# Morse code in 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and other songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169 "2005-11-21T23:50:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/1 "2005-11-21T23:50:35Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/2 "2005-11-22T00:18:39Z")
[Steve’s Beatles Page](http://www.stevesbeatles.com/songs/strawberry_fields_forever.asp) thinks not. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/3 "2005-11-22T00:22:54Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/4 "2005-11-22T00:38:49Z")
> [@](#): > > from Steve’s Beatles Page > _This is most certainly not “JL”, and is in fact rather poor morse code, if it is meant to be that_. 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? > [@](#): > > 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.” Thank you, Biffy. I was not aware of these. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/5 "2005-11-22T00:42:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/6 "2005-11-22T00:44:41Z")
[International Morse Code Alphabet](http://www.babbage.demon.co.uk/morseabc.html). “JL” is: . — — — / . — . . ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/7 "2005-11-22T00:51:39Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/8 "2005-11-22T00:55:27Z")
At the end of _London Calling_. But… I’m not sure what it says. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/9 "2005-11-22T02:39:42Z")
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](http://www.tmbg.org/band-info/faq/#q9) (question #9 if the anchor link doesn’t take you there). ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/10 "2005-11-22T02:41:29Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > …Morse code for Y-Y-Z, which I believe is the airport code for a Canadian city (Montreal?) No, Toronto. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/11 "2005-11-22T02:53:49Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/12 "2005-11-22T03:54:06Z")
The beginning of Beethoven’s 5th symphony is morse code for V. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/13 "2005-11-22T04:45:25Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > The beginning of Beethoven’s 5th symphony is morse code for V. Beethoven was known for such hidden messages. Try playing his recording of _Eroica_ backwards, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/14 "2005-11-22T04:48:58Z")
> [@Random](#): > > Beethoven was known for such hidden messages. Try playing his recording of > _Eroica_ backwards, for example. You think that’s a trip? Check out what happens when you sync up his _Missa Solemnis_ with _The Wizard of Oz_! ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/15 "2005-11-22T04:56:28Z")
> [@Random](#): > > Beethoven was known for such hidden messages. Try playing his recording of _Eroica_ backwards, for example. Wow! You get _Aciore_! That is **totally** amazing, I’d never noticed that. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/16 "2005-11-22T05:01:34Z")
Morse code is more prolific is music than I had expected. I appreciate all the responses > [@](#): > > posted by **Biffy the Elephant Shrew** > _Check out what happens when you sync up his Missa Solemnis with The Wizard of Oz!_ So, at what point in _The Wizard of Oz_ should one start “Missa Solemnis” or order to acheive proper syncopation? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/17 "2005-11-22T05:03:33Z")
I think there’s a secret morse code message hidden in the song _Western Union_ by the Five Americans. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/18 "2005-11-22T05:05:26Z")
No Moody Blues Fans, eh? Nothing Changes on the Strange Times CD has “CQ” repeated fairly often. (The high-pitched synth.) ---
**Author:** ![max\_yasgur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@max\_yasgur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/max_yasgur)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/19 "2005-11-22T05:11:07Z")
B-52’s Planet Claire has some morse code, too. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169/20 "2005-11-22T05:18:45Z")
> [@ArchitectChore](#): > > So, at what point in _The Wizard of Oz_ should one start “Missa Solemnis” or order to acheive proper syncopation? 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morse-code-in-strawberry-fields-forever-and-other-songs/332169.md?page=2)