In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Yeah
Here we stand or here we fall
History won't care at all
Make the bed, light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight
You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
It comes to you as to us all
Yeah, we're just waiting for the hammer to fall, yeah
Oh every night, and every day
A little piece of you is falling away
But lift your face the Western way
Build your muscles as your body decays, yeah
Tow the line and play their game
Yeah, let the anesthetic cover it all
'Til one day they call your name
You know it's time for the hammer to fall
Rich or poor or famous
For your truth it's all the same
(Oh no, oh no)
Oh, lock your door but rain is pouring
Through your window pane
(Oh no)
Hey yeah, baby, now your struggle's all in vain, yeah
For we who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the Mushroom Cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
We just wanna scream it louder and louder and louder
What the hell are we fighting for?
Ah, just surrender and it won't hurt at all
You just got time to say your prayers
Yeah, while you're waiting for the hammer to, hammer to fall
Hey, yes
Let's get on the floor, yeah
Hammer
You know
Hammer to fall
Yeah
Hey, woo hoo
Ha ha, ha ha
I've been waiting for the hammer to fall
Give it to me one more time
Here we stand or here we fall
History won't care at all
Make the bed, light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight
You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
It comes to you as to us all
Yeah, we're just waiting for the hammer to fall, yeah
Oh every night, and every day
A little piece of you is falling away
But lift your face the Western way
Build your muscles as your body decays, yeah
Tow the line and play their game
Yeah, let the anesthetic cover it all
'Til one day they call your name
You know it's time for the hammer to fall
Rich or poor or famous
For your truth it's all the same
(Oh no, oh no)
Oh, lock your door but rain is pouring
Through your window pane
(Oh no)
Hey yeah, baby, now your struggle's all in vain, yeah
For we who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the Mushroom Cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
We just wanna scream it louder and louder and louder
What the hell are we fighting for?
Ah, just surrender and it won't hurt at all
You just got time to say your prayers
Yeah, while you're waiting for the hammer to, hammer to fall
Hey, yes
Let's get on the floor, yeah
Hammer
You know
Hammer to fall
Yeah
Hey, woo hoo
Ha ha, ha ha
I've been waiting for the hammer to fall
Give it to me one more time
Lyrics submitted by jhines0042
Hammer To Fall Lyrics as written by Brian May
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I totally agree with JoeBaldwin-- This song was written in 83 or 84 during the last spike of real tensions between the US and USSR. The single cover of this song is red and gold and really "official" looking, reminiscent of Soviet stuff.
The lyrics also totally fit in with this idea... "feel your muscles as your body decays"... the Soviet system died in part because Reagan and others forced them to throw all their money into the military, which US could afford and they couldn't... "baby now your struggle's all in vain" alluding to Marx's claim that there would always be a struggle between proletariat and the masses, a fundamental Soviet idea... there are probably ten more but this is probably boring people so I'll stop now. I also like how the very basic I-IV-V chords and beat (the roots Queen tried to get back to on the Works) is reminiscent of socially/politically conscious American artists of that time, like Springsteen and Mellencamp, like Brian is channeling them. The last verse is even more amazing-- "what the hell we fighting for?", "just have time to say your prayers", makes me think of Samantha Smith (remember her?) and has lots of resonance today too... this is maybe where Brian brought it back to something more basic and common, like, the Hammer of God could fall on the US (or anywhere else) just as easily as the Russians, we're just people too!
I am such a fan of how Brian can be so true to classic rock and good guitar but still right songs just as poetic and interesting as Mercury. Queen wouldn't have been Queen without him.
@lapofthegods well put. +1