his troubadours
And with a smile
I'll take you to the seven seas of rhye