I Go Crazy

Album: The Works (1984)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a man who takes his girlfriend to see a "heavy band." He never sees the girl until the end of the show when she is holding hands with the lead singer. The band is assumed to be The Rolling Stones by the lyrics "Did you have to run off with that rolling stone?" and "So I ain't gonna go and see the Rolling Stones no more, no more," which is humorously followed by "I don't wanna go see Queen no more, no more." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Blaze - Hendersonville, TN
  • Queen's success as a band came from each member being honest and critical with each other over songwriting, which did cause many arguments but also meant songs got fine-tuned. Brian May wrote the song as early as 1981 (it is rumored to originally be an out-take from The Game) and it was met with a less than warm reception from his bandmates - they were according to him "ashamed to play it!", as he noted in a 1984 interview with Faces magazine.

    In the end, the song didn't make the album, but became the B-side to the "Radio Ga Ga" single. According to May this was a good decision "as it gives the fans a song they didn't receive on the album, more for their money. But you see, it was kept off the album by the majority."

    It later appeared as a bonus track on the 1991 CD reissue of The Works.

Comments: 3

  • Steve from Hockessin, , DeThe best song to come out of The Works sessions. It should have been played on tour.
  • Jfv from Philadelphia, PaThis song was the B-side to the single Radio Gaga. It was written by Brian May around the time of the band's writing and recording of its 1984 album, The Works. It later appeared as a bonus track on the 1991 release of the CD version of The Works. In addition to Freddie Mercury's usual lead vocals, Brian May provides the lead vocals on the bridge portion of the song. The song concludes with Roger Taylor and Mercury alternating vocals on the word "crazy". It has a noticeably less polished sound than most Queen recordings, creating more of a raw, stripped down feel to it. (March 2011)
  • Joe from , MoThis is a great rocker!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.