Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy?
It turns out that Queen’s famous 1975 hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” was almost named “Mongolian Rhapsody” when frontman Freddie Mercury first wrote it.
The inside intel comes from a new auction exhibition at Sotheby’s Auction House in London, “Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own,” which shows some of his private collection and belongings.
Some of Mercury’s songwriting drafts will be on display, including a draft of “Bohemian Rhapsody” scribbled on a piece of stationery from the now-defunct airline, British Midland Airways.
The draft spans 15 pages and appears that he crossed out the word “Mongolian” and replaced it with the lyrics “Bohemian Rhapsody,” written in black and blue ballpoint pen and pencil.
On the pieces of paper, it also shows that he changed the lyrics of the nearly six-minute-long song’s famous second verse – initially reading, “Mama, there’s a war began, I’ve got to leave tonight.”
The final version of the song’s lyrics read, “Mama, just killed a man.”
The Post reached out to Sotheby’s for further comment.
The manuscript of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is estimated to be auctioned between $100,000 and $150,000,000.
Mercury was the lead singer in the popular band “Queen,” and was also their songwriter.
He wrote and composed many hits, including “Love of My Life,” “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon” and “Seaside Rendezvous.”
The talented artist died on November 24, 1991, after a battle with AIDS – just one day after he announced his diagnosis publicly, according to the band’s website.
The song “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a clear chart-topper, and has been sold or streamed more than 10 million times in the United States, according to People.
During a rare 1982 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mercury spoke more about his musical process and artistic talents.
“I’m a big ham, really, I just get on that stage and do it,” Mercury said at the time. “I don’t really take myself that seriously. Not anymore.”
He continued, “There was a time when, in the early days, where our music was very pompous and very serious and people thought, ‘Oh God, what a load of bores,’ and at that time, we were getting a bit serious, everyone is serious to a point, but after 10 years, you know, you gotta kinda ease off a little and I personally just have a good time just fooling around on stage, you know.”
Other items in the auction include other manuscripts of his songwriting, including drafts for “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Somebody to Love” and “We Are the Champions.”
The items come from a personal collection that was stored in the London home, Garden Lodge, that Mercury bought in 1980.
“Alongside his legendary public persona, Freddie Mercury was a deeply educated collector with a connoisseur’s eye, honed over years of careful research and exploration of the artists and movements that sparked his intellectual and aesthetic curiosity,” the description for the exhibit reads.
Highlights from the collection will be available to be seen at Sotheby’s in New York from June 1 to 8, and then it will be taken to Los Angeles, Hong Kong and London in August through September.
