You Take My Breath Away by Queen

Album: A Day At The Races (1976)

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Songfacts®:

This piano ballad was written by Freddie Mercury and is based on the Japanese pentatonic scale. According to Brian May, Japan was a big influence on Queen, as we can hear through songs like "Teo Torriatte" from the same album. >>
Suggestion credit:
Gian Maria - Udine, Italy
Freddie Mercury never said who inspired this love song, but there are two likely suspects:

1) His lover David Minns, who he started dating in 1975, around the time he wrote this song.

2) His lover Mary Austin, whom he lived with for six years (1970-1976) and remained friends with until his death. Upon his death in 1991, Mercury left Austin his house in London.
Freddie Mercury said in an interview on Capital Radio: "This one I did myself, I multi tracked myself. So the others weren't used on this for the voices. I played piano and basically, I don't know how we managed to stay this simple you know, with all our over dubs and things. People seem to think that we're over-complexed, and it's not true. It depends on the individual track really, if it needs it - we do it. So this is pretty sparse actually by Queen and our standards."

Comments: 19

Jeanius from Sarasota FloridaSo lovely I cried
Old Fashioned Lover BoyThis song is for Freddie's boyfriend David Minns, not Mary. Neither Freddie or Mary mentioned about any song written for Mary, including Love Of My Life. It is huge myth, Freddie himself said I made up Love Of My Life, it has nothing to do with my life. And Mary also didn't say anything about the song. But David Minns mentioned 3 songs that were written for him; You Take My Breath Away, Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy from '76 album after Freddie came out as gay and opened up about his relationship with David, and also Don't Try Suicide after David's suicide attempt.
Feisty from CaliforniaIn a 1985 interview, Mercury said, "All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary, but it's simply impossible. I couldn't fall in love with a man the same way I did with Mary."
Chloe Anderson from OntarioPeople might’ve thought this song was about Mary Austin and how Freddie still loved her even after they broke up. They might be wrong. This song could possibly be about Freddie Mercury having feelings for a man named David Minns. It could be a song about Freddie being gay and loving men. Being gay is his choice and it’s okay to be gay.
Chloe Anderson from GuelphFreddie Mercury is so beautiful, that he takes my breath away.
Lynda from MichiganRita is 100% correct.. Freddie wrote it for David Minns
Jan from London Usual Mercury drivel, hard to believe a grown man could write such sentimental, childish lyrics.
Cindy from California If you read the Song of Solomon from the Old Testament, you will find similarities in Freddie’s lyrics for this song...as well as in its tone. He used many references to God, Christ, and the Bible in general in much of his music. This is an amazing piece.
Marie from New JerseyWOW!! This song stopped me dead in my tracks! the pureness, the smooth silkiness of his voice and the song gives me goosebumps! you hear it the first time and are like oh that's a beautiful song but then when you really listen to it - every note, every inflection in his voice - it's just downright unbelievable!!
Marie from New JerseyTotally obsessed with this song since I first heard it last week. The depth, passion and purity of Freddie’s voice is so captivating!!
The live version is on a totally different level!! When he sings "you take my breath away" at 1:53 i am breathless myself and then "so please don't go, don't leave me all by myself" at 2:02 i am just floored!!
Jennie from Aberystwyth, United KingdomAlicia I agree with you entirely ... one of my very, very favourite Queen songs, and for me, Freddie is certainly singing it for me! R.I.P precious angel. xx
Valentin from Beijing, Chinamy least favorite Queen song. any time I listen to A Day At The Races I can't help skippin it :(
Andy from Glen Burnie, MdI offer this as evidence that Freddie Mercury was a vocal genius...and of course every genius has a madman inside him, but still...
Rita from Adelaide, AustraliaIt was actually about David Minns, his first serious male partner. Freddie stopped living with Mary to pursue the relationship with David just after Bo-Rhap
Adam from Boyce, VaVery haunting ballad and very very Freddie. This song is even more intense when they performed it live.
Joe from , MoOne of my faves! I love it to even though the outro gives me the creeps. LOL
Jonathon from Clermont, FlThis is among my favorite Queen songs. I could probably play this all day and never get tired of it.
Amy from Dallas, TxI agree Alicia
Alicia from Tamaqua, PaDescribing this song simply resides in the title... It takes my breath away! Such a smooth romantic song that always grabs you by the heart. It makes you wish that Freddie was singing it to you. Though It seems almost as if he really is. It truely is a beautiful song.

Freddie, You take my breath away!!

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