Queen was commissioned to write this for the movie Highlander, and Brian May wrote it after watching the first cut of the film. He wrote the line "Who wants to live forever" in a cab on his way home from the viewing of the film. Inspiration came from the scene where Connor Macleod (Christopher Lambert) takes his dying wife Heather (Biettie Edney) in his arms at the time of her death. This is also the scene where the song is played.
In the film, Freddie Mercury sings the first verse, but on the album, Brian May sings the first verse and Freddie sings the rest.
This was covered by Breaking Benjamin for the album Killer Queen, A tribute to Queen in 2005.
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