Bicycle Race – English Lyrics

• By: Queen
• Album: Jazz

Lyrics & Translation

Get ready to explore the energetic world of Queen's "Bicycle Race"! This iconic song, filled with playful lyrics and a unique bicycle bell solo, offers a fun way to improve your English. Learn about cultural references, enjoy its catchy melody, and discover the story behind its creation, all while celebrating the joy of cycling and individual expression.

[English]

I want to ride my...

I want to ride my bicycle

I want to ride my bike

I want to ride my bicycle

I want to ride it where I like

You say black, I say white

You say bark, I say bite

You say shark, I say hey man

Jaws was never my scene

I don't like Star Wars

You say Rolls, I say Royce

You say God, give me a choice

You say Lord, I say Christ

I don't believe in Peter Pan

Frankenstein or Superman

All I wanna do is

I want to ride my...

I want to ride my bicycle

I want to ride my bike

I want to ride my bicycle

I want to ride my...

Bicycle races are coming your way

So forget all your duties, oh yeah

Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today

So look out for those beauties, oh yeah

On your marks, get set, go

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bicycle /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/ A2	noun - two‑wheeled vehicle powered by pedaling
ride /raɪd/ A1	verb - to sit on and travel by a vehicle
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - dark colour
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - light colour
shark /ʃɑːrk/ A2	noun - large marine predator
Jaws /dʒɔːz/ C1	noun - title of the 1975 film about a shark
Rolls /roʊlz/ B2	noun - brand name, as in Rolls‑Royce
Royce /rɔɪs/ B2	noun - brand name, as in Rolls‑Royce
God /ɡɒd/ A2	noun - deity, supreme being
choice /tʃɔɪs/ B1	noun - an option or alternative
Lord /lɔːrd/ B2	noun - title for a deity or a nobleman
Christ /kraɪst/ B2	noun - title for Jesus in Christianity
Frankenstein /ˈfræŋkənˌstaɪn/ C1	noun - fictional scientist from Mary Shelley’s novel
Superman /ˈsuːpərˌmæn/ B2	noun - fictional superhero character
races /ˈreɪsɪz/ B1	noun - competitions of speed, especially on bicycles
duties /ˈdjuːtiz/ B2	noun - responsibilities or tasks
girls /ɡɜːrlz/ A1	noun - young female persons
beauties /ˈbjuːtiz/ B1	noun - people who are physically attractive
marks /mɑːrks/ B1	noun - reference points, e.g., “on your marks” before a race
set /sɛt/ A1	verb - to place or prepare for action

Key Grammar Structures

• I want to ride my bicycle

  ➔ present simple + infinitive complement

  ➔ The verb "want" is in the present simple and is followed by the infinitive "to ride".

• You say black, I say white

  ➔ parallel simple present clauses with contrastive conjunction

  ➔ Both "say" verbs are in the present simple, showing a contrast between the two statements.

• I don't like Star Wars

  ➔ negative present simple with auxiliary "do"

  ➔ The contraction "don't" combines the auxiliary "do" with "not" to make the verb "like" negative.

• All I wanna do is ride my bike

  ➔ catenative construction with "be" + infinitive

  ➔ The phrase "is" links the subject "All I wanna do" to the infinitive "ride".

• Bicycle races are coming your way

  ➔ present progressive (be + -ing)

  ➔ The verb phrase "are coming" uses the auxiliary "are" plus the present participle "coming" to indicate an action happening now or in the near future.

• So forget all your duties, oh yeah

  ➔ imperative mood

  ➔ The verb "forget" is used in the imperative to give a direct command.

• Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today

  ➔ future progressive (will be + -ing)

  ➔ The contraction "they'll be riding" combines "will" + "be" + the present participle "riding" to describe an ongoing action in the future.

• On your marks, get set, go

  ➔ sequence of imperatives

  ➔ Each verb "marks", "set", and "go" is in the imperative, giving a step‑by‑step instruction.