Counting all of the original songs starting with Keep Yourself Alive (on the eponymous first Queen album) all the way through to '39, this song falls 39th in chronological order. Brian May is also the 39th guitarist on the "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
The acoustic guitars were recorded with a capo on the first fret, making them sound a semitone higher.
May jokingly suggested that bassist John Deacon play an upright bass to reinforce the skiffle feel of the song. Only after seeing that Deacon had taught himself how to play one in the studio did the band agree to use the instrument. "'39" was released as the B-side to "You're My Best Friend", so the two singles from A Night at the Opera comprised one composition from each of the four members of Queen.
The song tells the story of twenty volunteers who set of an a space-ship and return one hundred years later having only aged one year. The protagonist returns to find his wife dead and sees her eyes in their daughters. In a 1983 interview with BBC Radio One, Brian May had this to say about the song:
"It’s a science fiction story. It’s the story about someone who goes away and leaves his family and because of the time dilation effect, when you go away, the people on earth have aged a lot more than he has when he comes home. He’s aged a year and they’ve aged 100 years so, instead of coming back to his wife, he comes back to his daughter and he can see his wife in his daughter, a strange story. I think, also, I had in mind a story of Herman Hesse which I think is called ‘The River’. A man leaves his hometown and has lots of travels and then comes back and observes his hometown from the other side of the river. He sees it in a different light having been away and experienced all those different things. He sees it in a very illuminating way, cause I felt a little bit like that about my home at the time as well having been away and seen this vastly different world of rock music. Totally different from the way I was brought up and I had those feelings about home.
So usually the song, I think people generally usually won’t admit it, but I think when most people write songs there are more than one level to them. They’ll be about one thing on the surface but underneath they’re probably, even unconsciously, trying to say something about their own life, their own experience. I know in my own stuff there is something like that."
'39
Queen Lyrics
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In the days when lands were few
Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
The sweetest sight ever seen
And the night followed day
And the story tellers say
That the score brave souls inside
Ne'er looked back, never feared, never cried
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew
In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue
The volunteers came home that day
And they bring good news of a world so newly born
Though their hearts so heavily weigh
For the earth is old and grey, little darling, we'll away
But my love, this cannot be
Oh, so many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mother's eyes, from your eyes, cry to me
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away?
Don't you hear me calling you?
Write your letters in the sand for the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away?
Don't you hear me calling you?
All your letters in the sand cannot heal me like your hand
For my life
Still ahead
Pity me
'39 is a song by British rock band Queen, written by guitarist Brian May. The song tells an emotionally powerful story about space travel and time dilation. The lyrics describe a group of volunteers departing from Earth in the year of 1939 for a journey across the "milk-seas" to find a new home due to Earth's imminent destruction. After many years, the crew returns to the Earth but the planet has significantly aged. The song ends with the singer calling out to his lover who is "many years away". Despite the difficult circumstances, the song ends with a message of hope, as the singer looks forward to the land that their grandchildren will know.
Line by Line Meaning
In the year of '39, assembled here the volunteers
In the year 1939, the volunteers gathered here to embark on a journey.
In the days when lands were few
During a time when there were not many places left to explore.
Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
The ship sailed out into a beautiful morning sky.
The sweetest sight ever seen
The view was astonishing and indescribably beautiful.
And the night followed day
Time passed by.
And the story tellers say
According to the tales passed down through generations.
That the score brave souls inside
There were twenty brave souls on board the ship.
For many a lonely day sailed across the milky seas
The journey was long and arduous, taking them across seas that looked like milk under the night sky.
Ne'er looked back, never feared, never cried
Despite the hardships, they pushed forward with courage and determination.
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Even though it's been years since we've met, can you hear me calling out to you?
Don't you hear me calling you
I long to be reunited with you.
Write your letters in the sand
Please write me letters that I can read when I am alone.
For the day I take your hand
I dream of the day when we can be reunited and hold each other's hand.
In the land that our grandchildren knew
A world where our grandchildren can live and thrive.
In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue
The year 1939 also had a ship coming home.
The volunteers came home that day
The volunteers returned from their journey.
And they bring good news of a world so newly born
They shared about a world that is just beginning to flourish.
Though their hearts so heavily weigh
Despite their joy, they carry a heavy burden deep inside.
For the earth is old and grey, little darling, we'll away
The Earth is aging and its beauty is fading; we must leave it behind someday.
But my love, this cannot be
I cannot bear the thought of leaving you.
Oh, so many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Time has passed, and I have aged, but it feels like just yesterday that we departed.
Your mother's eyes, from your eyes, cry to me
When I look into your eyes, I see a reflection of your mother, who I miss deeply.
All your letters in the sand cannot heal me like your hand
Reading your letters brings me comfort, but nothing compares to the touch of your hand.
For my life
I struggle with loneliness and longing.
Still ahead
I must continue living, despite the pain.
Pity me
My heart aches with loneliness, and I beg for your pity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian May
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emmalyn Westrick
Im convinced that Brian May is the perfect human being. He is the best guitarist in the world, he's a great piano player, he has a beautiful voice, he is basically a genius with a PhD in Astrophysics, and he's GORGEOUS. Like what the heck...
Jayne Falconer
He's a lovely bloke too as I met him and his wife Anita a few years back :)
E J
He is pretty perfect, but he has faults; he has cheated on his wives, among other things.
Freddie Mercury
And he's well proportioned in his...lower area, according to Freddie. 😂
Jayne Falconer
@E J he's only been married twice, he's still with his 2nd wife Anita
neuralmute
@Freddie Mercury Well Freddie, you'd be one to know! ;D
Max SH
ROGER TAYLOR DOES NOT NEED AN INSTRUMENT, HE IS THE INSTRUMENT.
Diana Marčeková
YES!
Also I love your profile picture my fellow sherlockian.
Pierre Timmermans
a guy opens his door and use an autotune and you think that on Roger ? No, He is the one who scream !
Laylah Gray
amen sister (or brother or other)