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.
I Am A Walrus
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun
See how they fly
I'm crying
Sitting on a corn flake
Waiting for the van to come
Man you've 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've been a naughty girl, you let your knickers down
I am the egg man
They are the egg men
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 (now good sir)
They are the egg men (a poor man, made tame to fortune's blows)
I am the walrus
Goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob (good pity)
Expert, texpert choking smokers
Don't you think the joker laughs at you (ho ho ho, hee hee hee, hah hah hah)
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 Allen Poe
I am the egg man
They are the egg men
I am the walrus
Goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob
Goo goo g'joob, goo goo goo g'joob, goo
Joob, joob, jooba
Jooba, jooba, jooba
Joob, jooba
Joob, jooba
Umpa, umpa, stick it up your jumper (jooba, jooba)
Umpa, umpa, stick it up your jumper
Everybody's got one (umpa, umpa)
Everybody's got one (stick it up your jumper)
Everybody's got one (umpa, umpa)
Everybody's got one (stick it up your jumper)
Everybody's got one (umpa, umpa)
Everybody's got one (stick it up your jumper)
Everybody's got one (umpa, umpa)
Everybody's got one (stick it up your jumper)
Everybody's got one (umpa, umpa)
Everybody's got one (stick it up your jumper)
Everybody's got one (umpa, umpa)
Slave
Thou hast slain me
Villain, take my purse
If I ever
Bury my body
The letters which though find'st about me
To Edmund Earl of Gloucester
Seek him out upon the British Party
O untimely death
I know thee well
A serviceable villain, as duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire
What, is is he dead?
Sit you down, Father, rest you
The lyrics of "I Am A Walrus" by The Beatles are known for their psychedelic and nonsensical nature. At first, the lyrics seem to be a mash-up of random phrases and fragmented images, but upon further analysis, they can be interpreted as a commentary on the state of society and the confusion of identity.
The song starts with the repeated line, "I am he as you are he as you are me, and we are all together," which implies a sense of unity and interconnectedness. However, this is quickly juxtaposed with the image of pigs running from a gun, suggesting chaos and violence. The line, "Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come," further reinforces the idea of waiting for something unknown or uncertain, possibly alluding to the uncertainty of the times.
The phrase "I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob" has been subject to numerous interpretations. Some suggest that "eggman" and "eggmen" refer to the band's producer, George Martin, who was known for his bald head resembling an egg. "Walrus" could be a reference to Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter," which is about deception and exploitation. Overall, the song can be viewed as a commentary on the identity crisis of individuals in society and the meaninglessness of trying to establish a fixed identity.
Line by Line Meaning
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
The singer sees himself, the listener, and everyone else as one and the same. He observes the chaos of the world and becomes emotional.
Sitting on a cornflake
Waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you've been a naughty boy
You let your face grow long
The singer feels bored and purposeless, waiting for something to happen. He ridicules the people around him for conforming to societal expectations.
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob
The singer identifies with the absurdity of a nonsense nursery rhyme character. He humorously assigns the same identity to his listeners and anyone else he sees.
Mr. 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
The artist observes the oppressive nature of authority figures in society. He is emotional about the lack of change or resistance to their control.
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
The artist lists bizarre and disturbing images, possibly representing society's moral degradation. He chides someone for partaking in this degradation.
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
The singer adopts a passive attitude toward life, waiting for things to happen. He notes the irony of trying to sunbathe in an often rainy country.
I am the eggman
("How do you do sir")
They are the eggmen
("The man maintains a fortune")
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob Goo Goo Goo g' joob
The singer repeats his previous nonsense lines but adds nonsensical phrases from elsewhere. He may be poking fun at the way people try to assign meaning to everything.
Expert, texpert choking smokers
Don't you think the joker laughs at you
(Ho ho ho hee hee hee hah hah hah)
See how they smile like pigs in a sty
See how they snide
I'm crying
The artist criticizes people who claim to have all the answers. He sees their arrogance and mockery as contributing to the problems of the world. He becomes emotional again.
Semolina Pilchard
Climbing up the Eiffel tower
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
Man, you should have seen them kicking
Edgar Allen Poe
The artist describes a surreal scene, with bizarre characters in surprising circumstances. He may be pointing out the randomness and unpredictability of life.
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g' joob
Goo goo goo g' joob
Goo goo g' joob
Goo goo goo g' joob
Goo goo
Juba juba juba
Juba juba juba
Juba juba juba
Juba juba
The artist repeats his nonsense lines more and adds further nonsense syllables. He may be emphasizing the absurdity and pointlessness of the whole song.
(Oh I'm tired, servicible villain
Set you down father, rest you)
These lines are not part of the song lyrics and may have been added accidentally. There is no clear meaning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
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A really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
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A really splendid Beatles song.
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Now this is a really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
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A seriously underrated Beatles song.
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A fantastic song by The Beatles.
Philip Kassabian
on When I'm Sixty-Four
A very tuneful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
An excellent Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm Looking Through You
A beautiful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Honestly The Beatles can't stop producing good songs.
Philip Kassabian
on Michelle
A fantastic Beatles song and absolutely beautiful.