“We Will Rock You” and what it’s about really

Photo by craig hellier on Unsplash

Stomp. Stomp. Clap.

Stomp. Stomp. Clap.

Stomp. Stomp. Clap.

I don’t have to continue. I know you know the song. You know the song is one of the most catchy tunes ever to hit the radio. You know it is often played in a medley with “We are the Champions” at various sports events.

You probably felt that it was an underdog thing. Something you tell at to the uppity Yankee fans who keep winning all the time. Something like:

You think you are so special, but you got mud on your face, and you are a big disgrace and my team is going to beat you and me doing this stomp stomp thingey is going to help them because the fans are what makes all the magic happen.

And “we” are going to “rock” you.

But what the heck does that mean? To rock you?

“Rock” can be a sex metaphor. Certainly, rock and roll was intended to be as such. That’s because people having sex are usually performing some kind of rocking motion. But the lyrics of “We Will Rock You” hardly go in that direction. For one, the first verse is about a young boy. And then a young man. And then an old man. And none of the verses speak like the characters are in any way sexy. Unless we want to make the song really dark, which is possible, but why…