Not many people "get" that '39 is about the time dilation effect. I didn't even know it until a couple years ago, when a friend pointed it out to me. I had never read the lyrics closely enough, despite being a big fan of that album. When I perform the song now, I have to give it the proper introduction and explain the time dilation efect.

I have since found a web page which quotes an interview with Brian where he confirms this and also talks about it being influenced by a short story written be Herman Hesse. The page is here:

http://www.pemcom.demon.co.uk/queen/nato/poet.html