Many famous rock bands have songs that did not rise to the top of the charts, but won the hearts of fans. One of such works in the discography of Queen was the composition Spread Your Wings (“Spread your wings”) from the album News of the World.
The track’s modest achievements in music ratings do not allow it to be considered a major hit. But who would dare to say that this is a weak song that does not correspond to the level of the legendary rock band.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song Spread Your Wings
Spread Your Wings was written and composed by John Deacon, bassist for Queen. He has contributed less frequently than Freddie Mercury or Brian May, but has written several of the band’s well-known songs, including Another One Bites the Dust and I Want to Break Free.
Spread Your Wings is about a boy called Sammy sweeping the floors at the Emerald Bar. He dreams of moving away in the hope of changing his life for the better. The boss dissuades him from drastic change, and the narrator urges the young man to “spread his wings and fly away.”
Release and achievements
On February 10, 1978, Spread Your Wings with the track Sheer Heart Attack was released as a single from the News of the World album. It peaked at number 34 in the UK and entered the Dutch Top 40 and Single Top 100 charts.
The composition was presented to American listeners in 1980. It was released on the back of the single Crazy Little Thing Called Love, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Video Spread Your Wings
In 1978, director Rock Flicks made a music video for Queen, Spread Your Wings.
Interesting Facts
- Readers of several music publications included the composition in their lists of the most inspiring songs.
- The Spread Your Wings video was filmed in Roger Taylor’s garden.
- On the day of filming, it got very cold and it snowed. Frozen members of the Queen group warmed themselves with alcohol. They say that Freddie even went over a little.
Spread Your Wings Lyrics
Sammy was low
Just watching the show
Over and over again
Knew it was time
He’d made up his mind
To leave his dead life behind
His boss said to him
“Boy you’d better begin
To get those crazy notions right out of your head
Sammy who do you think you are
You should’ve been sweeping up the Emerald bar”
Spread your wings and fly away
fly far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
fly far away
pull yourself together
‘Cause you know you should do better
That’s because you’re a free man
He spends his evenings alone in his hotel room
Keeping his thoughts to himself he’d be leaving soon
Wishing he was miles and miles away
Nothing in this world would make him stay
since he was small
Had no luck at all
Nothing came easy to him
Now it was time
He’d made up his mind
“This could be my last chance”
His boss said to him
“Now listen boy
You’re always dreaming
You’ve got no real ambition
You won’t get very far
Sammy boy don’t you know who you are
Why can’t you be happy at the Emerald bar”
so honey
Spread your wings and fly away
fly far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
fly far away
pull yourself together
‘Cause you know you should do better
That’s because you’re a free man
Come on honey
Spread Your Wings Lyrics Alternative
Sammy was quiet
Just watched the show
Again and again
He realized that the time had come
And I definitely decided
Leave your dead life behind
The chief told him:
“Boy, you better start
Throw crazy ideas out of your head.
Sammy, who do you think you are.
Sweep your floors further in the Emerald bar”
Spread your wings and fly away
Fly away far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
Fly away far away
Get a hold of yourself,
You know you’re capable of more
Because you are a free man
Evenings he spends alone in a hotel room,
Keeping the thought that he’ll be leaving soon
Dreaming of being many kilometers away
Nothing in the world will make him stay here
Since childhood
He didn’t have any luck
Nothing came easy to him.
Now it’s time
He made up his mind:
“This might be my last chance”
The chief told him:
“Listen boy
You are constantly dreaming
You don’t set realistic goals
You won’t get anything serious.
Sammy boy don’t you know who you are.
Why can’t you be happy at the Emerald Bar?”
So, honey
Spread your wings and fly away
Fly away far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
Fly away far away
Get a hold of yourself,
You know you’re capable of more
Because you are a free man
Come on honey
