A word in your ear, from father to son
Hear the word that I say
I fought with you, fought on your side
Long before you were born

Joyful the sound, the word goes around
From father to son, to son...
And the voice is so clear, time after time it keeps on
Calling you, calling you on
Don't destroy what you see, your country to be
Just keep building on the ground that's been won

Kings will be crowned, and the word goes around
From father to son, to son

Won't you hear us sing
(te de de de de de de de de de de de de de de)
Our family song
(te de de de de de de de de de de de de de de)

Father, father, father, father, ooh yeah, father, father, father, father
(te de de de de de de de de de de de de de de)
Now we hand it on
But I've heard it all before

Take this letter that I give you
Take it sonny, hold it high
You won't understand a word that's in it
But you'll write it out again before you die (yeah yeah)

A word in your ear from father to son
Funny you don't hear a single word I say
But my letter to you will stay by your side
Through the years till the loneliness is gone
Sing if you will - but the air you breathe I live to give you

Father to son, father to, father to, father to son

Joyful the sound, the word goes around
From father to son, to son...

Kings will be crowned, the word goes around
From father to son, to son

Joyful the sound, the word goes around
From father to son, to son...

Kings will be crowned, the word goes around
From father to son, to son

Joyful the sound, the word goes around
From father to son, to son...

Kings will be crowned, the word goes around
From father to son, to son

Joyful the sound, the word goes around



Lyrics submitted by f_mercury

Father to Son Lyrics as written by Brian May

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Father To Son song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    This song is the best on Queen II, the bridge is honestly the heaviest thing I've ever heard in a song. Thats what makes it so good, a nice original heavy metal ballad this one is.
    wow thats awesomeon November 10, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I couldn't believe that more people hadn't reviewed this song. This is a powerful song with some of the best heavy metal guitar ever played, even by the guitar god himself. Brian May is the best guitarist in history and with the possible exception of Freddie Mercury, the greatest songwriter. If you have not heard this album you should. It is absolutely amazing beginning to end.
    akanawhaon March 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Well I don´t know but this song rocks!
    TheOlsnaon June 28, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    One of my favourite tracks on the album. The way it goes through all the different sections so efforlessly is amazing!
    rotherhamkidon December 25, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    One of the best tracks on Queen II. Underrated.
    1guynamedchrison January 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    A very obvious Brian composition, as he can be very personal with his own songs. And this song is no exception to that. A song inspired by his own relationship with his father. It was a very bumpy ride for him i think, because there is so much anger in this song, but in the end there's bliss and serenity. The legacy left behind by a father to his son.
    Jimmy_Kaneon July 18, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Possibly; I know his father helped him build his first guitar -- the built it together. I always thought he had a good relationship with his father, but maybe I'm wrong? If you listen to "Good Company," he talks about his father giving him the advice to always keep your family close (and his sorrow at not heeding his dad).
    Sir_Larrikinon June 17, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I totally agree about this album being absolutely amazing... everyone should listen to it.
    Robbie190on March 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I seem to remember Brian saying somewhere that he tried not to make his songs too personal... Of course, they were pretty personal in the early 90's, especially on his solo albums. But I don't know how directly personal his early songs were. There probably is a personal element in this song, but I don't think it's a description of Brian's entire relationship with his father. I this this song is about a king who is about to go off to battle and is giving his son some last advice through a letter. His son doesn't understand the advice yet because he is still young, so he either cannot or will not grasp the meaning. When the father dies and the son becomes king, he will have many struggles, but he will look back at his father's letter and start to understand it, and that will help him. He will eventually pass that advice onto his own son. It's basically about children not taking their parents' advice until they are older, more mature, and have gone through some of the things their parents went through. It may be hard to understand advice until the children learn it themselves from experience; then when they grow up, they will have the same problem of trying to give their children the advice when they aren't ready to take it yet.
    TheYipskeeon March 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Well I don´t know but this song rocks!
    TheOlsnaon June 28, 2006   Link

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