Princes of the Universe
"Princes of the Universe" is a song written by Freddie Mercury and performed by Queen. The song was written for the soundtrack of the movie Highlander and released on the A Kind of Magic album in 1986.
Background
"Princes of the Universe", written for Highlander, is the only song on the album for which Mercury receives sole credit. It is played over the film's opening credits, and was later used as the opening theme for Highlander: The Series. The song was never released as a single in the United Kingdom, and while it never truly charted, it is considered a cult favourite because of its relation to the film. In the movie, the guitar solo in the beginning is deleted.
The lyrics are from the perspective of the immortals, about the state of being immortal, the superiority it gives them to normal humans, and the test that they always have to face because of this. Some of the lyrics can be interpreted as regarding Queen themselves: "People talk about you, people say you've had your day / I'm a man that will go far, find the moon and reach for the stars." The song "Who Wants to Live Forever," which also features in the film, is the foil of this song.
Princes Of The Universe
Here we are, Born to be kings,
We're the princes of the universe,
Here we belong, Fighting to survive,
In a world with the darkest powers,
And here we are, We're the princes of the universe,
Here we belong, Fighting for survival,
We've come to be the rulers of your world,
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings, (Yeah!)
I have no rival, No man can be my equal,
Take me to the future of your world,
Born to be kings, Princes of the universe,
Fighting and free, Got your world in my hand,
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand,
We were born to be princes of the universe,
No man could understand. My power is in my own hand,
Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, People talk about you,
People say you've had your day,
I'm a man that will go far,
Fly the moon and reach for the stars,
With my sword and head held high,
Got to pass the test first time - yeah,
I know that people talk about me I hear it every day,
But I can prove you worng cos I'm right first time,
Yeah. Yeah. Alright, Watch this man fly,
Bring on the girls,
Here We are. Born to be kings. We're the princes of
the universe. Here we belong. Born to be kings,
Princes of the universe. Fighting and free,
Got the world in my hands. I'm here for your love,
And I'll make my stand,
We were born to be princes of the universe.
All lyrics (C) 1986 Queen Music Ltd./EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Queen are:
Freddie Mercury - vocals, kerboards
John Deacon - bass guitar, keyboards, occasional guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, occasional vocals, keyboards
Brian May - guitar, occasional vocals, keyboards
Extra keyboards: Spike Edney
Computer keyboards by Lynton Naiff
'One Year Of Love'
String arrangement by Lynton Naiff
Saxaphone by Steve Gregory
'Who Wants To Live Forever'
Orchestra arranged by Michael Kamen/Brian May
Performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra
Recorded by Eric Tomlinson at Abbey Road Studios
'Don't Lose Your Head'
Incidental vocals by Joan Armatrading
courtesy of A&M; Records
Recorded mainly at The Townhouse Studios, London
Musicland Studios, Munich and Mountain Studios, Montreux
Mastered at The Townhouse Studios by Kevin Metcalf
Management consultant: Jim Beach
Studio equipment by Chris Taylor and Brian Zellis
Special Thanks to:-
Gerry Stickells, Russell Mulchay, Peter Davies, Bill Panzer, Julie Nash,
Sally Green, Jacky Gunn, Melanie Martin, Collie, Peter Freestone, Joe Fannelli,
Tony Williams, Derek Power, Peter Chant, Neal Levin, Sidney Sachs, Stefan, Clive
Martin, Spike Drake, Noel Harris, Trip Khalaf, Ian Jillespie and all at
EMI-Capitol Records worldwide
Some songs on this album appear in different form in the film 'Highlander'
The Official International Queen Fan Club:
46 Pembridge Road, London W11 3HN, England.
Sleeve design by Richard Gray
Front Cover original illustration by Roger Chiasson
Other original illustration by Roger Chiasson, Mike Smith and Chuck Gamage.
