Hammer To Fall Article Index for
Hammer
Website Links For
Hammer
 

Information About

Hammer To Fall




  Artist Queen
  From Album The Works
  Released 10 September 1984 <small>( UK etc)</small>
  Format Vinyl Record (7", 12")
  Recorded 1983
  Genre Rock
  Label EMI
  Writer Brian May
  Producer Queen and Mack
  Chart Position <ul><li>#13 <small>( UK )</small></li></ul>
  Last Single " It's A Hard Life "<br/>(1984)
  This Single "'''Hammer to Fall'''"<br/>(1984)
  Next Single " Thank God It's Christmas "<br/>(1984)


Hammer to Fall is a 1984 hard-rock Song written by Brian May and performed by the British rock group Queen with Freddie Mercury on lead vocal. It appeared in their 1984 album The Works .

It was the fourth and final single to be released from that album. Different sleeves were used to package this single and the live picture sleeve is now a Collector's Item . The song was also the subject of a popular Music Video . The song harks back to the
Queen of old, with a song being built around a hard angular and muscular riff.


INTERPRETATION

The lyrics refer to the Cold War era in which the band members grew up, fueling the popular conception that the song was about Nuclear War :

For we who grew up tall and proud

In the shadow of the mushroom cloud

Convinced our voices can't be heard

We just wanna scream it louder and louder and louder


The song, however, contains many more references to Death and its inevitability:

Rich or poor or famous

For your truth it's all the same (oh no oh no)

Lock your door the rain is pouring

Through your window pane (oh no)

Baby now your struggle's all in vain


The issue was effectively settled when May wrote on his website that "Hammer to Fall is really about life and death, and being aware of death as being part of life. {Link without Title} The Hammer coming down is only a symbol of the Grim Reaper doing his job!!"

The song was a concert favorite and was played at Live Aid , at their concerts in Wembley Stadium and a version of the song with the first part played in the style of a Ballad was played by Queen + Paul Rodgers in 2005 . The song peaked at number 13 in the UK and was later featured in the movie Highlander .


REFERENCE