From album
We Will Rock You
Queen · 1992 · Track 4
Details
TonalidadD
Compás4/4
Tempo86 BPM
Duración4:34
CompositorJohn Deacon
ÁlbumWe Will Rock You
Año1992
ISRCGBCEE7700006
Credits
Music John Deacon
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The story behind
When John Deacon composed Spread Your Wings, he explored a narrative style that departed from the usual for Queen. The story it tells is about Sammy, a young man who works cleaning floors in a bar but dreams of a better life, even though his boss tells him he lacks ambition. Deacon himself commented that the song was inspired by recent personal experiences, without wanting to go into detail, but he did mention his desire to secure a future and avoid falling into poverty, something that worried even musicians with some fame. Daniel Ross, author of the Queen FAQ, described it as Deacon's first attempt at narrative songwriting, and Freddie Mercury even considered it the best piece he had written up to that point.
Musically, Spread Your Wings features an interesting structure. It begins in D major, but during the bridge, the music shifts to its relative minor, B minor, before returning to D major for the next chorus. This use of a double bridge is a technique Deacon employed in his other compositions for the band, such as You and I or Need Your Loving Tonight. What makes it particularly distinctive within Queen's catalog is that it is the only song released as a single where the rest of the band does not contribute backing vocals to Mercury's lead vocal. It was recorded in 1977 at Sarm West and Wessex studios in London, and was released as a single in 1978, with Sheer Heart Attack on the B-side. Although not released as a single in North America, a live version appeared in 1979 as the B-side to the hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
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