"The Show Must Go On" is a song by the British rock band Queen, featured as the final track on their 1991 album Innuendo. The song is written by Brian May, which chronicles the effort of frontman Freddie Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life. May asked Fred, "Fred, I don't know if this is going to be possible to sing." And he went, "I will fucking do it, darling, -vodka down- and went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal".
It was released as a single in United Kingdom on 14 October 1991, just six weeks before Mercury died.
Lyrics of this song
[Verse 1] Empty spaces, what are we living for? Abandoned places, I guess we know the score, on and on Does anybody know what we are looking for? Another hero, another mindless crime Behind the curtain, in the pantomime Hold the line Does anybody want to take it anymore? [Chorus] The show must go on The show must go on, yeah Inside my heart is breaking My makeup may be flaking But my smile, still, stays on [Verse 2] Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance Another heartache, another failed romance, on and on Does anybody know what we are living for? I guess I'm learning I must be warmer now I'll soon be turning, round the corner now Outside the dawn is breaking But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free [Chorus] The show must go on The show must go on Inside my heart is breaking My makeup may be flaking But my smile, still, stays on [Bridge] My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies Fairy tales of yesterday, grow but never die I can fly, my friends [Chorus] The show must go on The show must go on I'll face it with a grin I'm never giving in On with the show [Verse 3] I'll top the bill I'll overkill I have to find the will to carry on On with the show Show must go on Show must go on
Lyrics with annotations can be found on this website.