It is impossible to watch the music video for these are the days of our lives lyrics without feeling like you’re intruding on a private goodbye. Freddie Mercury is there, but he’s not the strutting, leather-clad god of Wembley. He’s thin. He’s fragile. His face is heavily made up to hide the ravages of AIDS, and yet, there is this incredible, defiant twinkle in his eyes. Honestly, it’s one of the most heavy things in rock history.
People often get the timeline wrong. They think this was some frantic, last-minute recording. It wasn't. While the song feels like a funeral march or a nostalgic look back at a life ending, it was actually written by Roger Taylor. He wasn't even writing about Freddie’s illness specifically at the start. He was just thinking about his kids and how fast time moves. But once Freddie got hold of it, the meaning shifted. It became something else entirely.
The Story Behind the These Are the Days of Our Lives Lyrics
The track appeared on Innuendo, the final album released during Freddie's lifetime. By 1991, the rumors were everywhere. The tabloids were ruthless. They were literally camped outside his Garden Lodge home, waiting for a photo of him looking "sick." Queen, as a unit, went into a protective shell. They retreated to Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland.
Roger Taylor’s lyrics are deceptively simple. "Sometimes I get to feel / I was back in the old days - long ago." It’s a classic trope, right? Nostalgia. But in the context of a man who knew he was dying, those words carry a weight that most pop songs can’t touch. Freddie’s delivery is what does it. He doesn't belt. He breathes the words.
You can hear the exhaustion. You can also hear the peace.
There’s a specific nuance in the percussion that people overlook. It’s got this conga-driven, almost bossa nova rhythm. It’s light. It’s breezy. That contrast between the "light" music and the "heavy" reality of Freddie’s physical state is what makes the these are the days of our lives lyrics so haunting. It’s not a dirge. It’s a celebration that happens to be happening at sunset.
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Brian May’s Solo and the Emotional Pivot
Halfway through, Brian May steps in. His guitar work on this track isn't about speed. It’s about vocalizing through wood and wire. He’s basically crying through the Red Special.
Brian has talked about this era in various interviews, including his reflections in Queen in 3-D. He mentioned how Freddie would just drink a shot of vodka, say "I’ll do it, darling," and then go in and nail a vocal take despite being in immense pain. When you listen to the line "Those were the days of our lives," you aren't just hearing a singer. You’re hearing a guy who is literally using his final breaths to create art. It’s incredible. And kinda terrifying.
The song actually hit number one in the UK twice. Once upon release, and again as a double A-side with "Bohemian Rhapsody" right after Freddie passed away in November 1991. It became the anthem for a generation saying goodbye to its greatest showman.
That Final "I Still Love You"
We have to talk about the video. It was filmed in May 1991. This was roughly six months before Freddie died. It was shot in black and white, a conscious choice by directors Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher (the "DoRo" duo). Why? Because the color footage showed the purple blotches of Kaposi's sarcoma on Freddie’s skin. The black and white smoothed it out. It gave him back a bit of his shield.
In the very last frames of the video, Freddie looks straight into the camera. He whispers, "I still love you."
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That wasn't in the script. It wasn't part of the these are the days of our lives lyrics as written by Roger. That was Freddie talking to us. He knew he wouldn't be on camera ever again. He left the stage, literally and figuratively, with a profession of love. If that doesn't give you chills, you might be a robot.
Misconceptions About Who Wrote What
A lot of fans assume Freddie wrote this because it’s so personal. He didn’t. As mentioned, this was Roger Taylor’s baby. Roger was feeling reflective about his own life and his children. It’s a testament to the chemistry of Queen that one member could write something so perfectly suited for the soul of another.
John Deacon’s bass line is steady, almost like a heartbeat. It’s one of the few songs where the "Quiet One" of the band really anchors the emotional stability of the track. Without John’s rhythmic foundation, the song might have floated away into pure sentimentality. Instead, it feels grounded. Real.
- Fact: The song won a Brit Award for Best British Single in 1992.
- Fact: The video was the last time all four original members were seen together on screen.
- Reality: Freddie was so weak he could only stand for a few minutes at a time during filming.
Why These Lyrics Still Rank High for Fans Today
People search for the these are the days of our lives lyrics because they are universal. We all have that "the sun was always shining" feeling about our past. We all look back and realize we didn't know how good we had it.
But for Queen fans, it’s the ultimate "closing the book" moment. It’s different from "The Show Must Go On." That song was a roar of defiance. This one is a sigh of acceptance.
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In a world of over-produced, AI-generated pop, this song is the opposite. It’s human. It’s flawed. It’s a document of a man facing the end with more grace than most of us can imagine. There’s no cynicism here. No irony. Just a simple acknowledgement that "the rest of my life's been just a show."
Practical Ways to Appreciate the Song Now
If you want to really hear this song, don't just stream it on crappy phone speakers.
- Find the 2011 Remaster. The separation of the instruments is much cleaner. You can hear the subtle percussion layers Roger added.
- Watch the "Days of Our Lives" Documentary. It’s on various streaming platforms and gives the most honest look at the Innuendo sessions.
- Listen to the live version from the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. George Michael sang it with Lisa Stansfield. It’s good, but it proves nobody could do it like Freddie. It felt like a tribute, whereas Freddie’s version felt like a living will.
The enduring power of these lyrics lies in their simplicity. They don't try to be clever. They don't use big words or complex metaphors. They just tell the truth. Life is short, the past is a dream, and love is the only thing that actually stays behind when the lights go out.
When you look at the these are the days of our lives lyrics, remember the context. It wasn't just a song. It was a final gift. It was Freddie Mercury making sure his fans knew that despite the pain, he wouldn't change a thing. "I still love you" wasn't just a lyric. It was his final word on the matter.
Next Steps for Queen Enthusiasts
To get the full emotional scope of this era, go back and listen to the Innuendo album from start to finish. Notice the transition from the chaotic title track to the quiet vulnerability of "These Are the Days of Our Lives." You should also look up the work of the Terrence Higgins Trust, an organization Freddie’s estate has supported for decades, to understand the history of the illness that shaped this song's legacy. If you're a musician, try stripping the song down to just an acoustic guitar or piano; you'll realize the melody is surprisingly complex despite its outward simplicity. Stay focused on the 1991 remastered video footage to see the subtle cues in Freddie's performance that weren't obvious in the lower-resolution versions of the 90s.