Sub-Rosa Subway

"Sub-Rosa Subway" is a song written by the Canadian progressive rock band Klaatu, from their album "", describing the efforts of Alfred Ely Beach to create the original New York Subway. "Sub-Rosa" is defined as being done in secret, and indeed his subway project was done in secret- hence the name. What brings the most interest to this song, however, is the fact that it partially sparked a rumor accusing the band of being The Beatles in disguise.

When listening to the song, it is very easy to confuse the singers with John Lennon and Paul McCartney due to an uncanny resemblance to their voices. This combined with the extremely Beatlesque sound of the instrumentals can make this song sound similar to something the Beatles might do, namely because the chord progression of this song were similar to the Beatles' "Blackbird" and "It's All Too Much", as an homage to the band.

This song (as well as the less Beatlesque "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft") were the base of the "Klaatu are Beatles" rumor.

It seems there were some interesting little bits put into the song. For instance, at two minutes and fifty seconds into the song, a long message in Morse Code plays in the background. John Woloschuk, in an article in the fan magazine "The Morning Sun", finally provided a translation of the code:

"From Alfred, heed thy sharpened ear -- A message we do bring -- Starship appears upon our sphere -- Through London's sky come spring."

Also, when played in reverse, some claim one can hear messages such as whispered "Listen, listen, listen" and "I don't know, I don't know, it's Alfie".Who?

External links

* [http://www.klaatu.org Klaatu's Official Website]
* [http://www.klaatu.org/lyrics/347est_lyrics.html#album1-4 Sub-Rosa Subway Lyrics]
* [http://au.geocities.com/waynusofuranus/klaatu/SRSMorse.html Examination of Sub-Rosa Subway Morse Code]
* [http://www.klaatu.org/klaatu1.html Klaatu and the Beatles Rumor]