Let Me Live

For the Rudimental and Major Lazer song, see Let Me Live (Rudimental and Major Lazer song).

For the Charley Pride song, see Let Me Live (Charley Pride song).

"Let Me Live" is a 1996 song by Queen, from the album Made in Heaven. Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May share lead vocals, with Mercury singing the first verse, Taylor singing the second verse and bridge, and May singing the last verse. During the choruses, all of the band members sing (except for John Deacon), as well as a background choir, giving it a gospel sound reminiscent of the band's 1976 single "Somebody to Love". The single reached No. 9 in the UK Single Charts, becoming the band's last Top 10 hit in that country.

"Let Me Live"
Artwork for UK release
Single by Queen
from the album Made in Heaven
B-side	"Fat Bottomed Girls" "Bicycle Race"
Released	17 June 1996
Recorded	1983, 1993–1995
Genre	Rock, gospel
Length	4:45
Label	Parlophone (Europe)
Songwriter(s)	Queen
Producer(s)	Queen
Queen singles chronology
"Too Much Love Will Kill You" (1996) "Let Me Live" (1996) "You Don't Fool Me" (1996)

History

Freddie Mercury stated in an interview that this song was originally recorded with Rod Stewart in 1983. It is rumoured that this song was intended to be on Queen's The Works album in 1984.^{[citation needed]} Some backing lyrics in the version intended for release on Made in Heaven had to be changed due to copyright problems, because it resembled a line from "Piece of My Heart".^{[citation needed]} The first Mexican and Dutch pressings of the album, however, had the original version. The song peaked at No. 9 on the UK singles chart. According to the Queen website, BBC Radio 1 did not playlist this song.^[1]

Track listing

CD single – part one: 1994 digital remaster

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Let Me Live"	4:46
2.	"Fat Bottomed Girls"	4:15
3.	"Bicycle Race"	3:00
4.	"Don't Stop Me Now"	3:30

CD single – part two: BBC session, February 1973

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Let Me Live"	4:46
2.	"My Fairy King"	4:07
3.	"Doing All Right"	4:13
4.	"Liar"	6:30

CD single (from The Singles Collection 4): Live at Wembley '86

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Let Me Live"	4:46
2.	"We Will Rock You"	2:57
3.	"We Are the Champions"	4:04

Personnel

Queen

• Freddie Mercury — lead vocals on first verse, piano
• Brian May — lead vocals on final verse, backing vocals, electric guitar, organ
• Roger Taylor — lead vocals on second verse and bridge, backing vocals, drums, percussion
• John Deacon — bass guitar

Additional musicians

• Rebecca Leigh-White – backing vocals
• Gary Martin – backing vocals
• Catherine Porter — backing vocals
• Miriam Stockley — backing vocals

Alternate version

• Made in Heaven – The Film's Edit (0:29) (on the DVD only, on the 'Song Select' screen) (an edit of the album version from 0:25 to 0:55, fading out over three seconds)

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Germany (GfK)[2]	67
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[3]	36
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4]	28
UK Singles (OCC)[5]	9
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[6]	1

References

1. "Made In Heaven". Queenonline.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
2. "Queen – Let Me Live" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
3. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Queen" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
4. "Queen – Let Me Live" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
5. "Queen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
6. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2023.

External links

• Official video (based on short film "Return Trip") on YouTube
• Lyrics at Queen official website