Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy

Queen's 'Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy' is a delightful blend of old-time charm and romantic escapades, wrapped in the band's signature rock flair. The song, featured on their 1976 album 'A Day at the Races,' showcases Freddie Mercury's flamboyant performance style and his penchant for theatricality. The lyrics paint a picture of a suave, romantic figure who prides himself on his traditional approach to love and courtship.

The song's narrator offers a series of romantic gestures, from dimming the lights and singing songs to serenading a love interest. These actions hark back to a bygone era of romance, suggesting a yearning for the simplicity and directness of past courtship rituals. The repeated chorus, 'Oh love, oh lover boy, what're doing tonight? Hey, boy,' followed by various promises of charm and attention, reinforces the narrator's role as a dedicated and attentive suitor. The use of phrases like 'set my alarm, turn on my charm' and 'use my fancy patter on the telephone' adds a playful and somewhat cheeky tone to the song, indicating that the lover boy persona is both earnest and a bit performative.

The song also references social activities that were considered sophisticated in the past, such as dining at the Ritz and driving back 'in style.' These lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time when such outings were the epitome of a romantic date. The mention of learning passion 'in the good old fashioned school of lover boys' suggests that the narrator sees value in the traditional ways of expressing love and affection. Queen's musical arrangement, with its harmonious blend of piano, guitar, and Mercury's dynamic vocals, complements the lyrical content, creating a song that feels both timeless and joyously out of step with the contemporary love songs of its time.