Live songs not on albums

This page covers songs performed live that are not available on official records. It will cover Queen songs they performed live but never recorded (though there is only one of them - with maybe a Cross one as well) and other people's songs they performed live. Lyrics have usually been pinched from other bands' home pages and so refer to the original version rather than Queen's version.
 
 
Hangman

Tavaszi Szel (Traditional Hungarian Song)
El Noi De La Mare
Jailhouse Rock
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
Big Spender
Stupid Cupid
Be Bop A Lula
Imagine
I'm A Man
Mannish Boy
Shake Rattle and Roll
Bama Lama Bama Loo
Not Fade Away
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Lucille
Immigrant Song
 
 

Hangman

(Words and music by unknown)
Performed by Queen in the very early days - up to 1973 and occasionally in 1975/6. Originally a Wreckage song, it is possible that Queen did record a studio version of it although it is usually denied.
Here are three transcriptions, all quite different. No-one really knows the words and it seems even Freddie often improvised them. There are no guarantees that these are even vaguely right - the only available bootlegs featuring this song are of poor quality. I hope one day we will get to hear a proper version of the song (though whether a release quality live recording or the rumoured studio recording........)

(version 1)
I know all about you
They call you Mr. T
You are a barber's son
You cut the rope through me (?)
You lose, you use (...)
Oh, oh, I tell you
Have you made any more pork pies for me?
Hangman, says you make a very nice cup of tea

Hangman, hangman, waiting for me
Hang that rope from the highest tree
I don't want to beg for mercy
Hangman, hangman, hangman, I tell you

I know all about you
They call you, they call you Mr. C
You did a very good job
You'll go down, you'll go down, you'll go down in history
Baby, baby, I'm telling you
Have you made any more pies for me?
Hangman, say they very nice, they very nice to me

Hey! Why do you keep calling, why do you keep calling,
Why do you keep calling me? Oh!
You'll go down, you'll go down,
You'll go down and down in history
Baby, baby, I'm telling you
You say you're afraid of dying
You say. You're just.
I gotta be there, you know, yeah.
Now you say you're tired of living
Hangman says he gonna let you go
Now you say you're afraid of dying
Hangman, he says he wanna let you go
Hangman, hang me... Hangman, hang me...
Oh, gonna watch me die, oh.. Oh, gonna watch me die, oh..
Going to.. Going to... Going to.. Going to...
Gonna see me. See me die...
You wanna come and watch me die!
Hey, Ooh yeah!
Gonna come and watch me die on a Saturday morning...
Gonna come and watch me die on a Saturday morning...
Please don't let me go... Please don't let me go...
Yeah, I'm not afraid...
Gonna come and watch me die on a Saturday morning...
Please don't let me go...
Please don't let me go, yeah!
1 2 3 4!
Yeah, (...)
Gonna watch me die, you can come along.
Yeah, yeah, yeah... Oh!

(version 2)
I know all about you
They call you Mr. T
You are a barber's son
Hangman make a very nice cup of tea
You lose, you use
You used to cut the rope through me (?)
Yeah, yeah, baby, I'm telling
Have you made a poor pie for me?
Hangman say very nice to eat.

Hangman, hangman, waiting for me
Hang that rope from the highest tree
I don't want to beg for mercy
Hangman, hangman, hangman, I tell you

I know all about you
They call you Mr. C
You did a very good job, a very good job, a very good job
Talk about paper
I agree, you'll go down in history
Baby, baby, you're telling me.
Now you say you're tired of living
Hangman says ... just a, just a little
Just a little bit afraid of dying (Mr. T)

Hey, hey I see you, I see you calling,
I see you calling me from the distance
Oh, you'll go down, you'll go down in history
Baby, baby, you're telling me.
Have you made any more poor pies for me (?)
Hangman say they very nice, very nice to eat
Now you say you're afraid of dying
Hangman say he wanna let you go
Now you say you're tired of living
Hangman said he's gonna let you go!
Gonna hang me, Gonna hang me
Oh, Right away! Come on, hangman, hangman. Ooh, oh!
You wanna come and watch me die!
Come on baby
You're gonna see me die, oh yeah
Saturday morning, Saturday morning.
Gonna come and watch me die
Yeah, yeah, all right
Ooh yeah, oh, ooh
Won't you take me home? Won't you take me home?
1 2 3 4!
Gotta (?) before me...
Everybody wants me to die
You can come along, you can come along. Everybody! Yeah!
[Yeah, that was Hangman]

(version 3)
I never want to doubt you
They call you Mister C
You are the Bible's son
You did have a very good time
More than anyone I ever meet
You lose, you lose, you go down in history
Hangman you gonna pull my soul
Yeh, they say "get up, get up, very nice to meet you"

Hangman, hangman, they live for me
Hang that rope from the highest tree
I don't want to be formal see
Hangman, hangman, hang me from the highest tree

I never want to doubt you
They call you Mister C
You did have a very good time
More than anyone I ever meet
You go down, you go down, you go down in history
You say you're tired of livin'
Yeh, then you say that you're afraid of dyin', yes you are

Hangman, hangman, they live for me
Hang that rope from the highest tree
I don't want to be formal see
Hangman, hangman, hang me from the highest tree

Hangman why do you keep on callin' me
You go down, you go down, you go down in history
Hangman say you're tired of livin'
Hangman say you're just, you're just afraid of dyin'
Hangman say he gonna let you go
Now you say you're afraid of dyin'
Hangman say that he won't let you go
Hangman, hangman, hangman
I'm alive, I'm alive

Oh, yeh
I see you calling
I see you calling me nice
Yeh pray for me
You go down, you go down, you go down in history
Baby, baby I'm sayin'
Hangman you want compassion

Hangman say "it's very nice, very nice to meet you".
 
 

Tavaszi Szel

( Hungarian folksong )
Tavaszi Szel vizet araszt
Viragom, viragom
Minden madar tarsat valaszt
Viragom, viragom
Hat en immar kit valasszak
Viragom, viragom
Te engemet, en tegedet
Viragom, viragom.
 
 

El Noi De La Mare

(Traditional Catalan popular song)
Performed by Queen at Monumental Plaza De Toros, Barcelona, Catalonia on 1st August 1986.
 
 

Jailhouse Rock

Originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1958.
(Words and music by Mike Stoller)
Performed by Queen occasionally from 1974 to 1984/5. The recording from the 1975 Hammersmith Odeon Christmas Show (24/12/75) is the most famous. There are also bootlegs of this song from the 1977 Day At The Races Tour, the 1982 Japanese Tour and the 1984/85 Works Tour. This is obviously a favourite of Freddie's as there is a bootleg of Ibex doing this song in 1969 and reliable reports of a Queen studio version lurking in the vaults somewhere.
The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing.
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block was a dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone,
Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone.
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang,
the whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang.
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block was a dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
Number forty-seven said to number three:
"You're the cutest jailbird I ever did see.
I sure would be delighted with your company,
come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block was a dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
way over in the corner weepin' all alone.
The warden said, "Hey, buddy, don't you be no square.
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block was a dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
Shifty Henry said to Bugs, "For Heaven's sake,
No-one's lookin', now's our chance to make a break."
Bugsy turned to Shifty and he said, "Nix nix,
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks."
Let's rock, everybody, let's rock.

Everybody in the whole cell block was a dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock.
 
 

Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

Originally recorded by Elton John on the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album.
(Music by Elton John, words by Bernie Taupin)
A song Queen often performed when they played a concert on a Saturday. They were doing it as early as 1977 (e.g. the "Duck Soup" bootleg from Seattle) and continued doing it (several bootlegs from 1982) right up until the Magic Tour in 1986.
It's getting late have you seen my mates
Ma tell me when the boys get here
It's seven o'clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer
My old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady she don't care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
Don't give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night's alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Gonna set this dance alight
`Cause Saturday night's the night I like
Saturday night's alright alright alright
Well they're packed pretty tight in here tonight
I'm looking for a dolly who'll see me right
I may use a little muscle to get what I need
I may sink a little drink and shout out "She's with me!"
A couple of the sound that I really like
Are the sounds of a switchblade and a motorbike
I'm a juvenile product of the working class

whose best friend floats in the bottom of a glass.
 
 

Big Spender

Originally recorded by Shirley Bassey in 1967.
(Words and music by Coleman and Fields)
Performed by Queen at several shows, notably the 12/7/86 Wembley Stadium show (also available on the 1977 "Duck Soup" bootleg from Seattle). It was also performed by Brian in Halle (East Germany) on 24/11/93.
The minute you walked in the joint
I could see you were a man of distinction
A real big spender
Good looking, so refined
Say wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind
So let me get right to the point
I don't pop my cork for every gal I see
Hey big spender

Spend a little time with me.
 
 

Stupid Cupid

Originally recorded by Connie Francis in 1958.
(Words and Music by Neil Sedaka and Howie Greenfield).
Performed by Queen on the 1977 Day At The Races Tour.
Stupid Cupid you’re a real mean guy
I’d like to clip your wings so you can’t fly
I’m in love and it’s a cryin’ shame
And I know that you’re the one to blame
Hey, hey set me free, Stupid Cupid stop pickin’ on me

I can’t do my homework and I can’t see straight
I get up every mornin’ ‘bout a’half past eight
I’m actin’ like a lovesick fool
You’ve even got me carryin’ his books to school
Hey, hey set me free, Stupid Cupid stop pickin’ on me

You mixed me up but good right from the very start
Hey, go play Robin Hood with somebody else’s he-a-a-art

You’ve got me jumpin’ like a crazy clown
And I don’t feature what you’re puttin’ down
Since I kissed his lovin’ lips of wine
The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine
Hey, hey set me free, Stupid Cupid stop pickin’ on me

You’ve got me jumpin’ like a crazy clown
And I don’t feature what you’re puttin’ down
Since I kissed his lovin’ lips of wine
The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine
Hey, hey set me free, Stupid Cupid stop pickin’ on me

Hey, hey set me free, Stupid Cupid stop pickin’ on me.
 
 

Be Bop A Lula

Originally recorded by Gene Vincent in 1956.
(Words and music by Gene Vincent).
Performed by Queen on the 1977 Day At The Races Tour (available, for example, on the "Duck Soup" bootleg from Seattle).
Well Be Bop A Lula she's my baby
Be Bop A Lula I don't mean maybe
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby
Be Bop A Lula I don't mean maybe
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby doll, my baby doll, my baby doll.

Well, she's the gal in the red blue jeans
She's the queen of all the teens
She's the woman that I know
She's the woman that (scream) loves me so.
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby
Be Bop A Lula I don't mean maybe
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby doll, my baby doll, my baby doll.
(Let's rock)

Well, now she's the woman that's got that beat
She's the woman with the flyin' feet
She's the woman that walks around the store
She's the woman that yells (scream) more, more, more, more.
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby
Be Bop A Lula I don¹t mean maybe
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby doll, my baby doll, my baby doll.
(Let's rock again, now)

Well Be Bop A Lula she's my baby
Be Bop A Lula I don't mean maybe
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby
Be Bop A Lula I don't mean maybe
Be Bop A Lula she's my baby doll, my baby doll, my baby doll.
 
 

Imagine

Originally recorded by John Lennon on the "Imagine" album.
(Words and music by John Lennon).
Performed by Queen at a couple of shows in December 1980.
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one.
 
 

I'm a Man

Originally recorded by The Spencer Davis Group in 1967.
(Words and music by Winwood & Miller)
Performed by Queen on the 1977 Day At The Races Tour. Also performed by The Cross at The Marquee 21/12/92 and at the first Gosport Festival in 1992. Roger Daltry sang the vocals at The Marquee.
Well, my pad is very messy and there's whiskers on my chin
And I'm all hung up on music, and I always play to win
I ain't got no time for lovin' 'cause my time is all used up
Just sittin' 'round creatin' all that groovy kind of stuff

Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and  I can't help but love you so
Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so

Well, if I had my choice of matter I would rather be with cats
All engrossed in mental chatter showin' where our minds are at,
And relating to each other just how strong our will can be
In resisting all involvments with each groovy chick we see

Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and  I can't help but love you so
Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so

I've got to keep my image while suspended on a throne
That looks out upon a kingdom filled with people all unknown
Who imagine  I'm not human and my heart is made of stone
And I've never had no problems and my toliet's trimmed with gold

Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and  I can't help but love you so
Well, I'm a man, yes I am, and I can't help but love you so
 
 

Mannish Boy

Originally recorded by Muddy Waters.
(Words and music by Morganfield).
Performed by Queen in 1977. Some of the bootlegs that claim to have this actually have Spencer Davis "I'm A Man". However, someone has assured me that they did both songs.
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yes
Everything gonna be alright

Oh yeah, yeah
Now when I was a young boy
At the age of five
My mother said I'll be
The greatest man alive

And now I'm a man
I'm over twenty-one
You better believe me, baby
And I'll say, we can have lots of fun

I'm a man
Huh huh huh huh huh
A man
Oh yeah

Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Oh yeah

The line I shoot
Will never miss
And when I make love to you baby
You just can't resist

Ooh, ain't that man
Spelled "M"
"A" child
"N"

No "B"
"O" child
"Y"
That spell mannish boy

I'm a man
A man
I'm a man
I'm a man

I sittin' on the outside
Just me and my mate
I made the move
Come up two hours late

Ain't that a man
No "B"
"O" child
"Y"
That spell mannish boy

I'm a man
I'm a man
I'm a full grown man, baby

Oh yeah, oh yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah

All you pretty women
Stand in line
I make love with you baby
In an hour's time

I'm a man
I'm a man
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Oh yeah (oh yeah)
Oh yeah (oh yeah)...
 
 

Shake Rattle And Roll

Originally recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets in 1954.
(Words and music by Bill Haley).
Performed by Queen in early concerts (pre 1973) as part of the Rock'n'Roll medley.
Get out from that kitchen
and rattle those pots and pans,
Get out from that kitchen
and rattle those pots and pans.
Well, roll my breakfast,
'cause I'm a hungry man.

I said Shake rattle and roll,
I said Shake rattle and roll,
I said Shake rattle and roll,
I said Shake rattle and roll;
You never do nothin'
to save your doggone soul.

Wearin' those dresses,
your hair done up so right
Wearin' those dresses,
your hair done up so right;
You look so warm,
but your heart is cold as ice.

 I said Shake rattle and roll ........

I'm like a one-eyed cat,
peepin' in a sea-food store,
I'm like a one-eyed cat,
peepin' in a sea-food store;
I can look at you,
till you don't love me no more

I believe you're doin' me wrong
 and now I know,
I believe you're doin' me wrong
and now I know;
The more I work,
the faster my money goes.

I said Shake rattle and roll .......
 

Bama Lama Bama Loo

Originally recorded by Little Richard in 1964.
(Words and music by Richard Penniman).
Performed by Queen in early concerts (pre 1973) as part of the Rock'n'Roll medley.
Bama lama bama loo
Got a girl named Lucinder, we call her the great pretender,
Got a girl named Lucinder, we call her the great pretender,
And when she talks, she says bama lama loo.

Bama lama, bama loo, bama lama, bama loo,
Bama lama, bama loo, bama lama, bama loo,
Now I dig her style, she's like a drive me wild with
Bama lama, bama loo.

I asked my baby for kiss, she shook her head like this,
I asked my little girl for kiss, she shook her head around like this,
She said woooo-oh, yeah.

Bama lama, bama loo, ...
Now I dig that style, its drivin' me wild with
Bama lama, bama loo.

I asked my baby for kiss, ...

Bama lama, bama loo, ...
Now I dig that style, now I'm drivin' her wild with
Bama lama, bama loo.
 
 

Not Fade Away

Originally recorded by Buddy Holly, and covered by The Rolling Stones in 1964, and also by Foreigner and lots of other people.
(Words and music by N. Petty & C. Hardin).
Performed by Queen on the 1984 Works Tour.
I wanna tell you how it's gonna be
You're gonna give your love to me
I'm gonna love you night and day
Love is love and not fade away
And my love is bigger than a Cadillac
I'll try to show it if you drive me back

Your love for me has got to be real
Before you'd have noticed how I feel
Love real not fade away
Well love real not fade away
Yeah

I wanna tell you how it's gonna be
You're gonna give your love to me
Love that lasts more than one day
Well love is love and not fade away
Well love is love and not fade away
Well love is love and not fade away
Well love is love and not fade away
Not fade away
Not fade away
 

Whole Lotta Shakin’ goin’ on

Originally recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1957.
(Words and music by D. "Curly" Williams).
Performed by Queen on the 1982 Japanese Tour.
Also performed by The Cross (featuring Brian, John and Chris Thompson) at the Hammersmith Palais 4/12/88. They did two other songs that night which I think were called "Early Morning Blues" and "Dust My Broom" or something.
Well, come on over baby,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
I said; Come on over baby,
baby, you can’t go wrong,
We ain’t fakin’,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.

Well, I said; Come on over baby,
we got chickin’ in the barnuh!
Oo-honey, Come on over baby,
I really got the bull by the hornuh!
We ain’t fakin’,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.

Well, I said, shake it, baby, shake it,
I said, shake it, baby, shake it.
I said, shake it, baby, shake it,
I said, shake it, baby, shake it.
Come on over,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
Oh, let’s go now!

Break (2x)

Well, come on over baby,
We got chickin’ in the barn,
Whose barn? What barn? My barn!
Come on over baby,
I really got the bull by the hornuh!
We ain’t fakin’,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.

Easy now, I said; Shake, baby, shake it,
Yeah, Shake it baby one time for me, ahahaw.
Uh-well-a-hell-a come on over baby,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
Now let’s get down real low baby,
Shake it, baby, shake it,
All you gotta do, honey,
Is stand in one little ol’ spot.
Mmmm, Wiggle it around, just a little bit, baby,
That’s when you got something, Yeah,
Well, shake it, baby, shake it,
I said, shake it, baby, shake it.
I said, shake it, baby, shake it,
Let’s shake it, baby, shake it.
Come on over,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
Plays the piano now!

Break 2x

Come on over baby, we got chickin’ in the barn,
Whose barn? What barn? My barn!
Hell, I got the bull by the hornuh!
Honey, I ain’t fakin’, I love it all night long.

Come on, come on, come on, come on, bab,
come ohon, come on, come on, Allright,
Come on, come on,
Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,

Let’s shake it, baby, shake it,
I said, shake it, baby, shake it.
I said, shake it, baby, shake it,
Wooh, shake it, baby, shake it.
I ain’t fakin’ it,
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
 
 

Lucille

Originally recorded by Little Richard in 1957.
(Words and music by Albert Collins, Richard Penniman).
Performed by Queen in 1977 at Earl's Court. Also performed by The Cross (featuring Brian) at The Astoria on 7/12/90.
Lucille, you won't do your sisters will,
Lucille, you won't do your sisters will,
You ran off and married, but I love you still.

Lucille, please come back where you belong,
Lucille, please come back where you belong,
I've been good to you baby, please don't lead me along.

I woke up this mornin', Lucille was not in sight,
I asked my friends about her but all their lips was tight,
Lucille, please come back where you belong,
I've been good to you baby, please don't lead me along.

Lucille, baby, satisfy my heart,
Lucille, baby, satisfy my heart,
I played love with you baby, and gave you such a wonderful start.
 
 

Inmigrant Song

Originally recorded by Led Zeppelin on the "Led Zeppelin III" album.
(Words and music by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant).
Small part of song performed on the 1986 Magic Tour in Berlin.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods
Will drive their ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
How soft your fields so green,
Can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war.
We are your overlords.
On we sweep with threshing oar,
Our only goal will be the western shore.
So now you'd better stop and rebuild your ruins,
For peace and trust can win the day

Despite all your losing