Listen on Spotify
Spotify's official recording from Magical Mystery Tour (Remastered). Sign-in Spotify users get full playback; everyone else gets a 30-second preview. Open in Spotify →
Overview
"I Am the Walrus" is a song by the Beatles from their 1967 television film Magical Mystery Tour, and officially released on its soundtrack EP and album. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to the single "Hello, Goodbye" and on the Magical Mystery Tour EP and album. In the film, the song underscores a segment in which the band mime to the recording at a deserted airfield. [Wikipedia]
Background
I Am the Walrus is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon and led on vocal by John Lennon. Three songs spliced together; live BBC King Lear feed in the fade. Within the catalogue, its nonsense thread connects it to Dig a Pony. The orchestral accompaniment showcased George Martin's ear for arrangement, culminating in the almost cathartic declaration 'I am the eggman' layered with experimental sounds (Kozinn 1995, p.169).
What's distinctive
At 4:35 it's among the very longest tracks in the canon (≥97th percentile). One of 101 songs led primarily by John. Recorded approximately 7 of 11 into the Magical Mystery Tour (late 1967) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'spliced' — no other song shares it. Take count: 52 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "I am he as you are he…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Magical Mystery Tour (late 1967) period, recorded 5 Sep 1967 at EMI Studios + Olympic Sound Studios (Barnes) for some MMT/All You Need Is Love work. George Martin produced; Geoff Emerick engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.122 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). When Lennon presented the song, George Martin was momentarily speechless; the engineer Emerick later recalled watching the band appear mentally detached during recording, noting their lack of engagement with the complex arrangement (Emerick 2006, p.554). Lennon's absurdist composition followed earlier aggressive sarcasm on records and marked a defiant artistic statement amid LSD experimentation and personal turmoil (MacDonald 1994, p.118).
| Studio | EMI Studios + Olympic Sound Studios (Barnes) for some MMT/All You Need Is Love work |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Synced J37 four-tracks; first Beatles use of 8-track Studer A80 imminent |
| Console | REDD.51 + Helios at Olympic |
| Microphones | U47/U48, AKG C12, ribbon mics (4038) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124, EMT 140, Fairchild 660, ADT, tape phasing, Leslie cabinet |
| Guitars | Epiphone Casino, Fender Stratocaster (Harrison — psychedelic 'Rocky' Strat), Mellotron, clavioline |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC100, Vox UL730, Fender Showman, Fender Bassman |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Geoff Emerick • Ken Scott on some sessions |
| Estimated takes | 52 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it on the EP Magical Mystery Tour; on the single Hello, Goodbye. Documented alternate versions include Anthology 2 (1996), 2009 Stereo Remasters. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. Complex mixing history with two stereo and two mono mixes; the 1988 stereo home-video version differs from original by omitting special L/R channel switching effects (Daniels 2024, p.175).
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
- Anthology 2 (1996) — alternate take or mix
- 2009 Stereo Remasters — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
Released on
- Magical Mystery Tour — EP, 8 December 1967
- Hello, Goodbye — Single, 24 November 1967
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (spliced, king-lear, nonsense, mike-sammy-singers, classic)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
splicedking-learnonsensemike-sammy-singersclassic
References & external databases
Notable covers
- Spooky Tooth performed a cover of the song on their album, The Last Puff (1970) .
- The film Across the Universe has "I Am the Walrus" performed by Bono, playing the character of the guru Doctor Robert.
Cover-version mentions extracted from the Wikipedia article. For comprehensive cover catalogs see SecondHandSongs.
Frequently asked
Who wrote I Am the Walrus?
“I Am the Walrus” is credited to John Lennon (Lennon–McCartney).
Who sings lead on I Am the Walrus?
The lead vocal on “I Am the Walrus” is by John Lennon.
When was I Am the Walrus recorded?
“I Am the Walrus” was recorded 5 Sep 1967 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did I Am the Walrus require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 52 numbered takes for “I Am the Walrus”.