Wednesday, March 29, 2017 – It Was a Dark and Stormy Night. Thunderbolt and Lightening; Very, Very Frightening. What is the meaning of Bismillah in a Version of Bohemian Rhapsody?

Just to clarify – I was referring to the overnight weather in the Brazos Valley of Texas and not the seemingly daily happenings at the White House.

Since the rains prohibited golf today, I decided to pretend I was a front row media professional at the WH Briefing Room when Sean Spicer (SS) gives the daily briefing. Listen in to my imagination.

Me: It is true that the POTUS is not going to throw out the first pitch on opening day of baseball season? Baseball – America’s National Pastime. Why is that?

SS: The President was indeed asked to throw out the first baseball… He is currently, no, stop, I am not finished talking…I answered your question. You, Lady, stop shaking your head; no one from the Trump administration has verified the nepharious rumors that the President is not going to toss the first putt, I mean pitch, at a baseball game. His schedule may prevent him from opening day, but I am 100% certain at some point he will throw out the first pitch.

Me: Is it true that the POTUS only has a 36% chance of getting the ball across the plate? There is a greater percentage he will likely come up short and not be able to deliver the ball across home plate…

SS: Listen, I am not going to discuss the president’s balls or his capabilities. No more questions. Good day.

Me: HWIT. Thunderbolt and Lightening; Very, Very Frightening. How about a little Bohemian Rhapsody to start the day. Perhaps I will send to Sean Spicer to brighten his mood.

I see a little silhouetto of a man Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very fright’ning me (Galileo) Galileo, (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo figaro magnifico…

He’s just a poor boy from a poor family Spare him his life from this monstrosity Easy come, easy go, will you let me go? Bismillah! No, we will not let you go (Let him go) Bismillah! We will not let you go (Let him go) Bismillah! We will not let you go (Let me go) Will not let you go (Let me go) Will not let you go (Let me go) Ah, no, no, no, no, no, no, no (Oh mamma mia, mamma mia) Mama mia, let me go Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me

Songwriters: Freddie Mercury. Bohemian Rhapsody lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

What is the meaning of Bismillah in Bohemian Rhapsody?

(It means “In the name of God”; the full formula is bismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm, “In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.”) It is said that the bismillah in “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a nod to Freddie Mercury’s upbringing in majority-Muslim Zanzibar.