Brian said it is about space travel in the '30's, it is kinda confusing, but still very beautiful. I think its about spending alot of time in space and then you come home and find everything different...something like that you know. Other than that, the song is GORGEOUS!
we all are...'39, is very interesting and somewhat weird. haha
deleted user 10.07.2006 19:09
Songfacts.com plz!
"The song is about an astronaut who travels to a distant place at near the speed of light. Because of the time dilation that takes place at these speeds, he and his crew return home 100 years later. He has aged only a year but sadly finds that his wife has long passed on and that he is about the same age as his grandchildren."
deleted user 10.07.2006 20:28
QueenMAYniac wrote: Brian said it is about space travel in the '30's, it is kinda confusing, but still very beautiful. I think its about spending alot of time in space and then you come home and find everything different...something like that you know. Other than that, the song is GORGEOUS!
that is exactly what it is about. You know your songs...so obviously you DID go to Queen and PR
In fact, you gotta remember the scientific-spacelover side of Brian May. This song is about the difference of time depending of where you are(relativity). As these people go in space they have the impression to spend only a year out there but in fact hundreds of years have passed on earth so all the people they knew are dead "for the earth is old and grey", "for so many years have gone though I'm older but a year". Sorry if the explanation is confusing, I'm not much of a scientist but it really is what it is about.
Hope this helps...
I did´nt get it to begin with eather :p..
I heard about it in an interview, and Brian even asked if it was´nt obvious xD!
I thought it was about some dudes returning from the sea, not the outer space :s
deleted user 19.07.2006 16:34
I told this to my mom a long time ago, and she didn't believe me.
She once told me it was about Australia... and I believed her for the longest time... Then again, she told me a lot of stuff about Queen songs that I now know are 100% off the mark.
QueenMAYniac wrote: Brian said it is about space travel in the '30's, it is kinda confusing, but still very beautiful. I think its about spending alot of time in space and then you come home and find everything different...something like that you know. Other than that, the song is GORGEOUS!
Other than that? That cool story ADDS to its beauty! xD
'39 was played this morning on one of my favourite radio stations.
Finally!!
deleted user 22.07.2006 17:11
I think it has a vague reference to Einsteins Theory of relativity. Please don't ask me to explain it. It is impossible. Put simply, the faster you go the slower time goes. So travelling at say, speed of light (though you physically can't do that) means time'll pass very slowly. So in '39 the person is space-travelling and travels round the world very fast. So like others have said he comes back 100 years later merely a year older. 1 year for him took 100 years to pass on Earth. mind you it is basically a love song look at it that way.
I totally saw this episode on Star Trek : The Next Generation.
The people were frozen in the capsule and when they were unfrozen, everything had changed on Earth and their banks didn't exsit. And their loved ones where pretty much all dead, all dead.
deleted user 22.07.2006 17:32
Reminds me of a story of the smurfs, where one smurf sleeps for a 100 years and when he wakes up all smurfs around him are old and have grey beards lol :)
Anyway it's a very beautiful song
DeeEmm wrote: And '39 so happens to be the 39th song in the Queen catalogue. Yay!
I think that's how it got its name. :P I don't think the song would've been changed if it was like, "In the year of '46 assembled here the volunteers." :D
DeeEmm wrote: And '39 so happens to be the 39th song in the Queen catalogue. Yay!
I think that's how it got its name. :P I don't think the song would've been changed if it was like, "In the year of '46 assembled here the volunteers." :D
Nope... i read it, Thirtynine. After Brian wrote the song, like right after it was released, Queen noticed the coincidence.
DeeEmm wrote: And '39 so happens to be the 39th song in the Queen catalogue. Yay!
I think that's how it got its name. :P I don't think the song would've been changed if it was like, "In the year of '46 assembled here the volunteers." :D
Nope... i read it, Thirtynine. After Brian wrote the song, like right after it was released, Queen noticed the coincidence.
Blah, whatever. I try to make myself sound smart. lol
I love this song(see my username) but I've always wondered exactly what the line "In the land that our grandchildren knew" meant. Also, I know this is the 39th Queen song in the album tracklisting. Was this just a coincidence discovered after the track had been named or was that premeditated? Anyone know?