“Ogre Battle” is one of Queen’s many fantasy vignettes that appeared on their earlier albums, and is the first track on Side Black of Queen II. The song opens with the outro played in reverse, which eventually evolves into the song’s signature guitar riff. It’s one of the band’s heaviest tracks, an...
[Intro]
Ahh! Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ahh!
[Verse 1]
Now once upon a time
An old man told me a fable
When the piper is gone
And the soup is cold on your table
And if the black crow flies
To find a new destination
That is the sign
[Chorus]
Come tonight
Come to the ogre site
Come to the ogre battle fight
[Verse 2]
He gives a great big cry
And he can swallow up the ocean
With a mighty tongue, he catches flies
The palm of a hand, the incredible size
One great big eye
Has a focus in your direction
Now the battle is on
Yeah yeah yeah
[Chorus]
Come tonight
Come to the ogre site
Come to the ogre battle fight
[Bridge]
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ahh!
C'mon!
The ogre men are still inside
The two-way mirror mountain
Gotta keep down right out of sight
You can't see in, but they can see out
"Ooh, keep a lookout!"
The ogre-men are coming out
From the two-way mirror mountain
They're running up behind
And they're coming all about
Can't go east 'cause you gotta go south
[Instrumental break]
(Ahhhh!)
[Verse 3]
Ogre-men are going home
And the great big fight is over
Bugle blow, let trumpet cry
Ogre battle lives for ever more
[Outro]
Oh-ho-ho
You can come along
You can come along
Come to ogre battle
[Guitar Solo]
(Ah, ah, ah, ah, ahh!)
[Cymbal crash]
Ogre Battle was written by Freddie Mercury.
Ogre Battle was produced by Roy Thomas Baker & Queen.
Queen released Ogre Battle on Fri Mar 08 1974.