The Incredible I am the Walrus | Beatle eggman reaction

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

Two geniuses, one great late-blooming talent, one ace drummer. What a group they were.

[@alanarakelian5021]

And all grew up within five miles of one another in Liverpool -- but needed to meet, too. The stars truly were aligned.

[@dalegallacher7074]

Imagine the odds of two of the worlds greatest songwriters living 10 mins apart and finding eachother

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

That's all very well but they certainly didn't start off as songwriting geniuses. They all developed together over the years.

[@GabrielSoares-lj9rv]

Someone said: "The Beatles were not a band, they were a miracle!" I couldn´t agree more!!!... It was as if God decided we needed a boost of sheer joy in our lives... And gave us an enormous one...

[@davidwhite8220]

The ultimate psychedelic song. Both the first and the best. That's the Beatles for you.

[@dt9344]

Isn't it amazing these guys were doing She Loves You (a great song too!) four years ago and come up with this? That's one of their biggest appeals, they always changed their musical style.

[@rbking9296]

Only the Beatles could write and do a song like this and make it work to perfection , pure genius, just another example of them forever changing music

[@markthomas2577]

I think John was having a go at 'intellectuals' analysing Beatles lyrics for deep meaning ..... and chucked this one in as a 'there you go, analyse that'!

[@wwekane2468]

@David Bradley it was also said he also wanted to stump college professors who were dissecting his lyrics in classes

[@debbiechang5781]

I am the 18th. Hahaha! I love how different people react to the lyrics of this song. Just know that John Lennon absolutely loved it when people said, “It doesn’t make any sense!” That’s the whole point. Lennon’s messin’ with ya’!!

[@YN97WA]

This is just a brilliant piece of music. John's lyrics were meant to confuse those who tried to analyze every Beatles song. Great reaction, Harri the Eggman👍👍

[@joeybonin7691]

Exactly.

[@robertsaul234]

I know you love ELO, they drew much of their inspiration from this period of The Beatles. Jeff Lynn got to pay them back by producing their '90's reunion songs where Paul, George and Ringo completed John's unfinished songs: Free as a Bird and Real Love.

[@erikahlander3489]

Cf also the Traveling Wilburys!

[@pushpak]

A sound masterpiece.

[@Stinkdog9]

Harri's videos are must watch as soon as they become available.

[@josephtingley654]

Every time.

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thank you

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thanx Christopher ✌🏾🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@betsyab121]

This is one of my favorite John Lennon songs! John is actually singing through a Leslie speaker so his voice sounds fuzzy and otherworldly. Even though the lyrics make no sense, the song creates a strange world, just like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. But you gotta admit that John Lennon is the Original Troll! Props to him!

[@tombeyerlein3813]

I believe John sang through a Leslie on Tomorrow Never Knows, not I Am the Walrus.

[@betsyab121]

@@tombeyerlein3813 OK. So, it looks like Lennon did distort his voice on the vocals but not with a Leslie Speaker. Instead, he sang through a low fidelity talk-back microphone used by engineers when they 'talk back' to musicians in the recording studio. I knew that Lennon had distorted his voice somehow, just not the exact manner in which he did it.

[@dannygriffith6185]

Your observations are spot on! Lennon was amazed& annoyed that Beatles lyrics were being dissected & analyzed....so he took bits of Thurber, Lewis Carroll & his own whimsy & came up with this.Kudos to George Martin once again for a brilliant string & choral arrangements.

[@HarriBestReactions]

Hahahah great stuff!

[@j.woodbury412]

I wonder if after he finished writing this, John Lennon sat back and thought to himself, "Let's see you try to analyze THIS, sons of b******!"

[@thatcanadianwhitetrashguy]

@@HarriBestReactions Their Fan Club Friend was Reading Fan Letters, and a Student wrote that His Teacher was making the Students Analyze Beatle songs to look for Hidden Messages. So John wrote Walrus, with a Goose Step March to Scare the Military Nuts, Backwards Talking, and Nothing made Sense, BUT Sounded Fishy. Then He ended the Set with, " Now let Them Figure that One Out"

[@edwardthorne9875]

My college roomate pointed out that some buried lines 'A servicable villian...", "Oh, untimely death...", "Sit you down father, bless you", are from Shakespeare. Brilliant and timeless.

[@yohannbiimu]

It's said that they recorded it directly from a radio performance. I wonder if they got grief from the BBC for doing that...?

[@danduntz9112]

It was a performance of King Lear

[@edwardthorne9875]

Can you imagine being one of those actors - on one of the most famous songs in the world? Closing line, even. I doubt if they could sue. Thank you for identifying King Lear -- I was wondering.

[@wpollock1]

Of course, they used that as another clue in the "Paul is dead" theory. "Is he dead?" and "Bury my body" were cited.

[@ollietsb1704]

I can only hope the Beatles responded "Then please don't play ANY of our records" and let that get into the OTHER press.

[@GrouchyMarx]

Harri @ 2:10, the phrase, "...like Lucy in the Sky..." is reference to a very interesting Lennon song off the previous Sgt. Peppers album called "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds". A Beatles song you should do next. For another song that does this try "Glass Onion" that also has a couple of throwbacks to earlier songs. In fact, you'll hear a reference to I Am the Walrus! Beatles were probably the first band (and perhaps only) to include in lyrics that references earlier hit songs. Listening to their albums as they came out, we immediately got those references. I just heard you say "abstract" describing this song. That is so spot-on! That's exactly how I describe it, either as abstract or surreal forms of music like the visual art forms. So many people today are used to songs with a story, understandable situations, a lost love, a new love. Well the Beatles, particularly John, created abstract music forms too as you see (hear) here. 😁 It's the early experimentation in the so-called emerging psychedelic rock, that others like Pink Floyd and Yes flourished in. Also keep in mind the social/political unrest going on at the time, and the scores of interpretations coming from the public in that regard. Anyway, another awesome reaction. BTW, I (we) first heard this when it came out in late '67, and we are STILL trying to figure it out! LOL! Doesn't matter if we do or not. The song just grooves, man! ✌️😎

[@yohannbiimu]

...Glass Onion and Savoy Truffle come to mind when references to other Beatles' songs.

[@GrouchyMarx]

@@yohannbiimu Thank you for pointing that out, and I fixed the comment. It was Glass Onion I meant. Harri, if your read all this recommend you do "Fool on the Hill" and "Lady Madonna", before doing "Glass Onion", to get the references. I think you've covered the other song references for Glass Onion and Savory Truffle. Enjoy! ✌️😎

[@erikahlander3489]

You have that kind of references back and forth also in Frank Zappa's texts. It is slightly later (and Zappa was well aware of Beatles' music and text) but I think it is quite independent anyway. It is the way of internal jokes between friends - but made public!

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thanx M...You always have great analysis

[@GrouchyMarx]

@@HarriBestReactions Thank you. You always have great reactions, AND in depth analysis too. Keep it up my friend! ✌️😎

[@home2039]

Man, you nailed this one! This is EXACTLY what he did with the lyrics!! He even said " Let them try to figure THIS ONE out" LOL!!

[@kirpalite]

"Within You, Without You" is one of the Beatles deepest songs. It's a Harrison song with sitar. Appreciate if you could react to it.

[@paulhanson5164]

All you need is a friend like Dr Robert and you to can see semolina pilchards climbing up the Eiffel tower !

[@nthdegree1269]

By chance the next year detective Pilcher arrested John and Yoko for marijuana possession. John always claimed it was planted. Detective Pilcher was making a lot of drug busts during the time of famous celebs, before the song came out as well. Some have theorized that's what John was getting at. Curiously that detective later was put into prison for being corrupt! I don't think the line means that but it sure is a coincidence...

[@Kairon111161]

GOOD ONE!! Hahaha!! Remember, we all thought at the end, that they were saying, “Smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smokes pot - smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smokes pot - Everybody smoke pot - everybody smoke pot - everybody smoke pot - everybody smoke pot”. Still sounds like that to me.

[@jackdshellback3819]

@@Kairon111161 It does sound a bit like that, but in fact it's " everybody's got one"

[@jackdshellback3819]

Oompah, oompah, stick it up your jumper!

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

yup, and John WAS Dr. Robert....

[@bowtangey6830]

This and Revolution #9 were my favorites in those days. ("Block that kick! Block that kick!") 🎵🎶🎵🤯😳

[@LeChaunce]

In his autobiography, Pete Shotton, John's childhood friend who remained friends with the Beatles throughout their career, tells the story of John wanting to write a song based around a police siren that had kept him up the night before, and then they came across a letter from a student in their old grammar school who told them about one of their former teachers -- one who had hated John and Pete -- who was making them analyze Beatles lyrics and their meanings. John and Pete basically brainstormed the lyrics of this tune to mess with that teacher. John was partially inspired by the Lewis Carroll poem The Walrus and the Carpenter from Alice Through The Looking Glass and got the title from that.

[@tomcartwright7134]

Thank you Applesauce! I never heard this story before.

[@despinakollas]

John Lennon was big on “word play” and he was damn good at it. “Pornographic priestess “ “semolina pilchard”” man was killing it.

[@buddyneher9359]

Okay Harri, I think you are now ready to listen to "Tomorrow Never Knows." It was the precursor to "I Am the Walrus" and all their psychedelic period. I predict you will love it and stand in awe. You're right, the Beatles used the power that their fame gave them, to push artistic boundaries, do whatever the hell they wanted in the studio, and have it played on the radio. Never content to rest on their laurels!

[@HarriBestReactions]

Spot on Buddy!

[@marascusbomm]

Or in this case case have it banned on the radio by the BBC thanks to the "Let your knickers down" line :)

[@betsyab121]

A Day in the Life was also banned because of the line I'd Love to Turn You On...

[@marascusbomm]

@@betsyab121 Right On. Add Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds & you have the trilogy of Beatle songs banned by the Beeb

[@kylebakke594]

I love that you described the song with the word “abstract.” It’s the perfect word to describe this. As usual, I love watching you react to hearing this song for the first time. You’re coming at it after watching the band mature professionally, just as we did back in the day. Love you, Harri!

[@HarriBestReactions]

Big love back at cha Kyle! 💙✌🏾

[@b0tterman]

Lennon's lyrics here are so surreal and amazingly the words just tangle you brain and you feel exactly what he means, whatever that is. Brilliant.

[@DJBilodeau]

Love the Beatles. Love how you bring fresh eyes and ears to the subject! Love your joy and delight, and I also hear songs now I’ve heard many times before in a fresh new way through your eyes!

[@artiewithers6980]

I don’t think John had any idea what he was talking about either. I believe he stated, let them figure this one out, referring to some school children who were studying Beatle songs in class. He refers to the Walrus in his song “Glass Onion” from the White Album. Great and fun reaction, as usual. Thanks...

[@sourisvoleur4854]

And he refers to Lucy in the Sky in this one! a chain!

[@dennismason3740]

Your joy in Beatles is a delight. I'm a Beatlemaniac since 1964. In 1963 our president hero was murdered and the Beatles came to our rescue and broke the grief spell and joy came back to radio (yes Beach Boys of course, as well). Goo goo ga joob. They say that they were chanting "smoke pot smoke pot everybody's smokin' pot" at the end of the song. That's how I sing it.

[@davidglass4227]

A teacher at John's old school would give assignments to analyze Beatles lyrics. When John heard of this, this song became a project to really set that teacher off.

[@MrUnderdog-vn3zf]

Spot on...🤟🏻😎👍🏻

[@rydelldownward7808]

John is quoted as saying “let the fuckers work that one out”.

[@your_local_dummy4137]

@@rydelldownward7808 That's what I heard too.

[@barbarjinx3802]

When you said forget about the lyrics you really hit the nail on the head. That was John’s intention. The most gibberish song with a cool groove.

[@larrydavis8249]

FYI - a lot of radio stations refused to play this one. Mostly due to the line ‘you let your knickers down’; plus ‘yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog’s eye’. There water only a few renegade stations

[@Jonni1027]

I only know that the BBC refused to play it. Do you know if that happened too in the U.S.?

[@larrydavis8249]

@@Jonni1027 I’m not sure in the US (but, likely - especially in the southern states); I’m referring to Canada when I was a teenager!

[@HarriBestReactions]

That was my favourite line alonh with i am the eggman 😀😀

[@Jonni1027]

@@larrydavis8249 Oh! Canada! And that makes sense if the BBC banned it. Sheesh. So I guess THAT’S how I got corrupted way back when🤪. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area that had “free-form” radio stations that played it with no problem.

[@larrydavis8249]

@@Jonni1027 I envy you; always admired San Fran!

[@Jaseph2]

All I can say is John sure is singing passionately about this purposely no sense song. A masterpiece.

[@marascusbomm]

Agreed. Love that slight distortion they put on to dirty up his vocals (Along with the obligatory ADT, invented by Ken Townsend at John's request)

[@bowtangey6830]

@@marascusbomm But like the best Dylan lyrics, they SEEM like they mean something.

[@johnsullivan5260]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful interpretation of this song

[@yohannbiimu]

Ahhhh...you've entered the full-Lennon twilight zone. It's a fascinating place, In't it?

[@HarriBestReactions]

😀

[@yohannbiimu]

The Walrus is theorized to be the same one in Lewis Carrol's "The Walrus and the Carpenter". John was apparently a big fan of his work.

[@JStarStar00]

Lennon said later after he read the Lewis Carroll poem he realized the walrus was really the villain. He said, "dammit, I wrote the song about the wrong guy, I probably should have gone back and made it, "I Am The Carpenter."

[@willblood7082]

This came out in 1967, can you imagine listening to this for the first time in stereo either with or without headphones. It had to be absolutely mind blowing at the time!!

[@westfield90]

So love this song.

[@johnboylan3591]

Band by the BBC because of the word knickers welcome to England

[@calebclunie4001]

This song is one of my favorites, because John has a great sense of humo(u)r, and whimsey, plus he toys with language devices such as alliteration, and the orchestration is amazing.

[@johnsheppard2248]

Your love of E.L.O. is well founded, Jeff Lynne stated that the bands inspiration was to carry on from where I Am The Walrus ended. This was a perfect stating point for them

[@bemused9522]

One of my fave top 3 of the Beatles! So glad you did a reaction video to it. When I was married and raising my stepson.... when things got really crazy in the house I would just pop out "Coo coo Cachoo".... letting everyone know we were headed or in a nonsense situation and to just go with the crazy. Peace and love ❤️

[@rubbersole79]

I've been a Beatle fan for over 50 years and a musician for over 40. This is by far my favorite song by anyone. Old men talking, classical strings everywhere, Beatles chanting, Popeye cartoons, gross lyrics, all with that steady 4/4 beat.......whats not to LOVE???

[@MrTCHOSS]

I am the first one here.... Goo goo g'joob

[@lisarainbow9703]

Gezundheit! 😁

[@fidge54]

Wow. What a major accomplisment. Does the babysitter know you're playing on Mommy's computer again?

[@grendog02]

In my top 5 Beatles tunes

[@MrTCHOSS]

@@fidge54 No. And don't tell her

[@buddyneher9359]

@@MrTCHOSS hahaha, hehehe, HAHAHA!

[@jvs333]

What the Beatles did was not just change music but change the world, change the thinking and conscience of humanity. They were a turning point of how to look and think of life

[@dixgun]

Great analysis as always. I think we can't ignore Semolina Pelchard climbing up the Eiffel Tower and Sgt. Norman Pilcher of the Metropolitan Police Department, who in the ‘60s was climbing the ranks, and who quite recently published a book called 'Crooked Coppers,' who planted contraband on members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. There is 'The Walrus And The Carpenter' and then there’s Humpty Dumpty who sat on the wall and had a great fall, as a possible source for the egg man.

[@RicoBurghFan]

From my understanding Lennon based this on the works of Lewis Carroll, who often wrote in madeup nonsense words, and whose output includes the Walrus and the Carpenter and Alice in Wonderland, which included Humpty Dumpty, the Eggman. To me, his influence is obvious here. Cheers, brother Harri, you have literally gone down the rabbit hole with this one!

[@noracola5285]

Why don't you enlighten us then, @@dylanbyrum?

[@personalcheeses8073]

@b phillip I think you will find John’s book was called A Spaniard In The Works. What did you do, just google this info and misread it?

[@lhpl]

Maybe not _quite_ literally, but certainly literarily. :-) And probably the most famous literary rabbit hole. Do you (or anybody else for that matter) happen to know if the phrase "going down the rabbit hole" is derived from the story, or if Carroll took the phrase/metaphor and made Alice turn it into a literal rabbit hole (in the story anyway)?

[@cuebj]

@@lhpl Love that play on 'lit...'

[@rubusroo68]

'’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe.. Carroll was something else indeed. Words like syrup slipping into our minds.

[@geraldharkness8830]

i was11 years in secondary school when this was playing on the radio i am 70 years old! and the song is still marvelous!

[@dennismason3740]

When Walrus came to radio we were mesmerized. "Flippin Beatles change music, AGAIN!'".

[@tcanfield]

Recently I found out who “The Eggman” was by chance. Reading Eric Burdon’s Wikipedia page it said that John had nicknamed him that because of something involving an egg.I can’t go into it here, so curious minds can go there to read for yourselves .......

[@buddyneher9359]

@Thomas Dodd Let's add another layer to this and speculate that Constable Ventriss of the Aidensfield police was often seen snacking on boiled eggs in the office... which was set in the mid-60's time period. Clearly a shout-out to Beatle fans who could identify him as the eggman! :-) [reference to 1990's British TV show "Heartbeat" for those not in the know]

[@stevengifford7457]

Eric was messy boy.

[@TodayImMaking]

Yay! You reacted to my second favorite Beatles song! My first favorite is A Day in The Life, which I think you have already reacted to. Third, for me, is Eleanor Rigby (which you have also reacted to). Tomorrow Never Knows is my fourth favorite Beatles song, and I'll bet I'm not alone in recommending it to you. It's a classic, and historical in the context of audio recording and engineering. Cheers!

[@avantprog6902]

Really! Consider starting with Love Me Do and arriving at I Am the Walrus. What an evolution!

[@mcsmilan1]

Great recording. The louder the better, too!

[@doncourtreporter]

Always makes me smile to see your videos, Sir Harri. I do have a fantastic time when I visit the greatest channel on Earth. Thanks again I just read that John wrote the first line on an LSD trip and a week later wrote the second line on an LSD trip. Wow. John said he wrote the lyrics specifically to confound the serious scholars who interpret The Beatles' lyrics. Peace and love from Florida.

[@HarriBestReactions]

The Don father! Always great to see ya!

[@doncourtreporter]

@@HarriBestReactions And my friend, your show is always a delight and usually the highlight of my day. Peace. Keep up the great work.

[@charliecochran3035]

It's unusual for someone to get this song on the first listen. Bravo!

[@WHOMEWHOYOU]

Hey Harri, I'm an Old Beatles Fan & I am having fun listening to these old Tunes 50+ years old !!! plus the other Artist your throwing on as I haven't heard in years! always a Thumbs Up!

[@HarriBestReactions]

✌🏾😀

[@ocheltree1]

You ought to watch Jim Carrey singing this, directed by George Martin!!!! It's fantastic! Great reaction as usual! Thx, Harri.

[@mgman6000]

"oh an untimely death" at the end was eerily prophetic

[@bullwinkle276]

Harry, I Am The Walrus was released in 1967 and was featured on their art film (short movie) Magical Mystery Tour. What inspired John Lennon to create the amazing lyrics of the song was he loved the author of "Alice in Wonderland", Lewis Carroll who let his imagine run wild while constructing his word play. The Walrus is inspired by the poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter", which is part of Alice's memories in Wonderland. The "Eggman" is derived from Carroll's "Through The Looking Glass" character, Humpty Dumpty who has a section where he exchanges non-sequiturs with Alice. Just another example to prove The Beatles were way ahead of their time.

[@jamesswindle5253]

The Beatles could have made music out of a telephone directory and made it a classic. Their brilliance had no boundaries

[@richardsteiner8992]

Manfred Mann has a song where they sing the text of a product warranty ,😂

[@sallyshipwreck4315]

"Ha ha ha ha Everybody's got one" Thanks Harri!

[@LaStarza61]

This may not be The Beatles greatest song... but it is definitely my favorite Beatles song!

[@robertsaul234]

John said he based the "melody" on a police siren. The lyrics are inspired by Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus and the Carpenter" John later said he misunderstood the work and he was actually in fact the carpenter. "I Am the Carpenter" just doesn't sound right.

[@paulmartinson7200]

as usual, the drums are perfect

[@realemetic1]

The best part of this song is the chanting at the end "Oompah, oompah, stick it up your jumper" while the alternate chorus sings "Everybody's got one"....not that part, but the high voices that are going "yop! yop!" or something like that....it's HILARIOUS!

[@Stacy55ish]

The Beatles didn't shy away from experimentation and surreal lyrics.

[@stephenqualtrough7322]

John said on Glass Onion I think " The walrus was Paul : and that is all we need to know. I am sure that clarins things lol Harri

[@waynerkb]

Harri it’s great to enjoy the impossibility of it all , and since you also enjoy ELO try listening to “ last train to London “ and “Midnight Blue “ and you’re welcome 😊

[@marascusbomm]

With all the wordplay, humorous little voices & sound effects in the background I can totally hear John's love of The Goons in this, mixed with his love for Lewis Carroll (which is obviously where "The Walrus" came from).

[@ThePittsburghToddy]

Smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smoke pot! That’s what my friends and I thought they’re chanting and the end!!!💭😳

[@chasleask8533]

Oompah oompah stick it up your jumper.

[@davidlee6720]

John was really fond of working class rhymes like 'oompah oompah stick it up your jumper' we used at school, Lucy in there too and so many other hidden meanings when you know what to listen out for. George Martin brought it all to fruition. we played it over and over again in our local pub when it first came out, I think Paul was the Eggman. John himself obviously the Walrus.

[@southernwanderer7912]

Probably the best lyrics ever written. Poetry in song. When you get the chance, look up the lyrics just to see what they are.

[@Iluvyourtoes]

He's saying a lot of hilarious stuff yet, he's crying throughout the song ... Enigmatic ! I've heard that song thousands of times, over the decades and I can still play it many times in a row ... I call it "The Symphony of madness" :D

[@ericanderson8886]

"Glass Onion" is a great song as well and it gives you a clue about the walrus lol.

[@trevorholden7423]

"I shan't let you down Father, bless you' incredible taped inserts at the end, no doubt by Yoko.. I've come to like her influence on John.

[@beatler]

Incredible track! So much fun. An answer of John for those people who were dissecting their lyrics searching for hidden meanings that were not there. "Let's see what they make out of this!" he said. The orchestration, so tasty! Kudos to George Martin. Besides the Beatles in the basic track (piano, guitar, bass and drums), and the orchestra (violins, cellos, clarinet and horns), there is a choir singing all the oooohs and aaaaaahs, and at the end they chant "oompah oompa stick it up your jumper" and "got one got one everybody got one". And on top of that, there is a LIVE feed from the radio, a play that was being broadcasted by the BBC, The Tragedy of King Lear, at the time they were recording the track (and John wanted to include that!, a serviceable villain!). Notice that (in the stereo version) the first part of the song is in stereo, and when the "sitting in an English garden" starts it is in mono. That's because the live radio feed was added to the mono mix, and it was impossible to redo it in the stereo (because there was no way to go back in time and get again that BBC program!) so they stitched both takes. King Lear: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h16UXmmVjM6Irrs&ab_channel=DavidJones Orchestra isolated: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npS7pYqAatF-hZI&ab_channel=JK

[@hw343434]

Paul said John sang the orchestration parts to George Martin

[@avlisk]

I do remember The Eggman from old time radio. It was a character on either The Great Gildersleeve or maybe Fibber McGee and Molly. It was so long ago, I don't recall which.The show was from the 1940's, an impressionable time for young Mr. Lennon. Whether that influenced John in the lyrics, I have no idea, as I don't know if these shows played in England.

[@keymack2477]

Harri, thank you for this reaction! You nailed it regarding the lyrics! You need to add "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite" to your extensive and ever-growing list of Beatles songs to get to! And don't forget the Abbey Road medley one fine day!! Cheers,

[@TimStCroix]

Interesting tidbit: The notes on the first line beginning "I am he as you are he..." as well on the later lines "Mister City policeman sitting..." and "Expert textpert choking smokers..." bring to mind many European country's police sirens. I don't know if it was on purpose or if it was of any significance.

[@TheScavenger71]

If my understanding is correct, Lennon made up the words "textpert" and "Crabalocker" for the song.

[@brianparker663]

Welcome to the birth of funky cello - which ELO would go on to use to great effect. Contains one of my favourite Ringo moments (1.33 in your video) - just three chops but he STILL manages to swing it!..:-)

[@glass2467]

Yeah, there's something about music listeners today - most can't comprehend the use of abstract poetry. They think you have to have a meaning. Maybe John's lyrics here had meaning and maybe they didn't. But it makes you think. It takes you on a stream of consciousness. And it takes to a place that you couldn't go to in a song of today. It generates a mood that would not be achieved otherwise. Maybe someday people will be open to abstract again, and understand the significance.

[@charsibaba6960]

“What happened to she loves you ya ya ya ?” LOL Sort of describes the whole trajectory of the 60’s and the Beatles were major trend setters in that period. Cheers bro’

[@trevorholden7423]

Harri you are indeed correct, this was a ground-breaking song, which in my mind undoubtably became the source of inspiration for prog rock classics such as 'Suppers Ready' by Genesis and 'Brain Damage' by Pink Floyd. It most definitely snapped me out of the superficiality of Pop music fluff and the banal lyrics and themes therein. Miss you John Lennon, you were brave. PS: you can certainly hear the influence of Yoko on this track and lovers of prog rock should definitely have a re-listen to Revolution #9 (John collaborating with Yoko), you will hear it with a new found respect. GO BEATLES!!!

[@hw343434]

This was pre Yoko

[@trevorholden7423]

@@hw343434 I beg to differ - The pair first met in November 1966 at a London gallery, where Ono was preparing for an exhibition of her work. They instantaneously connected and began a whirlwind (and at times controversial) romance. Less than three years later, on March 20, 1969, the couple married. Walrus was was released in 1967

[@hw343434]

@@trevorholden7423 i Love “Revolution 9” specially where it is on the White Album as the closer followed by John’s radically opposite symphonic lullaby “Good Night”. I knew he met Yoko by the time of Walrus but he was still with Cynthia when they went to India which was around 1968 pre White Album. They separated after the Beatles India trip. I think Yoko’s influence is first felt on The White Album

[@trevorholden7423]

@@hw343434 I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one Andres. What I am saying is Yoko's influence is definitely present, and I dont think they had used taped voices prior to 'I am the Walrus' (I could be wrong). And on Beatlesbible website John says - The first line was written on one acid trip one weekend, the second line on another acid trip the next weekend, and it was filled in after I met Yoko. John Lennon, 1980 Ie it was filled in after he met Yoko..

[@hw343434]

@@trevorholden7423 you got it, cool, didn’t know that last bit, knew about the two weekend acid trips. Anyway, more proof that Yoko was actually a progressive influence for John/Beatles despite the haters

[@hichambarrak2902]

I "recommend you watch that program on YT called "kids react". The reporter explained to the kids after they listened to the full song & trying to understand & deconstruct it that the Beatles wrote this song because they were sick & tired of critics overanalyzing every single song they made, so they chose "I'm the walrus" to give them something to reflect on.

[@TonyFarnam]

That particular song always struck me like an auditory, and lyrical, version of a Salvador Dali, or some other, surrealist painting. Very stream of consciousness lyrics, made more to create vivid mental pictures, while allowing the listener to fill in their own blanks. No preconceived story or moral to weigh down your experience. Lennon (and Dylan as well) both had a knack for that.

[@joanlorente1974]

The beginning of the song was inspired by the sound of an ambulance John heard while he was sitting at the piano and he tried to reproduced. Amazing

[@jeffmartin1026]

A classic Lennon song - John saying "figure this one out". The spoken words at the end are from King Lear that John had recorded off the radio. "Oh what an untimely death" was one of the "Big Clues" in the Paul Is Dead rumors at the time. You need to watch the Magical Mystery Tour film to see how this was presented. ps - The walrus was Paul.

[@nthdegree1269]

I posted this in the comments but here is the direct link to those voices it's a radio play in 1967 of Shakespeare kzbin.info/www/bejne/h16UXmmVjM6Irrs

[@Jonni1027]

Well I’ll be... at the time I totally missed that King Lear line being a clue related to Paul being dead. Thanks. This kind of Beatle trivia is VERY important haha

[@nthdegree1269]

@@Jonni1027 I thought, when I was younger.... that Paul was the voice quoting those lines.

[@dennismason3740]

John is not afraid to allow the sound and musicality of words to manifest in his writing. Intuitively he is a genius of wordage. Read "In His Own Write" and "A Spaniard in the Works", written and illustrated by Mister Lennon.

[@juanita6479]

The brilliance of John, he wrote this song as a reply for those who insisted to explain to school students the supposedly meaning of each one of the Beatles' songs.

[@angos2035]

Just one small point Harri. You said the Beatles were 'lucky' to have the freedom to do what they liked artistically. The reality is that from the beginning of their recording career they pushed hard for control of their output and songs, For example, George Martin wanted them to release 'How do you do it' as their second single. Instead the Beatles insisted on recording and releasing 'Please Please Me'. Through their career, they increasingly made psychological space for themselves to create their own music their way, although, of course, they were always open to advice from George Martin and the others. That inner drive was/is intrinsic to heir greatness.-

[@StarVoyager9]

John was a prankster. Smarmy. And whimsical. A fan of Lewis Carroll, he was inspired this time by Alice innWonderland and... I'm trying to remember... The character in a poem by LC, the Walrus and Crocodile? Anyway, trippy song in 66/67... And still a trippy song in 2021.

[@michaelparks6120]

The Beatles were brilliant.

[@phillydog17]

The images from his lyrics are wonderful! Man you should've seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe. Long live the music of The Walrus!!

[@mjp3186]

We had the single at home. Hello Goodbye was the B-side. Or the A-side😄

[@clevellbarney8917]

Good reaction. You get it. The lyrics do mean something to me, but I won't say unless I'm asked. But it's really about the sound and the groove. Why this is my number one Beatles song. I'm sad I sold this album this year with a few others for a decent sum. It's okay though, because I KNOW the songs forever.

[@TheScavenger71]

The "yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog's eye" was taken from a song that Lennon and his classmates sang when they were in grade school. The full limerick is _Yellow matter custard, green slop pie, all mixed together with a dead dog's eye. Slap it on a butty ten foot thick, then wash it all down with a cup of cold sick._

[@joesimonis3432]

Magical Mystery Tour was a TV special in England and the walrus and the egg man were two of the Beatles in costume. It was made as a way to compliment the album . It was not the best thing they ever did but it was still unique and fun. Hope this helps you understand a little better. Also they were doing a little drugs at the time too expand their creativity .

[@randykasky7120]

You're exactly right Harri. John Lennon loved words and playing with words. He once said although some of his songs were inspired, many were just nonsense songs. He referred to walrus saying he had no idea who the eggman was. Saying it could have been "a bloody puddy base" for all he knew lol Check out the 1980 Andy Peebles interview if you get a chance. Lots of insight straight from the man himself. Take care buddy

[@vashna3799]

Lennon gave the world 2 and a half of the most spellbinding songs ever in 1967. Strawberry Fields, A Day In The Life (with Paul) and this.

[@bowtangey6830]

A portal to another dimension.

[@christopherstarr8050]

You are exactly correct . When John brought this to George Martin , George said or thought " what do you want me to do with this "

[@julianbarber4708]

Umpar umpar, stick it up your jumper!........always makes me laugh! So much humour in Beatles songs.

[@waschosen-]

It's kind of interesting and also makes me feel old to see young people listening to those familiar songs as if they were new.

[@ollietsb1704]

This song was paired with HELLO GOODBYE on the single and many American top-40 stations wouldn't/couldn't play WALRUS because of the SMOKE POT chant... which may have been intentional just to set them off. So, HELLO received lots of airplay (too much, of course) and everyone who wore out their vinyl 45s wore out WALRUS' side. Does anyone know whose moog synthesizer was used? George bought one of the first in ?? 1966 ?? and during the Anthology filming, The Lads are playing one - it wasn't clear if that was The One used for recording - I assumed so.