About the Song
Queen – “Good Company”: Brian May’s Jazzy Tribute to Friendship and Fleeting Time
Album: A Night at the Opera (1975)
Nestled between the operatic grandiosity of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the sweeping balladry of “Love of My Life” on Queen’s iconic 1975 album A Night at the Opera is a curious and charming track titled “Good Company.” Written and sung by Brian May, this overlooked gem showcases not only his songwriting depth but also his musical inventiveness and deep affection for vintage soundscapes.
At first listen, “Good Company” feels like it was plucked straight out of a 1920s parlor room. It’s a whimsical jazz-inspired tune built around a ukulele-style banjo and carried by May’s smooth, warm vocal delivery. But beneath its toe-tapping rhythm and Dixieland flair lies a deeply poignant message about life’s priorities, the passage of time, and the relationships we leave behind.
The lyrics tell the story of a man who, in his youth, treasures his circle of friends — his “good company.” But as the years pass, ambition takes hold. He becomes absorbed in work, striving for material success, and slowly pushes away those he once cherished. By the song’s final verse, he finds himself alone, wondering where his friends and good years have gone. It’s a quietly devastating commentary on the cost of tunnel-vision ambition and a reminder to hold close the people who truly matter.
Musically, the most astonishing aspect of “Good Company” is Brian May’s multi-layered guitar orchestration, which mimics an entire Dixieland jazz band — clarinet, trombone, trumpet — all recreated with his famous homemade Red Special guitar. Using intricate delays, harmonics, and clever phrasing, May essentially becomes a one-man band, making this track not only a musical throwback but a technical marvel.
Though it was never a single and rarely played live, “Good Company” is beloved by fans who appreciate Queen’s vast musical versatility. It’s a track that shows Brian May’s quiet genius, his love of storytelling, and his knack for blending humor with melancholy.
In the context of A Night at the Opera, a groundbreaking album of genre-bending ambition, “Good Company” offers a moment of reflection — a reminder that even amid the theatrical flair and rock grandeur, Queen never lost sight of heartfelt human truths.
So if you’ve only scratched the surface of Queen’s greatest hits, take a deeper listen to “Good Company.” You may find, in its gentle melody and wise words, a song that stays with you long after the final note.