Freddie - an analysis of three songs

We now look at three tracks now that seem to be Freddie talking directly to us, his listeners. All are from 'The Great Pretender' album, and are the tracks ''Mr Bad Guy' and Freddie's interpretation of 'The Great Pretender'and 'In My Defence'. (written by others)

Each of these tracks are different to most of his work in, as previously stated, they seem to be talking directly to the listener without any intermediary. In the song 'In My Defence' Freddie is simply stating that all he is is a singer and cannot and should not be made to take on the wrongs of the world: he is no more capable of righting them then is anyone else. In the third stanza:

In my defence what is there to say
We destroy the love, it's our way
We never listen enough, never face the truth
Then like a passing song, love is here and then it's gone

Freddie tells us that what happens is our fault: we destroy the love (don't expect him to fix it), we don't listen (don't expect to heed the warning (Prophet's Song?)) yet we expect the singer of songs, Freddie, to cure all our ills for us. He is caught between the lovers and the fading dream, caught where he cannot be and in this he gives his plaintive cry for help to a God.

It is easy to place all of Freddie's mid-80's and later work in the 'I know I am going to die and so I am saying goodbye etc' field, but this over simplifies the music and does a great disservice to Freddie's skill as a song writer/singer and as a human. The common role taken on by anyone in a position of power - whether singer (bard), judge, politician, teacher or parent - is to become the scapegoat, to bear the blame for the trials and tribulations that occur in their charge's lives. It is easier to lay blame on others then it is to face up to your own mistakes: it is easier to hate the lawmaker then to acknowledge that you have broken the law.

This is what I believe Freddie is saying in this song. He is not saying he has had enough, but rather that