Billy Squier - I Have Watched You Fly

I HAVE WATCHED YOU FLY

After the summer tour of 1991, when Billy was about to begin working on an idea for his next album in the late autumn, the shocking news was received that his longtime friend Freddie Mercury had AIDS. And the following day, on 24 November, the friend passed away all too soon. "I was shattered," remarks Billy. "I didn't want to say good-bye to him. I wanted to hold on to his spirit. So I wrote what for me was a very emotional, confessional song called 'I Have Watched You Fly'". The song was written the day after Freddie died. "It came out pretty quickly, over the course of the afternoon. It was not a laborious process. Perhaps his famous spontaneity was with me at last."
That started Billy writing songs for his new album. "Afterwards I remember saying, 'I want to write more songs with this sort of urgency and truthfulness'," recalls Billy. The twelve songs written by the author in such emotion were appropriately reflected on his next album's title --- "Tell The Truth". The album was brought out in April 1993.
"I Have Watched You Fly", the origin of the album, was not included on the album, but its lyrics first appeared in the book entitled "This is the Real Life... FREDDIE MERCURY" in 1992. And, at last, Billy gave the first public performance of the tribute song at the most suitable event, the opening of the play "Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God" on February 17th, 1998. "I knew Freddie as a friend," he told the audience. "I'm honored to share the stage with him in the afterlife."
The performance was recorded live and is available for free at a2bmusic or J-Bird Records website, which is the Billy's current record label and released his latest album "Happy Blue" in September 1998.

Story of Queen & Billy Squier:
http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Sumire/1293/English/queen.html

Lyrics and mp3:
http://mr-mercury.co.uk/audio.htm

Andrea

Category:

Music

Tags:

• billy
• squier
• freddie
• mercury
• queen
• i
• have
• watched
• you
• fly

[WHSSBabe]

I love the story behind this recording. Skizzoskaxxo really gives some great details about the song and its development. If you haven't read the "liner notes" posted with this vid, you need to.

I don't think of this as a tribute as much as a love letter to a dear friend. We've all had losses likes that...it's great someone like Billy Squier has the talent to put those feelings into words for all of us.

Thanks for posting and especially for the back story.

[hoof565]

I was always disappointed that he was not invited to perform at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert with Queen. He cared more than most I would suspect.

[rudegirls89]

this was performed at opening of a play for Freddie.awesome song.personal note to a close friend,this is why Billy never put it on an album.he wanted it to stand on its on.billy is extrememly underrated as an artist songwriter & guitarist

[syretta2]

Just found out about this song with in a Freddie bio.  Took me a third time reading. Anyways I LOVE this song it brings tears to my eyes. Knowing who this melody is written for makes a huge difference. Thanks Billy for loving Freddie as we all do.

[louisejbjb]

I am conviced that if it were not for YouTube we would miss out on so much truly fabulous music. And I mean to include Billy Squire

[jumpy27]

he was there (you can see him on stage during the encore) but didn't perform...

[brandybemyname]

and they should play it every day on radio

[bayley5150]

thats RIGHT!!!!!!!! Brandy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brandybemyname]

omg why havent i heard this before..its awesome

[bayley5150]

this is all HEART thanks Billy !!!!you are the BEST Cheers to you and Nicole!!!!

[delilah2709]

How can someone not cry over this...? :'(((