Queen - A Winter’s Tale

“A Winter’s Tale“ is a song by Queen, from the album Made in Heaven, released in 1995 after Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991. It was written during the sessions from the album Innuendo, inspired as Mercury was staring out the windows of their recording studio, at Lake Geneva. The song has a psychedelic, dreamy feel, and describes what Mercury saw outside the windows. It was said to have been recorded 2 weeks before Mercury’s death. He wrote, composed, and did the vocals and keyboards for it. In the documentary “Queen - Champions of The World,“ it was stated that this was if not the first then an extremely rare style of recording for Freddie, as it was all performed in one take live in the studio. It was stated in the film that Freddie had always insisted upon music being completed prior to the vocal arrangement beginning, but acknowledged that he had little time left and there was not enough time to have it completed in time. The song was released as the second single from the album. In the UK the single was also available in a special limited edition green paper CD case which resembled Christmas wrapper. The music video, produced after his death, was an epitaph, as Mercury’s actual written song notes were displayed alongside imagery and clips of Mercury’s past performances. Its winter-fall Red skies are gleaming - oh - Sea-gulls are flyin over Swans are floatin by Smoking chimney-tops Am I dreaming... Am I dreaming...? The nights draw in Theres a silky moon up in the sky - yeah - Children are fantasising Grown-ups are standin by What a super feeling Am I dreaming... Am I dreaming...? Woh-woh-woh-woh (dreaming) So quiet and peaceful Tranquil and blissful Theres a kind of magic in the air What a truly magnificent view A breathtaking scene With the dreams of the world In the palm of your hand (dreaming) A cosy fireside chat A little this, a little that Sound of merry laughter skippin by Gentle rain beatin on my face What an extraordinary place! And the dreams of the child Is the hope of the man Its all so beautiful Like a landscape painting in the sky - yeah - Mountains are zoomin higher - mm - Little girls scream an cry My world is spinnin and spinnin and spinnin Its unbelievable Sends me reeling Am I dreaming... Am I dreaming...? Oooh - its bliss.