I Am the Walrus

The Beatles

About I Am the Walrus

"I Am the Walrus" is a song by the Beatles released in November 1967. It was featured in the Beatles' television film Magical Mystery Tour in December of that year, as a track on the associated British double EP of the same name and its American counterpart LP, and was the B-side to the number 1 hit single "Hello, Goodbye". Since the single and the double EP had both reached the top two slots on the British singles chart in December 1967, the song has the distinction of being at number 1 and number 2 simultaneously.  


Year:
2006
4:28
1,468 
#6

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I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.
I'm crying.

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the egg man, they are the egg men.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Mister City Policeman sitting
Pretty little policemen in a row.
See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run.
I'm crying, I'm crying.
I'm crying, I'm crying.

Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess,
Boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan
From standing in the English rain.
I am the egg man, they are the egg men.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.

Expert text pert choking smokers,
Don't you think the joker laughs at you?
See how they smile like pigs in a sty,
See how they snide.
I'm crying.

Semolina pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel Tower.
Elementary penguin singing Hari Krishna.
Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.
I am the egg man, they are the egg men.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.
Goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob g'goo.

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The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, they later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as "Beatlemania", but as their songwriting grew in sophistication, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era's sociocultural revolutions. more »

57 fans

Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Song Creation
"I Am The Walrus" is a psychedelic song co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It was the B-side to the Beatles' 1967 single "Hello, Goodbye."
Inspirational Origin
John Lennon claimed he wrote the song to confuse fans who tried to interpret his songs. It was a direct response to a letter he received from a student who told him his teacher was analyzing Beatles lyrics.
Song Title
The song gets its name, “I Am The Walrus”, from Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and The Carpenter" which John Lennon had read in his childhood. He later admitted in interviews that he regretted identifying with the walrus as it was a negative character in the poem.
Unique Records
It is one of the Beatles' most complicated and densely packed tracks production-wise, featuring radio frequencies, animal noises, a police siren, multi-tracked vocal parts, and an orchestra.
Cultural References
The song quotes Shakespeare's "King Lear" ("Tis now the very witching time of night"), and includes snippets from a BBC radio broadcast of the play, which Paul McCartney heard while they were recording the song.
Song Lyrics
Despite the song’s strange lyrics, it is often considered a signature piece, with its cryptic and surreal lyrics considered emblematic of the psychedelic era.
Dispute Over Songwriting Credits
Although Lennon and McCartney share the songwriting credentials in theory, Lennon has claimed sole responsibility for "I Am The Walrus."
Hidden Message Controversy
"I Am The Walrus" ignited controversy due to its line "You've been a naughty girl, you let your knickers down". This line led to the song being officially banned by the BBC.
Cello Addition
Producer George Martin arranged and added the cello part to the song.
Musical Complexity
The mix of sounds and musical elements in "I Am The Walrus" is diverse, including vocal harmonies, electric guitar, piano, organ, strings, brass, and various sound effects, reflecting the Beatles' innovative and creative approach to music.
Song Release
Despite its complexity and controversy, “I Am The Walrus” was included in the television film, "Magical Mystery Tour", and later on the U.S. LP.
Iconic Status
Decades after its release, "I Am The Walrus" still possesses a cultural resonance, frequently appearing in pop culture references and standing out as one of the Beatles' most unique and memorable tracks.

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    I Am the Walrus

    8M
    65,238     2,568

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1967

    Billboard #56


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