Perhaps the greatest song ever written about a world-famous scientist, this 1990 performance by Todd Rundgren of “Hawking” is one of the best I’ve seen. It’s quite a bit slower than the album version (which must have been hard for the musicians — playing really slow and keeping good time can be very difficult), but Todd’s voice is amazing and the band is just terrific.

Whenever I, I close my eyes
Then I don’t mind being the way I am
But whenever I try explaining why
I know I never can

Now that it’s
Gone, paths I used to travel
Gone, things I used to handle
Gone, once I had a choice what to be

But then God kissed me
And I lost it when I fainted in his arms
Have pity on me brother, I’m trapped behind the mirror
I’m out here on the border

Wondering why, why was it I?
Maybe my mind wouldn’t have come this way
If I’d taken my time, answers only unwind
When you can’t look away

Maybe ‘cause
I want the secret broken
I want the casket open
I need to see what no eyes can see

And when God kissed me
Then I dreamed them when I fainted in her arms
Now I’ve got to go on sleeping
Lean in a little closer and I’ll tell you what I’m dreaming
I’ll tell you what I’m dreaming

I see time without beginning
Space without an ending
I see bodies strong and running
With minds not comprehending

Have pity on your brother
Please have pity on your sister
Take pity on each other
And on every living creature, have pity somebody

Whenever I open my eyes, I can’t believe it’s real
It’s a jungle outside, yes it is, yes it is
People just survive
They can’t reach the high ideal

But I know if I can’t recover
At least I know, I know the book from cover to cover
And who knows? I might dream forever
Since I’ve met the world’s greatest lover

When God kissed me
And I knew it when I fainted in his arms
Let’s dream together people

Have pity on your brother
Have pity on your sister, please
Take pity on each other
And on every living creature

We’re all trapped behind the mirror
Out here on the border, yes we are
Please have pity

Pity on your brother
Pity on your sister
Pity on each other
Every living creature