Great King Rat died today
Born on the twenty first of May
Died syphilis forty four on his birthday
Every second word he swore
Yes he was the son of a whore
Always wanted by the law

Wouldn't you like to know?
Wouldn't you like to know people?
Great King Rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?

Now hear this
Where will I be tomorrow?
Will I beg ?, Will I borrow?
I don't care, I don't care anyway
Come on, come on the time is right
The man is evil and that is right
I told you ah yes I told you
And that's no lie, oh no no

Wouldn't you like to know?
Wouldn't you like to know?
Wouldn't you like to know?
Great King Rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?
Show me

Oooh oooh oooh oooh
Wouldn't you like to know?
Wouldn't you like to know people people?
Great King Rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?

Hit it

Now listen all you people
Put out the good and keep the bad
Don't believe all you read in the Bible
You sinners get in line
Saints you leave far behind
Very soon you're gonna be his disciple

Don't listen to what mama says
Not a word not a word mama says
Or else you'll find yourself being the rival
Sure, the great lord before he died
Knelt sinners by his side
And said you're going to realise tomorrow, oh woh oh woh oh woh

No I'm not going to tell you
What you already know
'Cause time and time again
The old man said it all a long time ago
Come on come on the time is right
This evil man will fight
I told you once before

Hear it
No

Wouldn't you like to know?
Wouldn't you like to know?
Just like I said before
Great King Rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
The last time I tell you
Would you like to see?


Lyrics submitted by DB0ne, edited by JoeRose11

Great King Rat Lyrics as written by Freddie Mercury

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Great King Rat song meanings
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    General Comment

    The seduction of the soul by an unashamedly evil man, perhaps the devil himself. The usual tools of evil are employed, calling out religion (don't believe all you read in the bible) and authority figures (don't listen to what mama said) as liars and offering the 'truth' (wouldn't you like to know). It finishes off with the flatterous proclamation that you has the power to see the truth, or at least the truth on offer (I'm not going to tell you what you already know).

    It's about the seduction of the spirit, the glamor of evil and the choices we make in our lives as to which path to tread.

    Jimvinon December 10, 2007   Link

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