“If You Can’t Beat Them” is the fifth track on Queen’s seventh studio album, Jazz, composed by bassist John Deacon. It goes in more of a hard rock direction than the rest of Jazz, and was a live favorite of the band in the late 70s.
It contains a guitar solo of over two minutes, making it one of the...
[Verse 1]
Keep your chin up
When you're feeling lonely
Don't let 'em get you down
Ain't no use in your sitting
All alone, hanging around
For someone to call, oo-oo-ooh
They won't come knocking at all
Don't run and hide
Even if it hurts you inside
So I said, "give as good as you get"
Yeah!
[Chorus]
(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
You'd better do it
'Cause it makes you feel good
(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
You're never gonna help yourself
Yeah
[Post-Chorus]
Come on, go
Get up!
Hey-hey!
It sure feels good
[Verse 2]
Keep your big hands off of my money
Don't try and pull me down
You're taking me out to wine
And dine me, trying to wind
Me 'round and around and bind me
To your legal contract (Ha ha!)
Rumour has it that you can play it dirty
I'll tell you what I'll do
About that, that yeah!
I'll play you at your own game!
Yes
[Chorus]
(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
You'd better do it
'Cause it makes you feel good
(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
You're never gonna help yourself
Yeah
That's good
Play it again!
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
Oh, you'd better do it
'Cause it makes you feel good
(If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
It's everyone for themselves!
[Outro]
Move on out!
Hey!
Oh, I like it!
Rock 'n' Roll ready! Yeah
Woo-hoo!
[Solo]
If You Can’t Beat Them was written by John Deacon.
If You Can’t Beat Them was produced by Roy Thomas Baker & Queen.
Queen released If You Can’t Beat Them on Fri Nov 10 1978.