Hammer to Fall

Brian May, Queen

About Hammer to Fall

"Hammer to Fall" is a 1984 song by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, the song is the eighth track on their 1984 album The Works. It was the fourth and final single to be released from that album, although the single version was edited down by thirty seconds in contrast to the version on the album. Different sleeves were used to package this single and the live picture sleeve is now a collector's item. The song harks back to the Queen of old, with a song being built around a hard angular and muscular riff. The song peaked at number 3 in South Africa, and 13 in the UK Singles Chart. It was featured in the film Highlander, a movie that the band had composed tie-in songs for. The music video was filmed in Brussels during The Works Tour, and features drummer Roger Taylor wearing an oversized message T-shirt (“CHOOSE LIFE”) created by Katharine Hamnett. "Hammer to Fall" was the third song the band performed at Live Aid in 1985. The song features in the setlist of both The Works Tour and The Magic Tour. The full album version of the song appears on Queen Rocks while the single version appears on Greatest Hits II and Classic Queen. 


Year:
1994
116 
#2

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(Brian May)
Here we stand or here we fall
History won't care at all
Make the bed light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight yeah

You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
It comes to you as to us all
We're just waiting
For the hammer to fall

Oh ev'ry night and every day
A little piece of you is falling away
But lift your face the Western Way
Build your muscles as your body decays yeah

Toe your line and play their game yeah
Let the anaesthetic cover it all
Till one day they call your name
You know it's time for the hammer to fall

Rich or poor or famous
For your truth it's all the same (oh no oh no)

Lock your door the rain is pouring
Through your window pane (oh no)
Baby now your struggle's all in vain

For we who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the mushroom cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
We just wanna scream it louder and louder louder

What the hell we fighting for?
Just surrender and it won't hurt at all
You just got time to say your prayers
While your waiting for the hammer to hammer to fall

It's gonna fall
Hammer... you know... hammer to fall
Waiting for the hammer to fall now baby
While you're waiting for the hammer to fall

Give it to me one more time

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Brian May

Brian Harold May, CBE (born 19 July 1947) is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer of the rock band Queen. As a guitarist he uses his home-built guitar, "Red Special", and has composed hits such as "Tie Your Mother Down", "I Want It All", "We Will Rock You", "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Who Wants to Live Forever". more »

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12 facts about this song

Band Member Contribution
"Hammer to Fall" is a song written by Brian May, the guitarist of the band Queen.
Album Details
The song was included in the band's eleventh studio album, "The Works," released in 1984.
Song Subject
Despite its upbeat tempo, the song carries a rather heavy theme, dealing with the fear and anticipation of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War.
Live Performances
"Hammer to Fall" was performed at every Queen concert from 1984 until the end of the band's touring career in 1986. It was also played by Brian May and Roger Taylor (of Queen) at the closing ceremony of the 2012 summer Olympics in London.
Band Lineup
The band members performing in this song included Freddie Mercury (lead vocals), Brian May (guitar, backing vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, backing vocals).
Live Aid Concert
This song gained wider recognition when played during the historic Live Aid concert in 1985. The abridged version of the song, as part of Queen's 20-minute set, is regarded as one of the greatest live performances in the history of rock music.
Music Video
The music video for "Hammer to Fall" features a mock live performance of the song by Queen. This was shot at Brussels during the band's "The Works Tour."
Chart Success
Upon its release, "Hammer to Fall" reached number 13 in the UK charts.
Song Length
The original version of this song on "The Works" album was 5:12 (minutes and seconds) long. However, the single edit of "Hammer to Fall" released was 3:40 (minutes and seconds).
Soundtrack Appearance
The song was used in the soundtrack of the 2018 biographical film about Freddie Mercury, "Bohemian Rhapsody."
Experimental Layering
In line with Queen's signature style of sound layering, Brian May used a guitar equipped with a delay effect for the song, creating an interplay between his and Mercury's singing.
Song Title
The title "Hammer to Fall" is a metaphor to imply "waiting for the other shoe to drop." It represents impending doom or the inevitability of a negative occurrence.

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