Hammer to Fall
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| "Hammer to Fall" | ||
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| Single by Queen | ||
| from the album The Works | ||
| Released | 10 September 1984 (UK etc.) | |
| Format | vinyl record (7", 12") | |
| Recorded | 1983 | |
| Genre | Hard rock | |
| Length |
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| Label | EMI / Capitol | |
| Writer(s) | Brian May | |
| Producer(s) | Queen and Mack | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Queen singles chronology | ||
| "It's a Hard Life" (1984) |
"Hammer to Fall" (1984) |
"Thank God It's Christmas" (1984) |
Hammer to Fall is a 1984 hard rock song written by Brian May and performed by the British rock group Queen with Freddie Mercury on lead vocal. It appeared in their 1984 album The Works.
It was the fourth and final single to be released from that album. Different sleeves were used to package this single and the live picture sleeve is now a collector's item. The song was also the subject of a popular music video directed by David Mallet, in which was a regular live performance of the song by the band in Brussels during the Works Tour (Roger Taylor can be seen wearing a "Choose Life" t-shirt in the video). The song harks back to the Queen of old, with a song being built around a hard angular and muscular riff.
The song was a concert favourite and was also played at Live Aid. A different version of the song with the first part played in the style of a ballad was played by Queen + Paul Rodgers in 2005. The song peaked at number 13 in the UK and was later featured in the movie Highlander.
[edit] Interpretation
The lyrics refer to the Cold War era in which the band members grew up, fuelling the popular conception that the song was about nuclear war:
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 and louder
The song, however, contains many more references to death and its inevitability:
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
The issue was effectively settled when May wrote on his website that "Hammer to Fall is really about life and death, and being aware of death as being part of life. [...] The Hammer coming down is only a symbol of the Grim Reaper doing his job!!"
[edit] Reference
- ↑ Brian May: Brian's Soapbox, April 2004, brianmay.com
