Freddie Mercury | Autograph manuscript draft lyrics for 'Bohemian Rhapsody', c.1974

extensive and detailed drafts providing an unparalleled insight into the development and composition of Mercury's greatest song over eight pages of draft lyrics and a further seven pages largely given over to vocal harmonies, comprising: an early draft of the introductory section with alternative title ("Mongolian Rhapsody", altered to "Bohemian Rhapsody"), alternate lines ("Time for good-byes now, is this reality") and fragments used later in the song ("Nothing really Matters to Me"), with a later sketch of vocal lines in blue ballpoint, together two pages; successive drafts of the ballad section including an abandoned set of verses (beginning "Mama, Thare's a war began,/ I've got to leave tonight"), four pages; drafts of the operatic section including one page with words and phrases scattered on the page ("Galileo", "Fandango", "Bismillah", "thunderbolt and lightning", etc), followed by a second page with a draft of the section; seven pages of vocal harmonies, outlining the backing vocal harmonies to the introduction (2 pages), operatic section (3 pages), and outro (2 pages) with draft lyrics to the rock section added in pencil to the introduction, and a further draft added in blue ballpoint at the end of the operatic section; altogether 15 pages, in pencil, in black and blue ballpoint, text on rectos only, on 15 leaves of British Midland Airways stationery with 1974 calendar (290 x 204mm), c.1975

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