The Prophet's Song

Album: A Night At The Opera (1975)
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  • Oh-oh, people of the earth
    "Listen to the warning"
    The Seer, he said
    Beware the storm that gathers here
    Listen to the wise man

    I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair
    Spreading his hands on the multitude there
    A man who cried for a love gone stale
    And ice cold hearts of charity bare
    I watched as fear took the old man's gaze
    Hopes of the young in troubled graves
    I see no day, I heard him say
    So grey is the face of every mortal

    Oh-oh, people of the earth
    "Listen to the warning"
    The prophet, he said
    For soon, the cold of night will fall
    Summoned by your own hand

    Oh-oh, children of the land
    Quicken to the new life
    Take my hand
    Ooh, fly and find the new green bough
    Return like the white dove

    He told of death as a bone white haze
    Taking the lost and the unloved babe
    Late, too late, all the wretches run
    These kings of beasts now counting their days
    From mother's love is the son estranged
    Married his own, his precious gain
    The earth will shake, in two, will break
    And death all around will be your dowry

    Oh-oh, people of the earth
    "Listen to the warning," the seer, he said
    For those who hear and mark my words
    Listen to the good plan

    Ah-ah-ah-ah
    And two by two, my human zoo
    They'll be
    Running for to come
    Running for to come
    Out of the rain

    Oh, flee for your life
    Who heed me not, let all your treasure make you
    Oh, fear for your life
    Deceive you not, the fires of hell will take you
    Should death await you

    Oh-oh, people can you hear me (Oh-oh, people can you hear me)
    (Oh-oh, people can you hear me)

    And now I know (and now I know, and now I know)
    I know, I know that you can hear me (and now I know that you can hear me)

    And now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know
    Now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know
    Now I know (now I know, now I know)
    The Earth will shake, in two will break (the Earth will shake, in two will break)
    The Earth will shake, in two will break (the Earth will shake, in two will break)
    Doubts all around, around, around, around, around, around, around, around
    (Doubts all around, around, around, around, around, around, around, around)
    (Doubts all around, around, around, around, around, around, around, around)
    Now I know (now I know, now I know)
    Now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know
    Now I know, now I know, now I know, now I know
    Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa (whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
    Listen to the wise, listen to the wise, listen to the wise
    Listen to the wise, listen to the wise man
    (Listen to the wise man, listen to the wise man)

    La-la, la-la-la-la, la-la (la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la)
    La-la, la-la-la-la, la-la (la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la)
    La-la, la-la-la-la, la-la (la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la)
    La-la, la-la-la-la, la-la (la-la, la-la-la-la, la-la)
    La-la, la-la

    Come here (la-la, come here)
    I, you come here (I, you come here)
    I, you come here (I, you come here)
    I, you (ah)
    Ah, ah, ah, ah

    Listen to the mad (listen to the mad)
    Listen to the man (listen to the man)
    Listen to the mad man (listen to the mad man)

    God give you the grace to purge this place
    And peace all around may be your fortune

    Oh-oh, children of the land
    Love is still the answer, take my hand
    The vision fades, a voice I hear
    Listen to the madman

    Ooh, but still I fear and still I dare not
    Laugh at the madman Writer/s: Brian Harold May
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

  • Dirk Fennell from PennsylvaniaI believe this song was as good as Bohemian Rhapsody. It should have been released as a single. One of the best songs ever written, and nobody ever heard of it.
  • HankIt is the longest track (beside track 13 on Made in Heaven), then you have Innuendo, and then March of the Black Queen i think. It's late, Liar and Father to Son follow. Teo Torriatte and then Bohemian Rhapsody.
  • Karen from UsaThis is great to listen to with a good set of stereo headphones. At one point, it's like the sound is traveling right through your head. That's why it's always been a great favorite. I don't mind the la la la part. ;-)
  • Cynthia from Monroeville, PaHeadphones are a must!
  • Melissa from Spokane, WaDoes anyone else think that "The Prophet's Song" is about Noah and the Ark? Mainly because of one of the lines below:

    "Oh oh oh oh and two by two my human zoo
    They'll be running for to come
    Running for to come out of the rain"
  • None from None , WyThe part in the middle with "la las" and the "death all around" and, in particular, "and now I know" used to drive my dad down right nuts. He hated that part.
  • None from None , WyHaha, again, I love Queen to death but when the "la la, la la la la la la, la la la la la la" part came on when I first heard this song I couldn't help from laughing and just thinking "Oh, wow. That is so Freddie." I know Freddie didn't write the song, that's just the first thing that came to my mind.
  • Ryan from Eaton, InThe only studio track longer than this is "Track 13" at the end of 'Made In Heaven'.

    The effect of the guitar coming back in prior to the final "God give you grace" line was achieved by recording the line to tape, then mixing the tape into the final master- the pitch shifting up toward the final solo line is the affect of the tape reel ramping up to full speed from a dead stop.
  • Craig from Henderson, NvThis song inspires me. The vocals and the harmony, wow. Queen makes many different/percussive sounds which makes them one of the greatest bands ever. this songs makes me scream, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
  • Matt from Dundee, ScotlandI find it interesting how this song could be taken as a forecast of cataclysmic climate change by Brian May. Almost as if he had a Nostradamus-type vision of things to come.
    If it wasn't for the dated rhythm guitar sound this song would be one of the best examples of queen's work IMHO. An epic song.
    PS stop being obsessed with how long things are! :-)
  • Anna from Ann Arbor, MiThis song is just phenomenal.
    It seriously, just....wow.
    And yes, it's for sure their longest song,
    it's (I believe, I'm not gonna check) 8:50 min,
    and then like Innuendo and It's Late are about 7?
    Maybe?
  • Josh from TorontoHmm I think there's another one thats longer...but anyways...WOW...Queen is like the best band ever, and this song just blows my mind away, I just wish more people knew about it.
  • Chris from Mainz, GermanyBrian played a Toy Koto (Traditional Japanese Instrument) with the beginning of this Song!
  • Andrew from Honolulu, HiGreat Song! Brian tuned his guitar down to play the base chords. Very cool sound.
  • Catherine from Wooster, OhAn absolute masterpiece from Brian!
  • Jonathon from Clermont, FlYes, it is the longest Queen song, I think. I'm not going to bother checking. "It's Late" and "Innuendo" are also pretty long. I like the lyrics for this song.
  • Ash from Charleston, WvI consider this Queen's very own "Dies Irae" (meaning "Day of Anger" or "Day of Wrath," it is the movement often included in classical death requiems that describes Judgment Day).
  • Rick from Humboldt, Iais it the longest queen song?
  • Bryan from Melbourne, FlThe vocal canon was amazing!
see more comments

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