Spread Your Wings

Infobox Single
Name = Spread Your Wings


Artist = Queen
from Album = News of the World
B-side = Sheer Heart Attack
Released = February 10, 1978
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1977 at Sarm West and Wessex Studios
Genre = Hard rock, Power Ballad
Length = 04:26
Label = EMI, Elektra (US)
Writer = John Deacon
Producer = Queen, assisted by Mike Stone
Chart position =

• #20 (Netherlands)

• #34 (UK)

NoReviews = yes
Last single = "We Are the Champions" (1977)
This single = "Spread Your Wings" (1978)
Next single = "It's Late" (1978)

Spread Your Wings is a song by Queen, from their 1977 album "News of the World". It was released as the A side of the single Spread Your Wings/Sheer Heart Attack in 1978. It is a rock ballad, written by bassist John Deacon. It features Deacon on bass and acoustic guitar, Freddie Mercury on piano and vocals, Brian May on guitar and Roger Taylor on drums. This is the first Queen single without backing vocals or harmonies.

The song is quite popular among Queen fans, and audiences loved to sing along, as can be heard on the Live Killers live album compilation. The song is in 4/4 meter, and starts with a simple piano motif in D. It is written in D Major, then modulating up to D's relative minor, B minor in the bridge, coming down to D in the chorus.

The was difficult for Freddie to do live because of a high b (B5) in chest voice in the bridge before the chorus and was often lowered, when performed live.

The lyrics of the song describe a young lad named Sammy who works sweeping the floor at Emerald Bar. The narrator (singer) of the song tries to cheer Sammy up, telling him to "spread your wings and fly away".

In addition to the version on "News of the World", Queen recorded another version for the BBC sessions which has a more prominent piano part and a more uptempo finale.

Cover versions

This song was covered by German power metal band Blind Guardian on both their 1992 album "Somewhere Far Beyond", and the their 1996 album "The Forgotten Tales"