Fat Bottomed Girls

Album: Jazz (1978)
Charted: 11 24
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  • Ah, you gonna take me home tonight?
    Ah, down beside that red firelight
    Ah, you gonna let it all hang out?
    Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round

    Hey
    I was just a skinny lad
    Never knew no good from bad
    But I knew life before I left my nursery, huh
    Left alone with big fat Fanny
    She was such a naughty nanny
    Heap big woman, you made a bad boy out of me

    Hey hey
    I've been singing with my band
    Across the water, across the land
    I've seen every blue eyed floozy on the way, hey
    But their beauty and their style
    Went kind of smooth after a while
    Take me to them dirty ladies every time

    Come on
    Ah, won't you take me home tonight?
    Ah, down beside your red firelight
    Ah, and you give it all you got
    Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round
    Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round

    Hey, listen here
    Now I got mortgages on homes
    I got stiffness in my bones
    Ain't no beauty queens in this locality, I tell you
    Oh, but I still get my pleasure
    Still got my greatest treasure
    Heap big woman, you done made a big man of me

    Now, get this
    Oh, you gonna take me home tonight? (please)
    Oh, down beside that red firelight
    Oh, you gonna let it all hang out?
    Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round, yeah
    Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round

    Get on your bikes and ride
    Ooh yeah, oh yeah, them fat bottomed girls
    Fat bottomed girls
    Yeah yeah yeah
    Alright, ride 'em, come on
    Fat bottomed girls, yes yes Writer/s: Brian Harold May
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 79

  • Cinerella from Floridait was long ago and it was far away, so much better than it is today. 'nuf said
  • Jim from PennsylvaniaSeriously, some people need to unclench and quit trying to moralize the song. Jeez. IT'S JUST A SONG!
  • Dmytro from UkraineThose smartasses that have commented about the "sexist" song. Go check out the definition of sexism before you make fools of yourselves. Get a life and stop spreading the hate, or at least keep it all on Twitter, you virtue-signaling aficionados. Apart from that, it's a great song from the times when people were actually free to express their thoughts. Do you think we'll ever return to such times?
  • Bridget from CoOne thing: Why does he appreciate women on the chunkier side? It shocks me so much, seeing as kids have made fun of chunkier kids in elementary school (and another called me fat). But this song was written in the 1970s, and we're living in the 21st century, so I guess there's a difference? I don't know.
  • Bridget from CoDon't know why, but once toward the end of history class our teacher was talking, and with a part of a reaction video where one girl commented on this song in mind, I commented, "Queen's Jazz album!" He agreed. Still don't know why I said that.
  • John from Doncaster What can you say about Freddie. Those were the days of is life. Not forgotten.
  • Dennis Jacques from Bay City, MichiganCheryl from Knoxville, life is not always black and white, and the fact is that men do not always look back on early sexual encounters as negative or abusive, even when the law and society define them that way. You're almost not allowed to point that out these days, but the 1970s were freer in certain ways.
  • Lia from Stump TownCheryl from Knoxville, Tn , It could mean his nanny was sexually inappropriate with him but it could also mean she had a boyfriend over and he peeped in on them, or she was changing, in the bathroom, bending over with a short skirt on and he saw something. Maybe he just had a baddie thicc girl for a baby sitter and that childhood crush shaped his sexual attraction to bigger back ended women. You can take from it what you want but I don't think the lyrics imply anything for sure.
  • Cheryl from Knoxville, TnWhen I was younger I would listen to this song and I have to admit that I didn't know most of the lyrics. I'm 54 now and my 21 yr old daughter just pointed out to me that the song is about a boy being molested by his nanny who had a "fat bottom". Because of that, as he aged the only sexual gratification was with "fat bottom" girls. After actually looking up the lyrics it seemed to be true. I know that Queen had some disturbing lyrics, which was one of the reasons I loved them, but this song seems to cross a line. After reading the comments, I didn't really see anyone address this issue. Is there some other meaning that I am not seeing?
  • Eric from St Paul Mn UsaLike another song about big butts (recorded in the 90s by Sir Mix-a-lot); this song still gets a LOT of airplay and requests at wedding receptions, parties, and bars. ironically, skinny girls like both songs too.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 16th 1978, Queen appeared in concert* at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
    Eleven days earlier on November 5th the group's double A-sided record, "Fat-Bottomed Girls" b/w "Bicycle Race", entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #70; a little over eight weeks later on January 7th, 1979 it would peak at #24 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 12 weeks...
    * The group raised a few eye-brows when while performing "Fat-Bottomed Girls", a row of semi-nude, over-weight women on bicycles appeared on stage.
  • Michael from Kissimmee, FlSorry to disagree with you on something trivial but 'Bicycle Race' doesn't follow 'Fat Bottomed Girls' on the Jazz album. They are separated by the song 'Jealousy.' At least on the cd....
  • Kat from Adelaide, AustraliaBrian May wrote this for Freddie. It is straight-up biographical.
    The song's true meaning is -

    "Fat bottomed" = black
    "Girls" = boys
  • Rufus from Wheeling, WvGreat Roger Taylor drum fills.
  • Rachel from London, United KingdomI love this song, played live it is fantastic
    i recommend watching the live version from Live At The Bowl and you will be blown away
  • Valentin from Beijing, Chinathe riff is really similar to Neil Young´s "World on a String"
  • Geoff from Mumbai, India1) Why do people have to talk about Freddie's sexuality in every discussion about Queen's music?
    2) Queen are the greatest rock band ever.

    Thank you for your time.
  • Orlando from Caracas, VenezuelaWhen I was a teenager, I made a cover of this song with some overdubbed guitars and a drum set borrowed from a friend. A home-made recording with a cheap cassette recorder (many years ago). Of course a very very low quality recording but I really had a lot of fun doing it! And some of my friends were impressed! :) (I remember covering some Beatles and Blue Oyster Cult during those "home recording sessions", awful sound too, lol).
  • Camille from Toronto, OhWow, all these comments and not one thought that this song is about drugs like every other rock and roll song? Ha ha ha
  • Chris from Port Hawkesbury, NsI wasn't intending to be disrespectful at all. I think Queen are an amazing band, I have pretty much ALL of their music, and I think Freddy is the best rock singer of all time (Robert Plant being #2). He DID write the song 'Bicycle Race' about guys on bikes, he wrote it in France when one of the big bicycle races went through the area he was living in. And tied it into May's 'Fat Bottomed Girls' song lyrically, maybe later in the studio. Of probably the naked women were his idea, but probably everyone else (in the band) had input. They were brilliant marketers.

    The song 'Fat Bottomed Girls' has a lovely four part harmony, doesn't it? I don't think there's any deep meaning in it, unless you want to say it means beauty is only skin deep or whatever.
  • Thomas from Somerville, AlGotta love them fat bottom girls!!!!
  • None from None , WyOh, by the way, I'm sick of hearing people complain about this being discriminating or whatever. Its a song. And I never saw Queen as people who would discriminate against women. I don't see how its sexist or whatever, anyways.
  • None from None , WyThis song always made me think of one of those disturbing, unfortunate incidents that occur more and more often, these days, when babysitters are left with small children for too long... you know, with the verse:

    I was just a skinny lad
    Never knew no good from bad
    But I knew life before I left my nursery
    Left alone with big fat Fanny
    She was such a naughty nanny
    Hip big woman you made a bad boy out of me

    Yeah...
  • Bryan from West Milton, OhMade about a young man that found his manhood when banging his nauty nanny. She must have been a fat bottomed girl...woman.
  • Dekkun from Anonymous-ville, HiWhen I took a trip to Oklahoma with my teacher and friends, this was one of the songs on the "surprise CD" some girls from the school made us. It's safe to say, it's so disgusting and so awesome at the same time. I love it!
  • Blake from Tahlequah, Okoh man luke thats a good one if I didnt live 30,000 some odd miles away I'd like to meet you......that just made my top ten list!
  • Nady from Adelaide, Australiaahaha Luke from Manchester, you made me smile;)
  • Moi-même from Paris, -I don't understand why so many people here think this song is sexist. Humorous, satirical, sarcastic, perhaps. Sexist? Hardly.
  • Tim from Houston, Txpaul rogers replacing freddie mercury.that was a stupid idea
  • David from Mayagüez, Puerto RicoRoy Thomas Baker said that the company lending the bikes for the video didn't want to take them back, but did... after changing all the bicycle seats... quoting...
  • Luke from Manchester, EnglandJust for the record: I am not homphobic or disrespectful to Freddie or anyone who's gay. I made a joke about it being Fat bottommed boys and you PC ballbags came down heavy on it - Lighten up and get a life. Freddie would have made the same joke himself. And for the record, Fred was gay, not bi, he said himself "I am as gay as a daffodil, my dear". Research, it is your friend.
  • Jackjackjackie from Melbourne, AustraliaQuite simply the best Queen song, in my opinion and so much fun to rock out to and pretend your'e Freddie who incidently, is the the greatest front man of all time (in my opinion) BTW Who cares about sexism and sexuality anyway? Go and listen to Celine Dion you precious things!
  • Michael from Perth, AustraliaI am surprised to read about the sexist angle in this forum about a song that is pure rock, so what - its all about your interpretation and what it means to you. For me, when I listen to queen and immerse myself into the music, I don't feel like I am gay or bisexual or anything like that. I feel like I could picture anyone I wanted and I think that is why they are so popular over such a broad spectrum of people out there - their songs didn't generalise nor did they pidgeonhole. All of their songs (as far as I can tell) where unisex in their delivery. Except Fat Bottomed Girls, which celebrates how girls that are not consumed with their appearances are down to earth. And its great to sing along to.
  • Tanya from Dayton, OhIt's a shame how Freddie's sexuallity keeps on getting dragged into this. Brian May wrote the song. And I don't believe there's anything sexist about it.
    When I listened to Queen, I never, ever thought- omg, Freddie Mercury is gay. It never mattered- he was a GENIUS (in my opinion).
    My parents hated Queen, cause I'd blast their music when I was home. When I finally, FINALLY had two tickets to a concert, my mother was going to take me, but that evening, she pawned the duty off on my father. He was pi**ed off to say the least. Halfway there, I noticed my father had gone the wrong way on purpose to avoid having to go, but I noticed and we attended that concert. When we left, my Dad was all smiles and was in total awe for their live performance.
  • Ched - from La Union, Philippinesi love freddie's and paul rodger's versions of this song... cheers!
  • Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesWomen should not be discriminated according to size... by looks ... or discriminated period!! If you're judging someone by looks, shame on you!! Women should be judged as equals, whether white or black, large or tiny, etc. People come in all various shapes, colors, and sizes and were all created to be attractive. Opinions of different people's looks will vary, but people shall be judged according to the inner selves, not the outward shells.
  • Elian from Washington, DcOne thing i remember about the poster from Jazz is that it featured a famous "Page 3" girl that i really liked. Does anyone know who she is? She is brunette and had a little tan in her colour. Oh and a beautiful bottom :) What was her name??
    Cheers!
  • Matthew from Milford, Ma...Sick, sick, sick... Thankfully, Queen's released plenty of more tasteful songs. This isn't a pattern, so I can let it slide.
  • Sue from Salem, NjIf anybody lives in the Philadelphia area, and listens to Magic 102.9 you will hear this song played alot...It's a great song...great lyrics and music...
    Sue, Quinton, New Jersey
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, Canada"Big fat Fanny" in British slang is not bottom -- it's an afectionate term for the vagina as a sexual(not simply anatomical) object. . .

    It's analagous to "p*ssy" in North America usage.
  • Stefano from Rome, ItalyI love this song for sentimental reasons. In fact, it was the first Queen song I heard on a radio in March 1979. I was only ten. Since then, Queen are among my favourite groups.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaThis song was used in Super Size Me. I also love how this song is described in songfacts: "about a young man who comes to appreciate women of substantial girth". Such a formal response to a silly song. Excellent.
  • Dl Mcguire from Ponder, TxMy understanding of forums are not a place to decide if a song is offensive (sexist) or not... but merely a place to discuss its attributes and effects. Having said that, it has been re-done by Kevin Fowler. His [country] version somehow seems funnier than "offensive" (to me).
  • Leo from Mountain Top, PaMost young children and teens are raise by matronly women who are conmmonly seen as the nasty rule makers, setting limits and boundaries. It is are these women who create the plight of the rebelious spirit of the "rock & rollers" as one comes of age. Though despised, if it was not for these voluptuous women, many would not have not only lose something to rebel against but something to spite. An ambivelient ode to the typical voluptous authority wielding women and its positive and negative affects on him through his young adulthood.
  • Kurdt from Chicago, IlI love "fat bottomed girls". It is not sexist, sexist is believing one sex is inferior to your own sex, or lesser in some unnatural way.

    This song is a trbute to women with natural curves, most likely "black" women as black women generally have more curvey (and in my opinion attractive) bodies. Hence his downing of "blue eyed beauties".
    Great song, as most Queen tracks are, and most def. a great tribute to the most beautiful women in the world- thick, NOT FAT, curvey women. They are not FAT, they are thick. Not the typical westernized/american/european/"white" man standards set for beauty and presented in a clearly facist way.

    I am "white", but prefer darker skin, and have a hard time settling for any flesh wrapped too tight around bones. I need a big booty chick!
  • 2morrow from Denver, CoThis song is just great! 'Get on your bikes and ride!..' :)
  • Jonathon from Clermont, FlHey, Mercury's BISEXUALITY isn't an issue here. Brian May wrote this. Arguing won't do you any good, and it's dumb. Also, Plant is a great vocalist, but he had a different style and voice type than Freddy, who has greater clarity and vocal range. Mercury would have sounded funny singing a lot of Led Zeppelin songs. They were also one of his favorite bands.
  • Harlin from Atlanta, GaSexism can be a good thing.
  • Winston from Potomac, MdSexist things objectify women - so the song is indeed sexist, because the women are characterized by their bottoms.

    But the sexism isn't all bad - after all, an all-woman group (Antigone Rising) covered this song for the Queen Tribute album. They can dig it.
  • Voodoocat from Zimbabwe, United StatesLol, this isn't a sexist song. It's explaining that large girls are just as sexy (if not sexier)!!
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Canow my friends are addicted to this song because of ME. i'm doing good work. too bad they're not advanced enough for led zeppelin or pink floyd or even most of queen.
  • Bonnie from Washington, DcI love this song and there ain't nothing sexist about it! Now, if it had been a rant about how fat-bottomed girls are unattractive compared to super thin fashion models or other stereotypes of "beauty," that would be sexist.
  • Keiko Estep from Phoenix, Azmy favorite song is dont stop me now by queen
    its my favorite song because freddie mercury sang it and im a huge fan of you guys
  • Ben from Nyc, MsDoes It Really matter what Mr. Mercuries sexual choices were?? He is up there with Robert Plant As a Singer and Should Be RESPECTED!!!!
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Calol yeah bryan that may not have been the smartest thing to do.
  • Bryan from Melbourne, FlI once used the line "Are you gonna take me home tonight? oh, down beside that red firelight! You gonna let it all hang out...You make the rockin' world go round"...My cheek hasn't recovered yet...OUCH! Anyways...excellent song.
  • Freddie from Orlando, Fl"I'll go to bed with anything."
    -Freddie Mercury
  • Jameson from Lexington, Ky(laugh) Brian, of course, wrote the song; if it has "loud, fat" guitar parts in it, to use Brian's own words, he's likely to have written it. But even if Freddie had written this, I think the whole issue of "boys" versus "girls" is moot. It's not just that Freddie was gay or bi; Freddie just didn't care. If it was pretty, he'd go there.
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Cathis song is so good. okay its sexist but it never fails to totally crack me up! great song.
  • Alicia from Tamaqua, PaOh and this song ties into the song Bicycle Race...... That is the video with the naked ladies riding bikes. I thought I'd say that since everyone is talking about the scenes with the little nudists riding bikes...lol. Fat Bottomed Girls doesn't have the girls on bikes. Its just Freddie and the band on stage singing this song........ :-)
  • Alicia from Tamaqua, PaNow to get this straight, Freddie did not write this song at all. It was Brian May who concocted this masterpiece. I think it as disrespectful to think of Freddie like that..."fat bottomed boys?" Seriously people! It was indeed Freddie's Idea to have the women naked on the bikes..lol... This song was refered to "GROUPIES" not necessarily actual "fat bottomed girls" I have the Queen Greatest Video Hits 1 and 2. The video for this song is featured on it and its FUNNY to watch! I love this song, it has such a wonderful beat to it!
  • Peter from Carmel, InI love that pause in between the first chorus and the rest of the song. It makes you think that the song is over. But it's not! Haha... I do think it's kind of weird how Queen would write about chicks with junk in the trunk when the band is in fact . Great song none the less. You really don't hear it that often.
  • Zola from Dublin, OhOne of the songs ive learned to live my life by
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI don't know if the song is sexist or not, but I like it and think it's fun if you want to rock out or have a party. Actually, I think the song's pretty funny, come to think of it.
  • Dee from Indianapolis, InWhat a fun Queen song. These guys are one of a kind, and this song goes to show you the creative abilities they possesed. This is one of those sing along songs.
  • Freddie from Orlando, FlIts surpising to hear that everyone thinks Fatbottomedgirls was Freddies! No-- This one belonged to our Mr. Brian May, who said he wrote the song as a silly idea-- mostly "to make a noise with the drums and guitar" he also mentioned the "dark strings" woven into the song, "as with most songs". He may have been referring to what very much sounds like being molested-- "i was just a skinny lad, never knew no good from bad, but I knew life before I left my nursery, left alone with big fat fatty, she was such a naughty nanny! You big woman-- You made a bad boy outtta me." He aslo said that the girls he was talking about in the song didnt neccicarily have to have big bottoms, but the idea was of the girls on the road when touring and so forth. Overall, its suppose to be a fun song to rock along to.
  • Liz from Someplace, CtFreddie was bi-sexual! And not all gay/ bi guys want to see random naked people on bikes . . .
  • Kevin from Danbury, CtAnother immature comment, Freddie never wanted to have GUYS riding on bikes. If anything the nakded women were his idea.
  • Chris from Port Hawkesbury, CanadaFreddie wrote Bicycle Race, from his point of view it would have been about GUYS on bikes, but the poster in the album was obviously going to be WOMEN on bikes. They knew that would cause enough controversy as it was, and controversy was what they were trying to 'manage', what with starting to be past their prime and all. It worked! A rather dull album that everyone bought just to get the poster. Bryan May wrote the more lyrically controversial 'Fat Bottomed Girls', I always thought it was kind of comical, and not to be taken seriously. On musical terms, both songs are acceptable, I guess, but the rest of the album is much below what Queen were capable of.
  • Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaIn the actual album playlist, "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race" are not next to each other. They are separated by "Jealousy".
  • Kevin from Bridgeport, CtAnd the song is anything but sexist. Its a very humorous song...and live Freddie would say its for all the beautiful women in the audience...and he finds all women beautiful.
  • Kevin from Bridgeport, CtThat was an immature comment. Freddie Mercury was bisexual. I heard that Brian wrote the song after meeting a few groupies he had fun with...don't know if its true though.
  • Shana from Pembroke, Canada"Left alone with big fat fanny, she was such a naughty nannie" this slightly disturbed me lol, but its still a good song. People say that Baby Got Back was the first tribute to bigger ladies but Queen really did a Big-Lady-Appreciation song b4 hand
  • Luke from Manchester, EnglandYeah, Brian May wrote this... Freddie couldn't have - It would have been called Fat Bottomed Boys if he did
  • Will from Portland, OrFreddie didn't write this song, did he? It must have been Brian
  • Glenn from Mildenhall, EnglandThey're just saying that Big girls need loving, too. "I've been singing with my band across the wire across the land, I've seen every blue eyed floozy on the way, but their beauty and their style went kind of smooth after a while, take me to them dirty ladies every time"
  • Ira from Milford, CtI must agree with Ken, the "fat bottomed girls" were not written about literally, but as the crazed fans who hung on celebs. Had they only realized the name 'Queen' was not a tribute to Her Majesty.....
    Bbrother
  • Ken from Yorkton, CanadaI have had it known that Brian wrote this song in "Tribute" of all of the groupies that would do "anything" to meet them.
  • Tom from Trowbridge, EnglandThis is probably the most sexist song ever written but its still a classic rock song! I think the sexism is meant as a tool of humour and it works!
see more comments

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