Observations placeholder
Freddie Mercury and Queen - Love Of My Life
Identifier
022309
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
In the early 1970s, Mercury had a long-term relationship with Mary Austin, whom he met through guitarist Brian May. He lived with Austin for several years in West Kensington, London.
By the mid-1970s, the singer had begun an affair with a male American record executive at Elektra Records and, in December 1976, Mercury told Austin of his sexuality, which ended their romantic relationship.
Mercury moved out of the flat they shared, into 12 Stafford Terrace in Kensington and bought Austin a place of her own nearby. They remained close friends through the years, with Mercury often referring to her as his only true friend.
In a 1985 interview, Mercury said of Austin, "All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary [Austin], but it's simply impossible. The only friend I've got is Mary and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that's enough for me."
He also wrote several songs about Austin, the most notable of which is "Love of My Life."
Mercury's final home, Garden Lodge, 1 Logan Place, a twenty-eight room Georgian mansion in Kensington set in a quarter-acre manicured garden surrounded by a high brick wall, had been picked out by Austin. In his will, Mercury left his London home to Austin, saying to her, "You would have been my wife and it would have been yours anyway." Mercury was also the godfather of Austin's oldest son, Richard.
A description of the experience
Queen - Love Of My Life
"Love Of My Life"
Love of my life, you've hurt me,
You've broken my heart and now you leave me.
Love of my life can't you see,
Bring it back, bring it back,
Don't take it away from me because you don't know what it means to me.
Love of my life, don't leave me,
[Album version:] You've taken my love, you now desert me,
[Live version:] You've stolen my love, you now desert me,
Love of my life, can't you see?
Bring it back, bring it back,
Don't take it away from me because you don't know what it means to me.
You will remember
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way
When I grow older
I will be there at your side to remind you how I still love you, I still love you.
[Album version:] Back, hurry back,
[Live version:] Hurry back, hurry back,
[Album version:] Please, bring it back home to me because you don't know what it means to me.
[Live version:] Don't take it away from me, because you don't know what it means to me -
Love of my life
Love of my life...