"39"....? the lyrics.

I've Always been a bit confused: the lyrics in "39" -what is it about? Is it symbolic? A fantasy? An actual historic event? Maybe this is the right place to get some answers....? /per

It's a sci-fi story, about space/ time travel. A group of astronauts embark on a year long voyage (or what is a year in "their time") but come home to realise that several years have passed on Earth and their families have passed on.

Aaah it makes sense, even for a swede -Thank you!

This went so good, here's an other: "prophet"....? Mysterious.

[QUOTE] [b]perrap wrote:[/b]

This went so good, here's an other: "prophet"....? Mysterious.[/QUOTE]

You're pulling our legs!

You know this is based on a dream that Brian had. Look up Noah's ark :)

of course, Noah - and Brian´s dream, all mixed together, ok! Thankyou very much!

and by the way - again - who is "death on two legs" dedicated to? someones ex-wife..?

Freddie's.

...an actual historic event? :s

This article should answer your question:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20245751/Special-Relativity-in-Rock-Music-Http-Www-scribd-com-Doc-20245751-39

It features a direct quote from Brian May, a reference to the original short story that inspired the lyrics (check the footnote, though), and a good analysis of the lyrics featuring a time dilation equation.

^ the OP is ripping the proverbial. He/she knows the answers already, they're just fooling around.

"The Prophet's Song" is quite similar to Noah's Ark too. I think that song was also based on one of Brians' dreams.

I've often thought that if the astronauts in 39 had the technology to build a spaceship and go off on a years journey they at the very least they would have understood the physics and realised that everyone would have aged back on earth. Duh.

^ it's all bollocks. I disagree completely with Einstein: a year is a year anywhere in the universe. Or multiverse if you're a Family Guy fan. How many astronauts have been away for a year, only to come back to their entire family being dead through old age?????

'39 is very similar to an old Irish folk tale, Oisín of Tír Na nÓg.

http://www.horsesoftirnanog.org/legend.htm