Queen - The March of The Black Queen - First Listen/Reaction 

One of my top 3 Queen songs. Queen II is my favourite album of theirs, massively underrated imo. I've met a few self proclaimed Queen fans who, when I've asked what they think of that album, they don't even know it 😬 it seems like for some people, Queen started at A Night at the Opera and they never bothered looking at their first three albums. Which is such a shame. Queen I, Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack are all in my top 5.

Oh dude. You have to do some Queen 2. I strongly recommend White Queen but it 100% has to be the live at Hammersmith Odeon.

Queen will be played for time forever.

I think you would enjoy Father to Son and Liar. Thanks for another great reaction. ❤

I have been a Queen fan since 1974 and this hidden gem slipped by me too! I've been singing and humming this song for literally weeks now, I'd say it's stuck in my head. Check out both versions of " In the Lap of the Gods " it's another gem..

Freddie never explained his songs which I like !! He wanted people to decide for themselves what they meant. He wrote it before he wrote Bohemian Rhapsody . He was so young to have the imagination he had and his way of putting these ideas into songs. I always felt March of the Black Queen was related to his boarding school experiences when he was a child…. but maybe not 😂😂😂

No matter what, it is quite genius don't you think?

One of my favorites. To this day, they say it's "too heavy for the radio". Which is bizarre to me with what they play now.

I LOVE this song! It sort of has a Sgt Pepper's feel to it. Thank you.

Thanks for this reaction! I love this album. Side White is grounded in the real world written mostly by Brian, but also by Roger. Side Black is all Freddie and it's based on fantasy. Still amazes me that Freddie had all this going on in his creative mind at such a young age. Love both sides, each member is crazy talented, but I probably listen to the Dark side more often, especially the first four songs. I'd love to see a reaction to Bijou or One Year of Love - two of my favorite lesser know tracks.

It is said that "The March of the Black Queen" was "Bohemian Rhapsody" before ""Bohemian Rhapsody". Freddie wrote this song and just like, "Bohemian Rhapsody", it is full of metaphors. Freddie never explained what he was thinking or the meaning of the lyrics. A friend of mine believes the meaning of "The March of the Black Queen" was influenced by Freddie's early childhood in Zanzibar and the stories of the slave ships he heard while playing on the wharves. Here is his interpretation: This song is about a young man on a slave-trading ship. The Black Queen is the British Empire and the "black" slave trade. This young man is torn about his loyalty to the crown (as he's been raised) and what he is experiencing on the ship: Do you mean it Do you mean it Do you mean it Why don't you mean it Why do I follow you And where do you go The young man is seeing exotic lands and he finds them heavenly but he's struggling with the reality of what he sees and his loyalty to the crown. You've never seen nothing Like it no never in your life Like going up to heaven And then coming back alive Let me tell you all about it (And the world will so allow it) Oooh give me a little time to choose The next verse is a reference to a British children's book that was extremely racist. Blue Powder Monkeys are the young boys on naval ships who brought up gunpowder to the cannons: Water babies singing In a lily-pool delight Blue powder monkeys Praying in the dead of night The verse below is about where the powder monkeys go if they don't follow orders. "Sugar Ni**ers" was a term used for slaves who were shipped to the Caribbean to work the sugar plantations, some who were groomed to be in charge of crew's needs (baby oil reference). The boy realizes his food and shelter are provided by the Crown, the slaves are traded to provide luxury for the elite, "all that noise" refers to making trouble or keeping quiet and having a full belly: Put them in the cellar with the naughty boys Little ni**er sugar then a rub-a-dub-a-baby oil Black on black on every fingernail and toe We've only begun - begun Make this make that keep making all that noise Ooh march to the Black Queen Now I've got a belly full... This next verse is about the young man remembering what he was taught by his parents/religion, good thoughts, good works, and good deeds. Being a good person without expecting a reward. Notice he says "In each and every soul lies a man", meaning we are born good and equal and only allow ourselves to be corrupted by our quest for material things but he'll convince himself that he's still good. A voice from behind me reminds me Spread out your wings, you are an angel Remember to deliver with the speed of light (A little bit of love and joy) Everything you do bears a will And a why and a wherefore (A little bit of love and joy) In each and every soul Lies a man and very soon He'll deceive and discover But even till the end of his life He'll bring a little love The next verse is about the Empire (Queen). The crown at home is holy, good, and great (reign with my left hand) while it conquers and pillages the Indies (rule with my right). The young man realizes the power and that he'll never win, so he gives up, accepts that the Crown will rule, and decides he'll take the good and ignore the bad. I reign with my left hand I rule with my right I'm lord of all darkness I'm Queen of the night I've got the power Now do the march of the black Queen My life is in your hands, I'll fo and I'll fie I'll be what you make me I'll do what you like I'll be a bad boy, I'll be your bad boy I'll do the march of the Black Queen Ah, ah, ah, ah The verse below is about the marking of the territory, declaring it part of the British Empire (tattoos all her pies). There is a childhood nursery rhyme about baking pies for the King that was beautiful on the outside but full of blackbirds on the inside, a "dainty dish to serve the King". "Never dots her "I's" refers to ignoring the details of what is happening to the people of the conquered empire: Walking true to style She's vulgar, 'buse, and vile Fie-fo the Black Queen tattoos all her pies She boils and she bakes And she never dots her i's (She's our leader) This last verse is telling you to forget the tales you've been told about how wonderful it was, the Black Queen ruled over the blacks and used them to bring you wealth and luxury. Forget your sing a-longs and your lullabies Surrender to the city of the fireflies Dance to the devil in beat with the band To hell with all of you hand in hand But now it's time to be gone Anyway, this is one interpretation...

There was some snippets of this song discussed through the years indicating it could have been about a queen and slave trader and collaborator of the Portuguese invaders Fatuma binti Yusuf al-Alawi ie the Queen of Unguja - who ruled over the country where Freddie was born . In true Freddie fashion it was probably also tied to a controlling relationship he may have been in at the time

And people think Bohemian Rhapsody was a first. This makes Boh Rhap sound like a cakewalk. Don’t get me wrong, EVERY SONG on Night at the Opera was EXTREMELY GREAT. This just got missed and truly great!

You should react to some live early Queen

Love this song. Thanks for the reaction

My favorite Queen Lp hands down.

Wow 🥰 beautiful sweet Freddie ❤️ another wonderful reaction Tod 😍 thanks liked subscribed 😁 please react to seaside rendezvous 🤩

I love queen

You should do a reaction to their full debut album!

Another track from Queen ll you may find interesting is 'The Fairy Fellers Masterstroke'. This was written by Freddie and is a description of the painting of the same name by Victorian artist Richard Dadd.

Time to react to the complete Queen II album. ;)

the edited version

The March of The Black Queenは日本限定発売のベストアルバムにもファンの投票で選ばれて収録されました。 独創的な所が大好きです！

Goes right into funny how love is

Love it!!❤❤❤

I think this song is about the slave trade. The Black Queen, is in reference to her being heartless.

I feel the song is about dark places humans can be drawn into, good vs evil. The Black Queen represents the one who tries to lead people in the wrong direction. The voice reminded him he is an angel, and spread love and joy.

This is also the song that as they kept adding harmonies to the tape it became almost see through

You want a new band ? what about Hawkwind try the live album '73 live at brixton and liverpool sundown one of the best live albums you will ever hear

The song Innuendo from Queen