It Wasn’t Written Overnight!
Formerly referred to as “The Cowboy Song” by Mercury. Bohemian Rhapsody like many others in its ranks was considered for years as working progress. According to Chris Smith the keyboardist of the band Smile, and a close friend of Freddie, the song was already at its humble beginnings in 1968.
Source: Queerty
Freddie played around as much as he could with the lyrics and the melody until he felt it was the perfect, or at least close to it. Most of his songs were written in a studio, Freddie kept this gem safe at home it was his baby, and it needed to be nurtured, and safe where he could see it! Maybe not the cleanest baby, as most of the writing was done on scrap paper, and telephone books. Sounds odd, but ask any artist. “scrap paper is where the magic happens!” Freddie Mercury’s reveal of the Bohemian Rhapsody was something he held dearly. He knew exactly what he was doing!