I Am The Walrus

"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". Lennon composed the avant-garde song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles' lyrics, he added a verse of nonsense words. Music critic Ian MacDonald argued that the song was Lennon's "final creative high water mark" with the Beatles. The walrus is a reference to the walrus in Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus and the Carpenter" (from the book Through the Looking-Glass). Lennon expressed dismay upon learning that the walrus was the villain in the poem. Also in the song 'Glass Onion', released on The Beatles' White Album in 1968, Lennon claims the Walrus to be 'Paul', as in his good friend and songwriting partner Paul McCartney.

[Verse 1] 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 [Verse 2] Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday Man, you've been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long [Chorus] I am the egg man, they are the egg men I am the walrus, goo goo goo joob [Verse 3] 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 [Verse 4] Yellow matter custard Dripping from a dead dog's eye Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess Boy, you've been a naughty girl, you let your knickers down [Chorus] I am the egg man, they are the egg men I am the walrus, goo goo goo joob [Bridge] 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 [Chorus] I am the egg man (now good sir, what are you?) They are the egg men (a poor man, made tame to fortune's blows) I am the walrus, goo goo goo joob (good pity) G-goo goo goo joob [Verse 5] Expert, textpert, choking smokers Don't you think the joker laughs at you? (ho ho ho, hee hee hee, ha ha ha) See how they smile like pigs in a sty See how they snide I'm crying [Verse 6] Semolina pilchard Climbing up the Eiffel Tower Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe [Chorus] I am the egg man, they are the egg men I am the walrus, goo goo goo joob g-goo goo goo joob Goo goo goo joob g-goo goo goo joob, goo goo Joob Joob Joob [Outro] Umpa, umpa, stick it up your jumper Everybody's got one, everybody's got one “Villain, take my Purse. If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my Body And give the Letters which thou findst about me To Edmund Earl of Gloucester: seek him out upon the English Party. Oh, untimely death, death–” “I know thee well, a serviceable Villain; as duteous to the Vices of thy Mistress as badness would desire.” “What, is he dead?” “Sit you down, Father; rest you.”