Morse code in 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and other songs

Cafe Society
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I own a book that contains single page articles about every #1 Billboard single in the US from 1955 to 1985. In the article for The Beatles’ “Penny Lane,” there is a paragraph discussing the flipside “Strawberry Fields Forever” and states that the song contains a brief morse code message of the letters ‘J’ and ‘L’ (initals for John Lennon). One can here the morse code beeps toward the beginning of the song immediately after Lennon sings “Let me take you down 'cause I’m going to…”

I cannot decipher morse code, but I trust the article is correct.

Can any dopers think of other songs that contain morse code messages?

I can think of one other that’s a possiblilty: there is a beeping that sounds to me like morse code at the beginning of Pink Floyd’s “Astronomy Domine.” Does any one know if it really is morse code? If so, what’s the message?

AC

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Steve’s Beatles Page thinks not.

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I’m highly skeptical of the claim for Morse code in “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

The Stranglers’ “Enough Time” contains a Morse message to the effect of “SOS–This is earth–we are fucked–please advise.”

“Oh Dear Miss Morse” by Pearls Before Swine finds Tom Rapp actally singing the dits and dahs’ to spell out “fuck.”

“Little Black Buzzer” by Ivor Cutler also has sung dits and dahs, spelling out “Here I am.”

4

I’m not going to argue with this because I really don’t know. If it’s not morse code for “JL,” then what is it? random beeping from a telegraph?

Thank you, Biffy. I was not aware of these. :slight_smile:

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Amarok by Mike Oldfield (entire CD = 1 track = 1 song) has a sequence where Morse code is spelled out by a chain saw sound. It translates to “fuck off RB” for Richard Branson. Mike was not fond or Richard - contract dispute.

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International Morse Code Alphabet.

“JL” is:
. — — — / . — . .

7

The theme tune to the British TV show Inspector Morse contained morse code that spelt out M-O-R-S-E, (though I’m told it was badly done and actually spelt TTORSE).

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At the end of London Calling. But… I’m not sure what it says.

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Isn’t the main riff to “YYZ” by Rush supposed to be Morse code for Y-Y-Z? I remember a friend of mine saying his father, a pilot, had walked in while my friend was listening to it. “Hey, that’s YYZ!” said his dad. My friend thought his father was suddenly into Rush, but dad told him it’s Morse code for Y-Y-Z, which I believe is the airport code for a Canadian city (Montreal?).

And They Might Be Giants’ “The Pencil Rain,” from the album Lincoln, contains some Morse code as well; apparently it says, “Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay, canta y no llores.” Read all about it here (question #9 if the anchor link doesn’t take you there).

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No, Toronto.

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In ELO’s “Secret Messages”, you can hear some Morse Code at the beginning of the song (right after the backwards speech and before the guitar). It spells out E-L-O (it’s also printed on the album jacket along the back).

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The beginning of Beethoven’s 5th symphony is morse code for V.

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Beethoven was known for such hidden messages. Try playing his recording of
Eroica backwards, for example.

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You think that’s a trip? Check out what happens when you sync up his Missa Solemnis with The Wizard of Oz!

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Wow! You get Aciore! That is totally amazing, I’d never noticed that.

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Morse code is more prolific is music than I had expected. I appreciate all the responses

So, at what point in The Wizard of Oz should one start “Missa Solemnis” or order to acheive proper syncopation?

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I think there’s a secret morse code message hidden in the song Western Union by the Five Americans. :wink:

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No Moody Blues Fans, eh?

Nothing Changes on the Strange Times CD has “CQ” repeated fairly often.
(The high-pitched synth.)

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B-52’s Planet Claire has some morse code, too.

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Depends on which Wizard remake you have. If you’re using the 1914 version, synchronize the start of the second movement of Missa with the first appearance (in the movie) of King Krewel’s daughter.