I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through

(And I need to go on and on, and on, and on)

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge
Before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

(And I need just go on and on, and on, and on)

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions of the world

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by MeMap, LHGL

We Are The Champions Lyrics as written by Freddie Mercury

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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We Are The Champions song meanings
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88 Comments

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  • +9
    Song Meaning

    To me, this song is really about overcoming. This became especially apparent while working through a somewhat deep depression a while back. Before, especially as a kid, all I ever saw it as was a victory song to be played after a sporting event or something of that sort. It had no meaning to me beyond that. Because of that, I always kind of overlooked it because of how overplayed it seemed to be. In the thick of it, while I was on the verge of tears, it came on the radio and I actually started really LISTENING to the lyrics.

    That's when the overcoming theme hit me. Maybe it's kind of obvious to a lot of you, but for me it took a while. Now, when I hear him say "We are the champions," I'm not envisioning a guy scoring a last minute goal. The "we" Freddy Mercury is singing about is actually you and me. If you've ever had a time where you felt like laying down, giving up, dying, but you're still here. You're not giving up. You're going to stick through to the end. You're going to get right back up every time life throws you to the ground and keep fighting, no matter how big a challenge is standing before you. No matter how hopeless your goal may seem. That's how you're a true champion.

    Thank you Freddy, for your encouraging words. They've helped me through tough times more than you could know. May you rest in peace.

    IJustSneezedon November 04, 2011   Link
  • +8
    My Opinion

    I personally like to think that this song was written about my family! lol (my last name is Champion)

    APunk13on February 13, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Heh...so many people complain about this being used as a sports anthem (including me) but Freddie actually wrote it as a sports anthem: "...I was thinking about football when I wrote it. I wanted a participation song, something the fans could latch on to. It was aimed at the masses; I thought we'd see how they took it. It worked a treat. When we performed it at a private concert in London, the fans actually broke into a football chant between numbers. Of course, I've given it more theatrical subtlety than an ordinary football chant. You know me." Though he said he may also have been commenting on Queen's success: "I suppose it could also be construed as my version of 'I Did It My Way.' We have made it, and it certainly wasn't easy. No bed of roses as the song says. And it's still not easy." (queen.musichall.cz/index_en.php) Though all of the other meanings of the song could still apply, even if they weren't what Freddie originally intended.

    TheYipskeeon May 28, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Why does everyone assume every song Freddie's written is about being gay?!!

    manic4manicson January 26, 2012   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    Anyone here who claims this song is about homosexuality makes themselves look ignorant and small minded, not to mention probably prejudiced in some cases. I think it's obvious what this song is about; it's that fighting spirit, rising to the challenge when the going gets tough and giving the finger to difficult people who judge us for what we are but not who we are. In other words refusing to quit, lie down

    wilbur1on July 09, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is basically Queen giving the finger to all those ppl who put them down and said a band wif a gay front-man would get no where.

    Their biggest critics were the "good folks" from 'News Of The World' tabloid. I guess its no wonder they named the album 'News Of The World.' ;-)

    Innuendoon August 23, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I curse the day that this song got reappropriated by shite sports events

    kexpseattleon October 19, 2016   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It's obviously a gay anthem, and about struggling as a closeted homosexual, which many gay men of that time did. What else are the lines

    "I've paid my dues Time after time I've done my sentence But committed no crime"

    about then? Explain. It's about living in a closet, when society hates your guts. Doing a sentence, time after time. Which was the reality for gay people especially in the past. How else you're gonna explain these first 4 lines? What sentences you've been doing, as a straight person? Closeted gay people know all about it. People are really blind if they don't see this :D

    Obviously Freddie wouldn't say it aloud, he never admitted being gay either. It was the hidden, true meaning of the song. He probably laughed in his mind about the football explanation. If he told what's it really about, it wouldn't have been as popular, and never adopted as a sports anthem.

    lt.1138186on April 17, 2019   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is timeless, it'll always be around and it'll keep getting played, no matter how homophobic some sad losers are. I challenge you all to find someone who hasn't heard of this song. And anyway, it doesn't matter if Freddie was gay or whatever. He was a damn good entertainer, and that's all that matters. How would you all like it if everyone knew everything about you, even about your sexuality, which Freddie kept a secret until it was necessary to tell people what was going on cos there were so many rumours going around?Leave him alone! Enjoy the music!

    mercury_girl86on May 24, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's not about gays, Please people !

    Paymaanon November 09, 2012   Link

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