[Verse 1]
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
[Pre-Chorus]
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through (And I mean to go on and on, and on, and on)
[Chorus]
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world
[Verse 2]
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
[Pre-Chorus]
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through (And I mean to go on and on, and on, and on)
[Chorus]
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world
[Verse 2]
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
[Pre-Chorus]
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose (And I mean to go on and on, and on, and on)
[Chorus]
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world
[Outro]
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end, oh
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose (And I mean to go on and on, and on, and on)
[Chorus]
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world
[Outro]
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end, oh
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
About
Genius Annotation
“We Are the Champions” is the second track on Queen’s sixth studio album, News of the World. It was released as an A-side single, with its partner song, “We Will Rock You”, as the B-side. The songs were written as companions and are frequently played consecutively. The single was an international success, reaching the top 10 in seven countries.
“We Are the Champions” is a power ballad celebrating victory after a hard fought battle against long odds. It is often used as a victory anthem at sporting events. It’s been cited as the catchiest song ever recorded.
A 2006 dance remix cover of “We Are the Champions” by Crazy Frog became a massive international success, reaching the top 10 in nine different countries, including #1 in France.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
What certifications did this track receive?
Genius Answer
“We Are the Champions” was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA on August 24, 2022.
- 5.Liar
- 9.Jesus
- 11.Procession
- 12.Father to Son
- 14.Some Day One Day
- 16.Ogre Battle
- 18.Nevermore
- 22.Brighton Rock
- 23.Killer Queen
- 24.Tenement Funster
- 27.Now I’m Here
- 29.Stone Cold Crazy
- 30.Dear Friends
- 31.Misfire
- 39.’39
- 40.Sweet Lady
- 43.Love of My Life
- 44.Good Company
- 49.Long Away
- 51.You and I
- 52.Somebody to Love
- 53.White Man
- 55.Drowse
- 57.We Will Rock You
- 58.We Are the Champions
- 65.Who Needs You
- 66.It’s Late
- 68.Mustapha
- 70.Jealousy
- 71.Bicycle Race
- 74.Dead on Time
- 76.Dreamer’s Ball
- 77.Fun It
- 81.Play the Game
- 82.Dragon Attack
- 89.Coming Soon
- 90.Save Me
- 91.Flash’s Theme
- 95.Football Fight
- 101.Flash to the Rescue
- 103.Battle Theme
- 104.The Wedding March
- 108.The Hero
- 109.Staying Power
- 110.Dancer
- 111.Back Chat
- 112.Body Language
- 113.Action This Day
- 114.Put Out the Fire
- 116.Calling All Girls
- 118.Cool Cat
- 119.Under Pressure
- 120.Radio Ga Ga
- 121.Tear It Up
- 122.It’s a Hard Life
- 123.Man on the Prowl
- 125.I Want to Break Free
- 127.Hammer to Fall
- 129.One Vision
- 130.A Kind of Magic
- 131.One Year of Love
- 136.Don’t Lose Your Head
- 138.Party
- 139.Khashoggi’s Ship
- 140.The Miracle
- 141.I Want It All
- 142.The Invisible Man
- 143.Breakthru
- 144.Rain Must Fall
- 145.Scandal
- 146.My Baby Does Me
- 147.Was It All Worth It
- 148.Innuendo
- 150.Headlong
- 152.Don’t Try So Hard
- 153.Ride the Wild Wind
- 154.All God’s People
- 156.Delilah
- 157.The Hitman
- 158.Bijou
- 159.The Show Must Go On
- 160.It’s a Beautiful Day
- 161.Made in Heaven
- 162.Let Me Live
- 163.Mother Love
- 166.Heaven for Everyone
- 168.You Don’t Fool Me
- 169.A Winter’s Tale
- 171.Untitled
Credits
Producers
Writer
Video Director
Background Vocals
Bass Guitar
Engineer
Electric Guitar
Piano
Lead Vocals
Drums
Recorded At
Sarm Studios, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England; Wessex Sound Studios, Highbury, Islington, Inner London, England
Released on
October 7, 1977
Songs That Sample We Are the Champions
I Am The Champion by GFOTY, Champions by C Blu (Ft. Wan Billz), Je suis comme je suis (Ik ben zoals ik ben) by Ruurd Woltring, Damnesiac by Dumphop, RAP FIFA by MGFIFA, Una guía práctica para matar by Tino el Pingüino, Champions by mgk (Ft. Diddy), Manny Pacquiao by Fashawn, Phone Numbers by Wiz Khalifa (Ft. Big Sean & Trae tha Truth), Champions by Dame Dash (Ft. Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron, Kanye West, Twista & Young Chris), All On You (You're My Baby) by Red Fox, Billy Rock by Ruurd Woltring & Li immortacci by Elio e le Storie Tese & Elio e le Storie Tese (Ft. Edoardo Vianello, Edoardo Vianello, Giorgia & Giorgia)
Songs That Interpolate We Are the Champions
Si Voy a la Guerra by Alain Verdier, Mega Meme Medley - Otamatone Cover #100 by TheRealSullyG, Queen Medley by Dustin the Turkey, You Are the Champions (In Support of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund) by Queen & Adam Lambert, Champions by Icewear Vezzo & Babyface Ray, Li immortacci by Elio e le Storie Tese & Elio e le Storie Tese (Ft. Edoardo Vianello, Edoardo Vianello, Giorgia & Giorgia), We're More Than Champions by ApologetiX, Soul Brother by Queen, We Are the Keepers by Jason Charles Miller & We Are the Penguins by Caleb Coradi (Ft. Brad Corrie)
We Are the Champions Covers
Where Are the Askers? by Quackity, We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You by Dolly Parton, We Are the Champions by Wing, We Are the Champions by Zach Braff, We Are the Champions (Live) by P!nk, Mir sin die Champions by Bläck Fööss, We Are the Champions by William Hung, We Are The Champions by Paul Shortino, Somos Campeones by La Uniøn, We Are The Champions by Jonathan Coulton, We Are The Champions by Gavin DeGraw, Global Elite song by Oczosinko, We Will Rock You & We Are The Champions by Jonathan Coulton, We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong) by Crazy Frog, We Are The Champions by Mayday Parade, We are the Champions by Robbie Williams (Ft. Queen) & We Are the Champions (Live at Irving Plaza, New York, NY, 9/21/04) by Green Day
We Are the Champions Live Performances
We Are the Champions by Queen + Paul Rodgers, We Are the Champions (Live at Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 16th February 2020) by Queen (Ft. Adam Lambert), We Are the Champions (Live at Rock in Rio Festival) by Queen, We Are the Champions (Live at the Montreal Forum, 1981) by Queen, We Are the Champions [Live Killers] by Queen, We Are the Champions (Live in Budapest, 27th July 1986) by Queen, We Are the Champions (Live at Wembley Stadium, 1986) by Queen, We Are the Champions (Live at the Milton Keynes Bowl, 5th June 1982) by Queen, We Are the Champions (Live at Knebworth Park, 1986) by Queen, We Are the Champions (Live Aid) by Queen & Bohemian Rhapsody / We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions (Mixed) by Queen
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