Scientific impossibilities in music

This Guy · 17th May 2006, 07:44 PM

Anyone else bothered by songs that have lyrics that display a total lack of basic science knowledge?

There's a popular song playing on our local stations that has a line that goes - "When you hear the rolling thunder, you turn around before the lightning strikes" or something very close.

I've tried to catch enough of the song to see if there's some explanation in the rest of the song, but haven't understood one. Not sure what the title or who the singer is.

I think what bothers me most is that I generally like the sound of the song, but this glaring impossibility drives me wild (figuratively speaking;-)

Anyone familiar with this song know if the rest of the song offers an artistic reason for the miraculous ability of the person being sung about?

Any other examples out there anyone would like to share?

Dogdoctor · 17th May 2006, 08:03 PM

That was Sheryl Crow and the song is "Good Is Good". That lyric bothered me but once I allowed for poetic license it's not so bad. Here is an analysis of the lyrics http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/09/071035.php

Outhere · 17th May 2006, 08:13 PM

Sheryl Crow's lyric has nothing to do with meteorology, though she is from southern Missouri where violent storms do occur, with continuous thunder and lightning so you can't tell which came first. It's not a good idea to be outdoors then, though.

Then again, she may have used substances that cause confusion between cause and effect and time frames.

WildCat · 17th May 2006, 08:26 PM

Does making a cannon out of an alligator count?

This Guy · 17th May 2006, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by Dogdoctor

That was Sheryl Crow and the song is "Good Is Good". That lyric bothered me but once I allowed for poetic license it's not so bad. Here is an analysis of the lyrics http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/09/071035.php

Thanks for the link and the info!

Yea, it's a good song. I just get this little tick everytime I hear the chorus lol

This Guy · 17th May 2006, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by WildCat

Does making a cannon out of an alligator count?

If your talking about Andrew Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, that's fact not fiction!

OK, maybe my Tennessee roots are showing a bit

/ETA - I pass his home on the way to and from work 5 times a week :-)

Morrigan · 17th May 2006, 08:41 PM

Haha... I am now reminded of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Mi...es#Controversy

And this thread about Megadeth and calculus o_O :
http://metal-rules.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=40432

kevin · 17th May 2006, 09:07 PM

I'm confused. I see nothing wrong with the lyric. I'm not a meterologist (my dad is, so I've grown up around this) and I live in Missouri so I know a bit about thunderstorms here.

Obviously light moves faster than sound so you would expect for a single thunder clap you've already seen the lighting (assuming you were facing the right way). However we get bolt after bolt after bolt.

Most storms in Missouri start a ways off, it isn't unusual (especially here on the Kansas border) to see storms way off. You see lightning but hear nothing.

Once you hear the the thunder rolling in it means the storm is damn close and it's a good time to head inside....

So yes typically you see lightining before you hear it, but hearing it means the lightning is very close and it's a good time to move before you get hit by lightning

bruto · 17th May 2006, 10:12 PM

On the other hand, I've always liked this little song:

NaCl (SODIUM CHLORIDE)
Kate McGarrigle, Garden Court Music ASCAP

Just a little atom of chlorine
Valence minus one
Swimming thru the sea, digging the scene
Just having fun
She's not worried about the shape or size
Of her outside shell
It's fun to ionize
Just a little atom of Cl
With an unfilled shell

But somewhere in that sea lurks
Handsome Sodium
With enough electrons on his outside shell
Plus that extra one
Somewhere in this deep blue sea
There's a negative
For my extra energy yes
Somewhere in this foam
My positive will find a home

Then unsuspecting Chlorine
Felt a magnetic pull
She looked down and her outside
Shell was full
Sodium cried "what a gas be my bride and
I'll change your name from Chlorine to Chloride"

Now the sea evaporates to make the clouds
For the rain and snow
Leaving her chemical compounds in the abscence
Of H2O
But the crystals that wash upon the shore
Are happy ones
So if you never thought before
Think of the love that you eat
When you salt your meat
Think of the love that you eat
When you salt your meat.

El Greco · 18th May 2006, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by kevin

So yes typically you see lightining before you hear it

Not if you're travelling backwards in time.

See, there's a logical explanation for everything.

to.by · 18th May 2006, 01:30 AM

I can't say it bothered me much, but there is a song by the Swedish songwriter Cornelis Vreesvijk (The ballad of Fredrik Åkare and Cecilia Lind) where it says in the first verse that the moon is full. Thenin the last verse when Fredrik and Cecilia has danced and walked to where Cecilia lives, the moon is new. For the life of me I can't think of a reason that dancing and walking home should take about a fortnight.

bobdroege7 · 18th May 2006, 02:42 AM

But Marty Robbins gets the science right

I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle,
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

from El Paso

jj · 18th May 2006, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by WildCat

Does making a cannon out of an alligator count?

Well, don't fire your cannon 'till the barrel melts down then

Shrike · 18th May 2006, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by This Guy

I pass his home on the way to and from work 5 times a week :-)

Shouldn't that be ten times a week?
Or do you
A) work two-and-half days?
B) go home via a different route?

jj · 18th May 2006, 05:41 AM

Another point: "rolling thunder" can also, I recall, be used (by older folks) to mean "nearly continuous thunder" in which case (Yes, I've seen it in the midwest) the basement can look pretty cozy.

Hawk one · 18th May 2006, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by to.by

I can't say it bothered me much, but there is a song by the Swedish songwriter Cornelis Vreesvijk (The ballad of Fredrik Åkare and Cecilia Lind) where it says in the first verse that the moon is full. Then in the last verse when Fredrik and Cecilia has danced and walked to where Cecilia lives, the moon is new. For the life of me I can't think of a reason that dancing and walking home should take about a fortnight.

Well, considering that outside the big towns in Sweden (and Norway) population can be -very- thinly spread, I don't see it as that unlikely.

By the way, this is the first time I've noticed that error. And now it'll probably annoy me whenever I hear it. Thanks a lot.

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by Shrike

Shouldn't that be ten times a week?
Or do you
A) work two-and-half days?
B) go home via a different route?

OK, I pass his home 10 times a week, but I go to work 5 times in the same period ;-)

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by Outhere

Sheryl Crow's lyric has nothing to do with meteorology, though she is from southern Missouri where violent storms do occur, with continuous thunder and lightning so you can't tell which came first. It's not a good idea to be outdoors then, though.

Then again, she may have used substances that cause confusion between cause and effect and time frames.

I think one reason this error strikes me so strong (no pun intended) is because I learned back when I was like 12 (that was around 1966) that you could judge the distance of a storm by measuring the time between the lightning and the thunder, and multiplying it by what ever the speed of sound in miles/min is (that was the way the article in the science mag I read it in showed it I believe). I remember talking my Mom into buying me a stop watch so I could do that (yes, I've been a geek since the 60's lol).

I also spent a good deal of time trying to explain this fact of nature to my otherwise fairly intelligent ex-wife. I finally had to break out the encyclopedia to prove that's the way it works (no, that had nothing to do with her becoming an Ex).

Just got home from work (yes, I passed Jackson's home on the way;-) and I asked 6 folks at work which came first. 5 knew, the one that didn't is a 68 year old lady who thought the thunder caused the lightning. But when I explained that the lightning basically created a vacuum, that was then rapidly filled with air (with a quick demo using my hands clapping together) she said, OH, that makes sense!

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by Morrigan

Haha... I am now reminded of this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Mi...es#Controversy

And this thread about Megadeth and calculus o_O :
http://metal-rules.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=40432

hehe

Well, I liked the first link. I got lost at about the 3rd sentence of the second.

Never have understood that calculus stuff. I'm not sure it's not all fiction!

aggle-rithm · 18th May 2006, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by This Guy

Anyone else bothered by songs that have lyrics that display a total lack of basic science knowledge?

There's a popular song playing on our local stations that has a line that goes - "When you hear the rolling thunder, you turn around before the lightning strikes" or something very close.

I've tried to catch enough of the song to see if there's some explanation in the rest of the song, but haven't understood one. Not sure what the title or who the singer is.

I think what bothers me most is that I generally like the sound of the song, but this glaring impossibility drives me wild (figuratively speaking;-)

Anyone familiar with this song know if the rest of the song offers an artistic reason for the miraculous ability of the person being sung about?

Any other examples out there anyone would like to share?

As a former music major, I was intrigued by your thread title -- but then I found that what you really meant was "Scientific impossibilities in lyrics".

A scientific impossibility in music would be a high C played by a contrabassoon.

Oh, well.

Meffy · 18th May 2006, 06:46 AM

The Beatles' song "Eight Days a Week" sounds uncomfortably like "110%" (ick ick ick) but it works if we go back to ancient Rome, when the civil week was eight days long.

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by aggle-rithm

As a former music major, I was intrigued by your thread title -- but then I found that what you really meant was "Scientific impossibilities in lyrics".

A scientific impossibility in music would be a high C played by a contrabassoon.

Oh, well.

Dang! Guess I screwed up another thread title.

hehe Sorry for the confusion, but thanks for the input

TV's Frank · 18th May 2006, 07:06 AM

Isn't a "scientific impossibility" just an "impossibility"?

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by TV's Frank

Isn't a "scientific impossibility" just an "impossibility"?

LOL Now your just nit picking!

But erm...Would not being able to scratch your right elbow with your right hand be a scientific impossibility, or a physical impossibility? Or Both?

OK, it's not from a song, but best I could come up with on short notice.

TV's Frank · 18th May 2006, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by This Guy

But erm...Would not being able to scratch your right elbow with your right hand be a scientific impossibility, or a physical impossibility? Or Both?

I think it would be an impossibility! I guess I just don't dig the "scientific" qualifier...if something is impossibile, it's just plain ol' impossibile. I wonder: what would be a "religious impossibility"?

Hawk one · 18th May 2006, 07:30 AM

Oh, it's not impossible at all.

Just cut of your right hand, then grab it and use it to scratch the right elbow.

A tad more seriously, I'd say that it's practically impossible for me or anyone else to do the trick properly, but as far as I'm aware, there is no science that says it could -never- happen (for example by evolving short underarms and long and more flexible hands). I'd say that there's a difference here, I just don't know what to call this difference. You know what I mean anyway, I hope.

kevin · 18th May 2006, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by This Guy

I think one reason this error strikes me so strong (no pun intended) is because I learned back when I was like 12 (that was around 1966) that you could judge the distance of a storm by measuring the time between the lightning and the thunder, and multiplying it by what ever the speed of sound in miles/min is (that was the way the article in the science mag I read it in showed it I believe).

Yep I learned the same thing. The hard part is making sure you match the correct lighting flash with the correct thunder. When the thunder is rolling in due to bolt after bolt after bolt it's a bit difficult to be sure, thunder from the back of the storm that rolls over you just as lighting from the front of the storm flashes can make the front of the storm seem closer than it really is.

Meffy · 18th May 2006, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by TV's Frank

Isn't a "scientific impossibility" just an "impossibility"?

Scientific impossibilities wear white lab coats and thick eyeglasses. They're commonly found near microscopes or arrays of glassware filled with brightly colored water. When you meet them on on the tennis court you'd never know they were scientific.

tkingdoll · 18th May 2006, 07:43 AM

Talk about bah humbug. Artists use artistic license.

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by tkingdoll

Talk about bah humbug. Artists use artistic license.

I love music, and I allow for artistic license. But the line from the OP being in the chorus, and repeated so often in the song, plus the blatant error, just really caught my ear, so to speak. Just got me to wondering how many other boo boos were being sung out there also.

And again, I basically like the song! I like a lot Sheryl Crow's music. Didn't know it was her till it was pointed out though

Ziggurat · 18th May 2006, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by bruto

Think of the love that you eat
When you salt your meat.

Is that a euphemism?

Jon the Geek · 18th May 2006, 04:16 PM

Maybe I'm too much of a geek, but I assumed the out-of-orderness in the lyric was intentional, to talk about something being off. I haven't listened to the lyrics closely enough to see if that makes sense, though...

Forty-Two · 18th May 2006, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Meffy

The Beatles' song "Eight Days a Week" sounds uncomfortably like "110%" (ick ick ick) but it works if we go back to ancient Rome, when the civil week was eight days long.

I think their days are 21 hours long.

gnome · 18th May 2006, 04:54 PM

Billy Joel spoke of Billy the Kid being a legend in his time "east and west of the Rio Grande". Bit of a problem since the river doesn't go north and south.

Meffy · 18th May 2006, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Ziggurat

Is that a euphemism?

Nope, it's a metal halide. (badda-BOOMP tsssh)

Originally Posted by Forty-Two

I think their days are 21 hours long.

Mine too, or so it seems sometimes. :-S

This Guy · 18th May 2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

Billy Joel spoke of Billy the Kid being a legend in his time "east and west of the Rio Grande". Bit of a problem since the river doesn't go north and south.

Been a fan of Joel since he first hit the radio. I've heard (have it on CD somewhere I think) that song, but never realized that, or just never made the connection. Good catch

There's probably a lot of little things like that that we hear, and either don't notice, or don't think about.

ZirconBlue · 19th May 2006, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Billy Joel spoke of Billy the Kid being a legend in his time "east and west of the Rio Grande". Bit of a problem since the river doesn't go north and south.

Well, it does Northwest/Southeast along most of the Texas/Mexico border, even turning North/South in some places. So, he could be referring to Texas and Mexico. Or something.

Ririon · 19th May 2006, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by aggle-rithm

As a former music major, I was intrigued by your thread title -- but then I found that what you really meant was "Scientific impossibilities in lyrics".

A scientific impossibility in music would be a high C played by a contrabassoon.

Oh, well.

A low C (in the contrabassoon range) on a clarinet is scientifically impossible. A high C played by a contrabassoon is just practically impossible.

rwguinn · 19th May 2006, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Billy Joel spoke of Billy the Kid being a legend in his time "east and west of the Rio Grande". Bit of a problem since the river doesn't go north and south.

Y'all aint from New Mexico, then, air ya?
Rio Grande flows from its source in Colorado, South into New mexico, wanders a lottle bit East and West, and at Albuquerque, runs pretty much due South to El Paso, where it turns E-Se, to Big Bend, where it goes North East a little, then back to SE to the Gulf.
Please look at a map before spouting off about things you know nothing about..
Billy was raised in Silver City, did his dirty deeds in Lincoln County, and Died just East of the Pecos....All in the State of New Mexico

ETA the All in New Mexico

aggle-rithm · 19th May 2006, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Ririon

A low C (in the contrabassoon range) on a clarinet is scientifically impossible. A high C played by a contrabassoon is just practically impossible.

True. Thanks for the correction.

17th May 2006, 07:44 PM	#1
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Scientific impossibilities in music Anyone else bothered by songs that have lyrics that display a total lack of basic science knowledge? There's a popular song playing on our local stations that has a line that goes - "When you hear the rolling thunder, you turn around before the lightning strikes" or something very close. I've tried to catch enough of the song to see if there's some explanation in the rest of the song, but haven't understood one. Not sure what the title or who the singer is. I think what bothers me most is that I generally like the sound of the song, but this glaring impossibility drives me wild (figuratively speaking;-) Anyone familiar with this song know if the rest of the song offers an artistic reason for the miraculous ability of the person being sung about? Any other examples out there anyone would like to share?
	__________________ I'm lost. I've gone to find me. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait!

17th May 2006, 08:03 PM	#2
Dogdoctor Canis Doctorius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pacific Ocean Posts: 12,083	That was Sheryl Crow and the song is "Good Is Good". That lyric bothered me but once I allowed for poetic license it's not so bad. Here is an analysis of the lyrics http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/09/071035.php
	__________________

17th May 2006, 08:26 PM	#4
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 23,599	Does making a cannon out of an alligator count?
	__________________ "My opinion is not uninformed there are just many things I have no clue about." -atavisms "Iran DOES have the right and good reason to attack Israel." -parky76

17th May 2006, 08:29 PM	#5
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by Dogdoctor That was Sheryl Crow and the song is "Good Is Good". That lyric bothered me but once I allowed for poetic license it's not so bad. Here is an analysis of the lyrics http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/09/071035.php Thanks for the link and the info! Yea, it's a good song. I just get this little tick everytime I hear the chorus lol
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17th May 2006, 08:31 PM	#6
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by WildCat Does making a cannon out of an alligator count? If your talking about Andrew Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, that's fact not fiction! OK, maybe my Tennessee roots are showing a bit /ETA - I pass his home on the way to and from work 5 times a week :-)
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17th May 2006, 08:13 PM	#3
Outhere Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 145	Sheryl Crow's lyric has nothing to do with meteorology, though she is from southern Missouri where violent storms do occur, with continuous thunder and lightning so you can't tell which came first. It's not a good idea to be outdoors then, though. Then again, she may have used substances that cause confusion between cause and effect and time frames.

17th May 2006, 08:41 PM	#7
Morrigan Crone of War Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,652	Haha... I am now reminded of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Mi...es#Controversy And this thread about Megadeth and calculus o_O : http://metal-rules.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=40432
Morrigan Crone of War Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,652

17th May 2006, 09:07 PM	#8
kevin Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,666	I'm confused. I see nothing wrong with the lyric. I'm not a meterologist (my dad is, so I've grown up around this) and I live in Missouri so I know a bit about thunderstorms here. Obviously light moves faster than sound so you would expect for a single thunder clap you've already seen the lighting (assuming you were facing the right way). However we get bolt after bolt after bolt. Most storms in Missouri start a ways off, it isn't unusual (especially here on the Kansas border) to see storms way off. You see lightning but hear nothing. Once you hear the the thunder rolling in it means the storm is damn close and it's a good time to head inside.... So yes typically you see lightining before you hear it, but hearing it means the lightning is very close and it's a good time to move before you get hit by lightning
kevin Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,666	__________________ Long story short, if you wanna get famous, it helps if you're taking a dump. -- RealityBites

17th May 2006, 10:12 PM	#9
bruto Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 6,373	On the other hand, I've always liked this little song: NaCl (SODIUM CHLORIDE) Kate McGarrigle, Garden Court Music ASCAP Just a little atom of chlorine Valence minus one Swimming thru the sea, digging the scene Just having fun She's not worried about the shape or size Of her outside shell It's fun to ionize Just a little atom of Cl With an unfilled shell But somewhere in that sea lurks Handsome Sodium With enough electrons on his outside shell Plus that extra one Somewhere in this deep blue sea There's a negative For my extra energy yes Somewhere in this foam My positive will find a home Then unsuspecting Chlorine Felt a magnetic pull She looked down and her outside Shell was full Sodium cried "what a gas be my bride and I'll change your name from Chlorine to Chloride" Now the sea evaporates to make the clouds For the rain and snow Leaving her chemical compounds in the abscence Of H2O But the crystals that wash upon the shore Are happy ones So if you never thought before Think of the love that you eat When you salt your meat Think of the love that you eat When you salt your meat.
	__________________ "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.(Samuel Johnson)

18th May 2006, 12:57 AM	#10
El Greco Summer worshipper Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Παρά θιν'αλός Posts: 11,147	Originally Posted by kevin So yes typically you see lightining before you hear it Not if you're travelling backwards in time. See, there's a logical explanation for everything.
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18th May 2006, 01:30 AM	#11
to.by Scholar Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 95	I can't say it bothered me much, but there is a song by the Swedish songwriter Cornelis Vreesvijk (The ballad of Fredrik Åkare and Cecilia Lind) where it says in the first verse that the moon is full. Thenin the last verse when Fredrik and Cecilia has danced and walked to where Cecilia lives, the moon is new. For the life of me I can't think of a reason that dancing and walking home should take about a fortnight.
to.by Scholar Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 95

18th May 2006, 02:42 AM	#12
bobdroege7 Muse Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 679	But Marty Robbins gets the science right I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle, I feel the bullet go deep in my chest. from El Paso
bobdroege7 Muse Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 679

18th May 2006, 04:47 AM	#13
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Redmond, Washington Posts: 14,802	Originally Posted by WildCat Does making a cannon out of an alligator count? Well, don't fire your cannon 'till the barrel melts down then
	__________________ Watch the looting. Those "left behind" are a lot less poor than they were on Sunday. They're mostly black, too, from all accounts. - Jocko, 09-01-05 What did you think would happen when there was no police around? NO has a concentration of African Americans, most of the residents there are black. - JayGW 09-02-05 The 'tards. The window lickers. The mouth breathers. Duh.Jocko 04-13-06 The power to quit.

18th May 2006, 04:50 AM	#14
Shrike Warning: May Contain Nuts Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Waddinxveen Posts: 1,153	Originally Posted by This Guy I pass his home on the way to and from work 5 times a week :-) Shouldn't that be ten times a week? Or do you A) work two-and-half days? B) go home via a different route?
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18th May 2006, 05:41 AM	#15
jj grumpy old skeptic Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Redmond, Washington Posts: 14,802	Another point: "rolling thunder" can also, I recall, be used (by older folks) to mean "nearly continuous thunder" in which case (Yes, I've seen it in the midwest) the basement can look pretty cozy.
	__________________ Watch the looting. Those "left behind" are a lot less poor than they were on Sunday. They're mostly black, too, from all accounts. - Jocko, 09-01-05 What did you think would happen when there was no police around? NO has a concentration of African Americans, most of the residents there are black. - JayGW 09-02-05 The 'tards. The window lickers. The mouth breathers. Duh.Jocko 04-13-06 The power to quit.

18th May 2006, 06:00 AM	#16
Hawk one Bond Villain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Guitar Hero dressing room... Posts: 9,614	Originally Posted by to.by I can't say it bothered me much, but there is a song by the Swedish songwriter Cornelis Vreesvijk (The ballad of Fredrik Åkare and Cecilia Lind) where it says in the first verse that the moon is full. Then in the last verse when Fredrik and Cecilia has danced and walked to where Cecilia lives, the moon is new. For the life of me I can't think of a reason that dancing and walking home should take about a fortnight. Well, considering that outside the big towns in Sweden (and Norway) population can be -very- thinly spread, I don't see it as that unlikely. By the way, this is the first time I've noticed that error. And now it'll probably annoy me whenever I hear it. Thanks a lot.
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18th May 2006, 06:06 AM	#17
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by Shrike Shouldn't that be ten times a week? Or do you A) work two-and-half days? B) go home via a different route? OK, I pass his home 10 times a week, but I go to work 5 times in the same period ;-)
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18th May 2006, 06:27 AM	#18
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by Outhere Sheryl Crow's lyric has nothing to do with meteorology, though she is from southern Missouri where violent storms do occur, with continuous thunder and lightning so you can't tell which came first. It's not a good idea to be outdoors then, though. Then again, she may have used substances that cause confusion between cause and effect and time frames. I think one reason this error strikes me so strong (no pun intended) is because I learned back when I was like 12 (that was around 1966) that you could judge the distance of a storm by measuring the time between the lightning and the thunder, and multiplying it by what ever the speed of sound in miles/min is (that was the way the article in the science mag I read it in showed it I believe). I remember talking my Mom into buying me a stop watch so I could do that (yes, I've been a geek since the 60's lol). I also spent a good deal of time trying to explain this fact of nature to my otherwise fairly intelligent ex-wife. I finally had to break out the encyclopedia to prove that's the way it works (no, that had nothing to do with her becoming an Ex). Just got home from work (yes, I passed Jackson's home on the way;-) and I asked 6 folks at work which came first. 5 knew, the one that didn't is a 68 year old lady who thought the thunder caused the lightning. But when I explained that the lightning basically created a vacuum, that was then rapidly filled with air (with a quick demo using my hands clapping together) she said, OH, that makes sense!
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18th May 2006, 06:33 AM	#19
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by Morrigan Haha... I am now reminded of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Mi...es#Controversy And this thread about Megadeth and calculus o_O : http://metal-rules.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=40432 hehe Well, I liked the first link. I got lost at about the 3rd sentence of the second. Never have understood that calculus stuff. I'm not sure it's not all fiction!
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18th May 2006, 06:45 AM	#20
aggle-rithm Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 6,270	Originally Posted by This Guy Anyone else bothered by songs that have lyrics that display a total lack of basic science knowledge? There's a popular song playing on our local stations that has a line that goes - "When you hear the rolling thunder, you turn around before the lightning strikes" or something very close. I've tried to catch enough of the song to see if there's some explanation in the rest of the song, but haven't understood one. Not sure what the title or who the singer is. I think what bothers me most is that I generally like the sound of the song, but this glaring impossibility drives me wild (figuratively speaking;-) Anyone familiar with this song know if the rest of the song offers an artistic reason for the miraculous ability of the person being sung about? Any other examples out there anyone would like to share? As a former music major, I was intrigued by your thread title -- but then I found that what you really meant was "Scientific impossibilities in lyrics". A scientific impossibility in music would be a high C played by a contrabassoon. Oh, well.
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18th May 2006, 06:46 AM	#21
Meffy Anthropomorphic Skunk Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Unincorporated Territory of Croatan Posts: 4,232	The Beatles' song "Eight Days a Week" sounds uncomfortably like "110%" (ick ick ick) but it works if we go back to ancient Rome, when the civil week was eight days long.

18th May 2006, 06:58 AM	#22
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by aggle-rithm As a former music major, I was intrigued by your thread title -- but then I found that what you really meant was "Scientific impossibilities in lyrics". A scientific impossibility in music would be a high C played by a contrabassoon. Oh, well. Dang! Guess I screwed up another thread title. hehe Sorry for the confusion, but thanks for the input
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18th May 2006, 07:06 AM	#23
TV's Frank Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 265	Isn't a "scientific impossibility" just an "impossibility"?

18th May 2006, 07:17 AM	#24
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by TV's Frank Isn't a "scientific impossibility" just an "impossibility"? LOL Now your just nit picking! But erm...Would not being able to scratch your right elbow with your right hand be a scientific impossibility, or a physical impossibility? Or Both? OK, it's not from a song, but best I could come up with on short notice.
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18th May 2006, 07:23 AM	#25
TV's Frank Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 265	Originally Posted by This Guy But erm...Would not being able to scratch your right elbow with your right hand be a scientific impossibility, or a physical impossibility? Or Both? I think it would be an impossibility! I guess I just don't dig the "scientific" qualifier...if something is impossibile, it's just plain ol' impossibile. I wonder: what would be a "religious impossibility"?

18th May 2006, 07:30 AM	#26
Hawk one Bond Villain Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Guitar Hero dressing room... Posts: 9,614	Oh, it's not impossible at all. Just cut of your right hand, then grab it and use it to scratch the right elbow. A tad more seriously, I'd say that it's practically impossible for me or anyone else to do the trick properly, but as far as I'm aware, there is no science that says it could -never- happen (for example by evolving short underarms and long and more flexible hands). I'd say that there's a difference here, I just don't know what to call this difference. You know what I mean anyway, I hope.
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18th May 2006, 07:39 AM	#27
kevin Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,666	Originally Posted by This Guy I think one reason this error strikes me so strong (no pun intended) is because I learned back when I was like 12 (that was around 1966) that you could judge the distance of a storm by measuring the time between the lightning and the thunder, and multiplying it by what ever the speed of sound in miles/min is (that was the way the article in the science mag I read it in showed it I believe). Yep I learned the same thing. The hard part is making sure you match the correct lighting flash with the correct thunder. When the thunder is rolling in due to bolt after bolt after bolt it's a bit difficult to be sure, thunder from the back of the storm that rolls over you just as lighting from the front of the storm flashes can make the front of the storm seem closer than it really is.
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18th May 2006, 07:43 AM	#29
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,450	Talk about bah humbug. Artists use artistic license.
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18th May 2006, 08:03 AM	#30
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by tkingdoll Talk about bah humbug. Artists use artistic license. I love music, and I allow for artistic license. But the line from the OP being in the chorus, and repeated so often in the song, plus the blatant error, just really caught my ear, so to speak. Just got me to wondering how many other boo boos were being sung out there also. And again, I basically like the song! I like a lot Sheryl Crow's music. Didn't know it was her till it was pointed out though
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18th May 2006, 11:19 AM	#31
Ziggurat Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 13,377	Originally Posted by bruto Think of the love that you eat When you salt your meat. Is that a euphemism?
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18th May 2006, 04:16 PM	#32
Jon the Geek Thinker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 231	Maybe I'm too much of a geek, but I assumed the out-of-orderness in the lyric was intentional, to talk about something being off. I haven't listened to the lyrics closely enough to see if that makes sense, though...
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18th May 2006, 04:47 PM	#33
Forty-Two The Answer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Carpinteria, CA Posts: 912	Originally Posted by Meffy The Beatles' song "Eight Days a Week" sounds uncomfortably like "110%" (ick ick ick) but it works if we go back to ancient Rome, when the civil week was eight days long. I think their days are 21 hours long.

18th May 2006, 04:54 PM	#34
gnome Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 6,258	Billy Joel spoke of Billy the Kid being a legend in his time "east and west of the Rio Grande". Bit of a problem since the river doesn't go north and south.
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18th May 2006, 05:05 PM	#35
Meffy Anthropomorphic Skunk Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Unincorporated Territory of Croatan Posts: 4,232	Originally Posted by Ziggurat Is that a euphemism? Nope, it's a metal halide. (badda-BOOMP tsssh) Originally Posted by Forty-Two I think their days are 21 hours long. Mine too, or so it seems sometimes. :-S

18th May 2006, 10:38 PM	#36
This Guy Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: On the corner of WALK and DON'T WALK Posts: 1,939	Originally Posted by gnome Billy Joel spoke of Billy the Kid being a legend in his time "east and west of the Rio Grande". Bit of a problem since the river doesn't go north and south. Been a fan of Joel since he first hit the radio. I've heard (have it on CD somewhere I think) that song, but never realized that, or just never made the connection. Good catch There's probably a lot of little things like that that we hear, and either don't notice, or don't think about.
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