’39 Lyrics
[Verse 1]
In the year of '39 assembled here, the Volunteers
In the days when lands were few
Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
Sweetest sight ever seen
And the night followed day, and the storytellers say
That the score brave souls inside
For many a lonely day
Sailed across the milky seas
Never looked back, never feared, never cried
[Chorus]
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
[Instrumental break]
[Verse 2]
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 weight
For the Earth is old and grey
Little darling, we'll away but my love this cannot be
For so many years are 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
[Outro]
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
About
“39'” was written by Brian May, who had a BSc in Physics from Imperial College and has since gained a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the same institution. It’s about a group of pioneers who go searching for another planet to colonize, but due to Special Relativity and time dilation, they come back to a strange Earth they no longer know.
Just like any great science fiction writer, May uses this futuristic story to explore universal themes, such as lost love and loneliness. The story is phrased like a tale of old-time explorers, on their journey to a new land.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Brian May – 1983, BBC Radio One:
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.
Freddie Mercury – 21/05/1976, Record Mirror :
It’s something that we have. […] People can’t believe it, they can’t believe it’s us. It’s something Brian May wanted to do and it’s very, very unlike Queen really. I think it’s going to the B-side for You’re My Best Friend. It’s something Brian [May] wanted to do and that’s nice.
Yes, he does. Brian and Roger sing backing vocals in that version as well.
It’s a testament to the fleeting nature of the time they spent apart. By the time the pioneers return, all they have known will be no more, like footprints on the shore.
- 5.’39
- 6.Sweet Lady
- 10.Good Company
