So we need more Queen.
I think the lyrics of this song are particularly great, and also sometimes hard to understand with the mastering of their songs, so I'll post them here:
Take good care of what you've got
My father said to me
As he puffed his pipe and baby B.
He dandled on his knee
Don't fool with fools who'll turn away
Keep all good company
Oo hoo oo hoo
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
Soon I grew and happy too
My very good friends and me
We'd play all day with Sally J.
The girl from number four
Very soon I begged her won't you keep me company
Oo hoo oo hoo
Oo hoo oo hoo
Oo hoo oo hoo
Come marry me for evermore we'll be good company
Now marriage is an institution sure
My wife and I our needs and nothing more
All my friends by a year
By and by disappeared
But we're safe enough behind our door
I flourished in my humble trade
My reputation grew
The work devoured my waking hours
But when my time was through
Reward of all my efforts my own
Limited company
I hardly noticed Sally as we parted company
All through the years in the end it appears
There was never really anyone but me
Now I'm old, I puff my pipe
But no-one's there to see
I ponder on the lesson of my life's insanity
Take care of those you call your own
And keep good company
To me, this song is tragic, despite the sort of upbeat banjo uke. So it starts with a man (maybe as a young adult or even child/teenager) receiving advice from his father, that what matters most in life is those whom you hold close. His father seems to have lived his advice; at least he has a family in his son and the baby, which could be another child or a grandchild. But of course, we never listen to our parents. Even if we want to, the meaning is often lost. (This is a theme explored in other Queen songs, e.g., Father to Son.)
I think the singer believes he takes the advice to heart, makes good friends, and falls in love with a girl (love the line,
Very soon I begged her won't you keep me company). Then he slowly forgets about his friends, because he thinks the answer is in his marriage (
But we're safe enough behind our door). As time goes on, he delves into his work and neglects his wife as they grow apart. (Brilliant pun/double entendre in
Reward of all my efforts my own/Limited company, as 'limited company' can mean both that he started his own business and that he's all alone.) His wife leaves him, and he barely notices.
Again, I think the singers misinterprets and takes the wrong lesson:
All through the years in the end it appears/There was never really anyone but me. He goes through his middle age years and later thinking he's the only one that is real because everyone else left him: he's the only 'good company' and the rest are the 'fools who'll turn away' his father warned him about.
Now he's old, he puffs his pipe just like his father did before him years ago. But there is no baby on his knee, no son on which to impart his wisdom. Instead, he is alone and thinks back on his own life, on what happened. And he finally understands that it was he who did not nurture his relationships, and that's why he's alone now. But, it's too late.
