Exploring Relativity through Music: Queen's '39 and Beyond

[saddlestone-man]

Hello All

You may be aware of Queen's song '39 where the effects of time dilation are key to the plot.

Quote:
For so many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mother's eyes, from your eyes, cry to me

Presumably the lyrics were influenced by Brian May's studies in maths and physics at Imperial College, London.

Are there any other songs where Relativity plays a part?

best regards ... Stef

 

[hutchphd]

Tom Lehrer (not specifically time dilation)

 

[saddlestone-man]

Yes I like the Tom Lehrer song

Now who would think, and who'd forecast,
That bodies shrink, when they go fast.
It makes old Isaac's theory
Look weary.

and (though I'm not sure if it's strictly true):
So then if you are near when atom bombs appear,
And you're reduced to a pile of debris,
You'll know it's largely due to -- Relativity.
Yes, you can place the blame on -- Relativity.

 

[pinball1970]

Hello All

You may be aware of Queen's song '39 where the effects of time dilation are key to the plot.

Quote:
For so many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mother's eyes, from your eyes, cry to me

Presumably the lyrics were influenced by Brian May's studies in maths and physics at Imperial College, London.

Are there any other songs where Relativity plays a part?

best regards ... Stef

A bit specific!

This mentions relativity but not time dilation

 

[Ibix]

A limerick?

There was a young lady called Bright
Who traveled far faster than light
She went out one day
In a relative way
And came back the previous night

 

[Borg]

Not time dilation in particular but relativity. The lyrics kick in about 35 seconds in.

 

[CJ2116]

Van Der Graaf Generator - Pioneers Over C

 

[waternohitter]

Van Der Graaf Generator - Pioneers Over C

A masterpiece!

 

[Jarr]

Hello All

You may be aware of Queen's song '39 where the effects of time dilation are key to the plot.

Quote:
For so many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mother's eyes, from your eyes, cry to me

Presumably the lyrics were influenced by Brian May's studies in maths and physics at Imperial College, London.

Are there any other songs where Relativity plays a part?

best regards ... Stef

Dilation of time, song by Plastydy, available on Spotify ,etc.

 

[Beery]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned...

Benson Arizona, by Master of Horror John Carpenter, from the movie "Dark Star":

A million suns shine down
But I see only one
When I think I'm over you
I find I've just begun
The years move faster than the days
There's no warmth in the light
How I miss those desert skies
Your cool touch in the night

[Chorus]
Benson, Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair
My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there
Benson, Arizona, the same stars in the sky
But they seemed so much kinder when we watched them, you and I

[Verse 2]
Now the years pull us apart
I'm young and now you're old
But you're still in my heart
And the memory won't grow cold
I dream of times and spaces
I left far behind
Where we spent our last few days
Benson's on my mind

[Chorus]
Benson, Arizona, blew warm wind through your hair
My body flies the galaxy, my heart longs to be there
Benson, Arizona, the same stars in the sky
But they seemed so much kinder when we watched them, you and I

 

[Hornbein]

Van Der Graaf Generator - Pioneers Over C

Reminds me of Booker T and the MGs' Green Onions.

 

[Hornbein]

This has the mirror thought experiment from Albert's 1905 paper.