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Bohemian Rhapsody Lyric Debate


David

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So this is going to be split off from my status where Blexun and I went into a debate about the lyrics, which are often misquoted, even by lyric sites.

"Mama, I just killed a man."

vs.

"Mama, just killed a man."

But why would it be "Mama, just killed a man" with a comma. That would only make sense if some guy named Just killed a guy. Either that site is wrong or Queen are idiots.

I'll ignore the blasphemy on the GREATEST SONG AND BAND OF ALL TIME!!11

Basically, a "," in song lyrics indicate a pause, not necessarily a change in subject. Taking the rest of the songs context into account, it is as if the singer was saying "I killed a man" there regardless. Which explains why the lyrics are so often misquoted; the "I" isn't actually in the lyrics, it's just inferred...

"Mama!"

"Just killed a man!"

The speaker is indicating that he just killed a man to his mother. "Just killed a man" has a gapped subject.

Mama, just killed a man

Put a gun against his head

Pulled my trigger, now he's dead

Mama, life had just begun

But now I've gone and thrown it all away

Mama, ooo

Didn't mean to make you cry - Speaker made his mother cry; wouldn't make sense if she killed a man.

If I'm not back again this time tomorrow

Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Here's the video, listen for the "Mama, (I?) just killed a man..." at 1:00.

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ

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