Freddie Mercury | Autograph working lyrics to 'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy', c.1976

Freddie Mercury

Autograph working lyrics for 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy'

comprising a near-complete draft of the song with verses in different sequence, with some notes on vocal harmonies, three pages; early fragments, four pages; further notes with vocal harmonies, three pages; one page of related notes; altogether 11 pages, text on rectos only, in black and red fibretip and blue ballpoint; 11 leaves of British Midland Airways stationery with 1974 calendar, c.1976

Judging by these drafts, 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy' was a song that came easily to Freddie Mercury. The earliest surviving drafts relating to the song are fragments, including the title and various phrases and ideas ("Swing from a chandelier", "pull heart strings"). This is then followed by a near-complete draft of the song. This includes some lines that were subsequently revised, includes extensive additions in red ink, and has the verses in a different order, but this draft is in general very close to the song as recorded. Mercury can also be seen working through the vocal harmonies.

This playful song was described by Freddie as "another one of my vaudeville numbers". His boyfriend of the period, David Minns, later reflected on the song: "Freddie, deep down, has very traditional values because he wrote that song, 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy', which was about our relationship. He wrote that song about his, you know, dressing up, getting himself organised. He was courting. He was wooing me. That was all part and parcel of his performance." (quoted in Somebody to Love, p.145). The song was written for A Day at the Races where it appears midway through side 2 - "the album needs it to ease off" (A Life: In his own Words, p.73). It was also released as the main track on Queen's first EP in June 1977.

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