A Winter's Tale

This poignant look at winter was composed by Freddie Mercury after recording the Innuendo album, just two weeks before his death. The lyrics were inspired by the view through the window at Queen's recording studio on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

Freddie wrote the song and recorded his vocals and keyboard parts live in one take. The frontman usually insisted upon music being completed prior to the vocal arrangement beginning, but realizing that he had little time left, he acknowledged that he had to speed up the process. His remaining bandmates subsequently completed the song, releasing it four years later.

Mercury penned the song in a 6/8 time signature. Several other of his best-known compositions, including "We Are The Champions" and "Somebody to Love" are in a 6/8 meter.