The Beatles - I Am The Walrus 1967
"I Am the Walrus" is a 1967 song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. Lennon claimed he wrote the first two lines on separate acid trips. The song was in The Beatles' 1967 television film and album Magical Mystery Tour, and was the B-side to the #1 hit "Hello, Goodbye".
In the original (1967) stereo release, at around two minutes through the song, the mix changes from true stereo to "fake stereo". This came about because the radio broadcast had been added 'live', off-air, into the mono mix-down and so was unavailable for inclusion in the stereo mix; hence, fake stereo from the mono mix was created for this portion of the song.
The mono version opens with a four-beat chord while the stereo mix features six beats on the initial chord. The four-beat-only-intro is also included on an alternate stereo mix (overseen by George Martin) for the most recent home video version of Magical Mystery Tour, especially the US Magical Mystery Tour LP. The US mono single mix includes an extra bar of music before the words "yellow matter custard"; an early, overdub-free mix of the song released on The Beatles Anthology 2 reveals John singing the lyrics "Yellow mat -" too early—this was edited out. A hybrid version prepared for the 1980 US Rarities LP combines the six-beat opening with the extra bar of music that precedes the words "yellow matter custard" (from the aforementioned US mono single mix).
In 2003, the first-ever completely true stereo mix of the song (albeit with the introduction covered by narration voice-over), including the formerly "fake stereo" second half, was included on The Beatles Anthology release to DVD (a change from the VHS edition); and in 2006, the first-ever stereo mix of the complete song (from beginning to end) was issued on The Beatles' album Love. The true stereo mix had been made possible when a separate recording of the same King Lear radio performance used in the original mix was located. * John Lennon -- lead vocals, electric piano, mellotron * Paul McCartney -- bass, tambourine, backing vocals * George Harrison -- electric guitar, backing vocals * Ringo Starr -- drums * Orchestrated, directed and produced by George Martin. * Session musicians: strings, brass and woodwinds. * Mike Sammes singers -- background vocals. * Engineered by Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. * Mixed by Geoff Emerick and John Lennon.
In other news, I have added the lyrics to this song so you can sing along, or perhaps learn the song! This is how I learned my first Beatles song! Enjoy :)
Album: Magical Mystery Tour
"I Am the Walrus" is a 1967 song by The Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. Lennon claimed he wrote the first two lines on separate acid trips. The song was in The Beatles' 1967 television film and album Magical Mystery Tour, and was the B-side to the #1 hit "Hello, Goodbye".
In the original (1967) stereo release, at around two minutes through the song, the mix changes from true stereo to "fake stereo". This came about because the radio broadcast had been added 'live', off-air, into the mono mix-down and so was unavailable for inclusion in the stereo mix; hence, fake stereo from the mono mix was created for this portion of the song.
The mono version opens with a four-beat chord while the stereo mix features six beats on the initial chord. The four-beat-only-intro is also included on an alternate stereo mix (overseen by George Martin) for the most recent home video version of Magical Mystery Tour, especially the US Magical Mystery Tour LP. The US mono single mix includes an extra bar of music before the words "yellow matter custard"; an early, overdub-free mix of the song released on The Beatles Anthology 2 reveals John singing the lyrics "Yellow mat -" too early—this was edited out. A hybrid version prepared for the 1980 US Rarities LP combines the six-beat opening with the extra bar of music that precedes the words "yellow matter custard" (from the aforementioned US mono single mix).
In 2003, the first-ever completely true stereo mix of the song (albeit with the introduction covered by narration voice-over), including the formerly "fake stereo" second half, was included on The Beatles Anthology release to DVD (a change from the VHS edition); and in 2006, the first-ever stereo mix of the complete song (from beginning to end) was issued on The Beatles' album Love. The true stereo mix had been made possible when a separate recording of the same King Lear radio performance used in the original mix was located. * John Lennon -- lead vocals, electric piano, mellotron * Paul McCartney -- bass, tambourine, backing vocals * George Harrison -- electric guitar, backing vocals * Ringo Starr -- drums * Orchestrated, directed and produced by George Martin. * Session musicians: strings, brass and woodwinds. * Mike Sammes singers -- background vocals. * Engineered by Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. * Mixed by Geoff Emerick and John Lennon.
In other news, I have added the lyrics to this song so you can sing along, or perhaps learn the song! This is how I learned my first Beatles song! Enjoy :)
Album: Magical Mystery Tour
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 T-shirts,
Stupid Bloody Tuesday.
Man, you've been a naughty boy,
You let your face grow long.
I am The Eggman. ( woo! )
They are The Eggmen ( woo! )
I am The Walrus!
Goo Goo Ga 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 cry
I'm crying
I'm cry!
Yellow matter custard
Dripping down a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker Fishwife,
Pornographic Priestess,
Boy, you've been a naughty girl
And you let your knickers down.
I am The Eggman. ( woo! )
They are The Eggmen ( woo! )
I am The Walrus!
Goo goo ga 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 Eggman.
They are The Eggmen.
I am The Walrus!
Goo goo gajoob
Ga goo goo gajoob
Expert Texpert 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 Hare Krishna
Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.
I am The Eggman. ( woo! )
They are The Eggmen. ( woo! )
I am The Walrus!
Goo goo gajoob
Ga goo goo gajoob
Goo goo gajoob
Ga goo goo gajoob
Ga goo
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The song is based off of 'Alice in Wonderland' and John got a little confused about the role of The Walrus from the story, but it doesn't matter. It's a great song.
Here is the definitive video for the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap6kSV_U45o
( At the time of this writing, this video had 2059 likes, and 43 likes. I would like to meet those 43 people and ask them what their reasoning was. I know there are those who dislike every video they see just because they are annoying litter buggers. )
( At the time of this writing, this video had 2059 likes, and 43 likes. I would like to meet those 43 people and ask them what their reasoning was. I know there are those who dislike every video they see just because they are annoying litter buggers. )
I stole the text for the blog entry from some guy who stole it from somebody else, but I had to type out all the lyrics, so they would be easy to read. People who make videos of songs with lyrics aren't always too good with organizing the words. However, today is the first day I've been able to read every single word of this song. Many of the words I could never figure out just by listening to the song. For years, I never knew John mentions Edgar Allan Poe in this song, who is one of my favorite authors. Imagine that!
Anyway, why did I start with this song? Why not? It was there, and it would be ridiculous to study the Beatles' songs in order. That would be really boring.
I made this blog entry because the information was good, and I wanted people to be able to read and learn about it. I learned some new things in the process, so I am glad it all worked out.
A discussion of the video would take even longer, and I don't have time right now, but maybe I'll add some thoughts later when my head is clear. That could take a day or two, especially after listening to this song four times in a row.
There is no such word as 'texpert'. When rhymed with 'expert', it is mocking that word much in the same way people say 'lollipop mollipop', or any number of combinations. John Lennon is famous for mocking many things, including cops, cripples, and people in authority.
Musically, this a very good song, with many layers of sounds. There is a good syntax with the musical progression of chords counter-balanced by the nonsense of the lyrics, which actually do make sense, and have a point to them if you read them over and over again.
In any case, I think the song and the video pass the audition.
In any case, I think the song and the video pass the audition.
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