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Beatles forums => The Beatles => Topic started by: barry_burton on February 27, 2005, 10:50:47 PM

Title: Who was the walrus?
Post by: barry_burton on February 27, 2005, 10:50:47 PM
Was it Paul or John? John did sing it, but then said it was Paul who was the walrus. Hmm... what are your opinions on this?
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Indica on February 27, 2005, 11:04:48 PM
Well, When John sang about the Walrus, it was just random nonsense thrown at the critics to mock them. Lennon found how people often analysed his songs as ridiculous, so he wrote Walrus as a private joke for himself and the band.
Later, he said the Walrus was Paul, just to keep Paul happy. This was done, because by this time, Lennon & Yoko were very close, and the paul & john bond was breaking, thus he wrote it to keep him happy..
The Walrus* is heavily influenced by Alice through the looking glass...the characters the Walrus & the Carpenter...( The Walrus is infact the evil capitalist character)

Hope it helps.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on February 27, 2005, 11:58:05 PM
Well I think the walrus was Harold...
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on February 28, 2005, 12:25:43 AM
James Joyce was a big influence on JL. On the cover of Magical Mystery Tour, Paul is in the walrus suit. On the inside of the album after the IAMT title it says 'No you're not, said little Nicola' meaning it wasn't John. Then you can read into whatever you like as far as the Paul Is Dead rumor, vis a vis "Glass Onion". I never heard that he wrote that to keep Paul happy because of Yoko, I personally don't think he gave a s**t what people thought of him and Yoko.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: lennonlemon on February 28, 2005, 12:45:45 AM
why would comparing him to a evil capitalist "looking glass" character make him happier.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: barry_burton on February 28, 2005, 01:28:22 AM
Hmm... thanks for the info about the walrus guys. I was just listening to "I Am the Walrus" earlier and I had heard "Glass Onion" countless times and heard Lennon's remarks about the walrus. It just got me wondering.

Paul was the hippo I thought .. meh, doesn't matter.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: barry_burton on February 28, 2005, 01:29:53 AM
I've also heard that the whole walrus thing came from a Shakespearean play (one which I cannot remember).
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on February 28, 2005, 01:36:15 AM
Quote from: barry_burton
I've also heard that the whole walrus thing came from a Shakespearean play (one which I cannot remember).


It didn't come from the play, but you hear Act IV Scene VI, the death scene from King Lear, during the fadeout.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Sondra on February 28, 2005, 07:32:40 AM
Quote from: lennonlemon
why would comparing him to a evil capitalist "looking glass" character make him happier.

John got the characters wrong. He said later on he picked the wrong guy! I guess he wasn't THAT familiar with the work when he wrote the song. Probably liked the way Walrus sounded. I think the bit about Paul being the Walrus is another Lennon backpeddling thing. He said he was throwing Paul a bone, but then, he said a lot of things that were probably only half true. If true at all. It probably just rhymed or something.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Lenny Pane on February 28, 2005, 08:20:58 AM
look at a pic of the boys where there standing next together.. look at the difference in hight.. then have a look at a pic of them standing next together in their costumes and try and work out who was the WALRUS  hehe .. just a bit of fun i guess lmao ...
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: lennonlemon on February 28, 2005, 12:03:17 PM
in the when we was fab video by george harrison ringo is in it, but they couldn't get paul so they substituted him with a walrus playing bass.

it's hardly evidence, but it does make some sense.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Kevin on February 28, 2005, 04:41:22 PM
Quote from: juniorsfarm
I personally don't think he gave a s**t what people thought of him and Yoko.

Based on his Rolling Stone interviews (1970?) and the way he attacked the others for their alledged mistreatment of Yoko, I think he cared very much what people thought.
John has always struck me as a nervous, ill at ease person. not some happy- go lucky- don't- give- a- damn kinda guy
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on February 28, 2005, 10:09:09 PM
Quote from: kevin_b

Based on his Rolling Stone interviews (1970?) and the way he attacked the others for their alledged mistreatment of Yoko, I think he cared very much what people thought.
John has always struck me as a nervous, ill at ease person. not some happy- go lucky- don't- give- a- damn kinda guy

True. He lashed out at the treatment of Yoko and how she was villified, but it didn't change anything that he/they did. Then again, he lashed out at everything in the Jann Wenner interview. He knew that they were going to be mocked about the Bed-In,  Bagism, etc., but he went on with it, mainly to draw attention to their Peace campaign. I'm not saying that he wasn't hurt by it and the dissension with the rest of the band, but he forged ahead and must have figured the price was worth the cost.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Frightwolf on February 28, 2005, 10:59:03 PM
Quote from: juniorsfarm
James Joyce was a big influence on JL. On the cover of Magical Mystery Tour, Paul is in the walrus suit. On the inside of the album after the IAMT title it says 'No you're not, said little Nicola' meaning it wasn't John. Then you can read into whatever you like as far as the Paul Is Dead rumor, vis a vis "Glass Onion". I never heard that he wrote that to keep Paul happy because of Yoko, I personally don't think he gave a s**t what people thought of him and Yoko.

That's what I thought on the MMT cover, untilI read that the hippo has the watch on the right hand, and left-handers have watches on their right hand, signalling that Paul is in the hippo costume.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Lenny Pane on March 01, 2005, 08:17:21 AM
nice reply's there Kev & JF .. i absolutely agree with the both of you !
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Kevin on March 01, 2005, 08:29:15 AM
My god you're up bright and early
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 03, 2005, 12:17:04 AM
Quote from: IndicaWalrus
The Walrus* is heavily influenced by Alice through the looking glass...the characters the Walrus & the Carpenter...( The Walrus is infact the evil capitalist character)

Hope it helps.


Was this a book? I want to read it. What is the title?

Tiff Lennon
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 03, 2005, 12:22:24 AM
My friend, Hyl, and I were just talking about this the other day on the phone. She said that people thought that John wasn't the walrus because another costume had glasses. Also about the song, Glass Onion which was mentioned above. However, in Magical Mystery Tour and in the I Am The Walrus video, you can definately tell that JOHN is the walrus. John is playing the piano AND SO IS THE WALRUS!!!!

Tiff Lennon
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Frightwolf on March 03, 2005, 12:26:12 AM
Darn, I think my post was missed:

The hippo has his watch on his right hand, and that's the hand that left-handers have their watch on.  Personally, I think it's Paul in the hippo suit and John in the walrus suit.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 03, 2005, 12:27:41 AM
No, I read it. I agree though I am wearing my watch on my right hand right now and I am right handed. lol

Tiff Lennon
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 03, 2005, 12:28:44 AM
Speaking of watches, I have wore the one my best friend got me since I got it for XMas. My mom got me one as well and she pointed out that I have never wore it. Maybe I should to make her happy. It think it sort of hurt her feelings. I will, her's is fine but I simply like Sarah's better. LOL

Tiff Lennon
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Sondra on March 03, 2005, 01:16:54 AM
Quote from: Frightwolf
Darn, I think my post was missed:

The hippo has his watch on his right hand, and that's the hand that left-handers have their watch on.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Because on March 05, 2005, 12:40:47 AM
Quote from: Mrs_JWL


Was this a book? I want to read it. What is the title?

Tiff Lennon

Yeah, "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. its where 'alice in wonderland', the disney movie comes from
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 05, 2005, 05:42:54 AM
Oh thanks so much. I will definately add this one to my list ;)

Tiff Lennon
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 05, 2005, 05:43:49 AM
Speaking of Alice in Wonderland... I was doing this play in 8th grade before a switched schools. I made the part for Alice but... I moved...

Tiff Lennon
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Man On Flaming Pie on March 07, 2005, 04:35:08 PM
It was Paul. It was part of that "Paul is dead" hoax. I read in an article about that hoax that they maybe did that because the walrus stands fr death in some places.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Kevin on March 07, 2005, 04:36:56 PM
Quote from: Man_On_Flaming_Pie
It was Paul. It was part of that "Paul is dead" hoax. I read in an article about that hoax that they maybe did that because the walrus stands fr death in some places.

Where? Greenland?
When talking about the Paul is dead thing it seems everything is a sign of death somewhere.
 :)
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mairi on March 07, 2005, 04:39:48 PM
Mrs JWL, I can't believe you've never read the Alic books! I used to love those
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on March 08, 2005, 03:21:16 AM
Isn't Ringo left-handed as well?
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Frightwolf on March 08, 2005, 03:30:49 AM
Quote from: juniorsfarm
Isn't Ringo left-handed as well?

I've never heard of that before! Can anyone confirm this?
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on March 08, 2005, 03:38:47 AM
Quote from: Frightwolf

I've never heard of that before! Can anyone confirm this?


http://www.celebritywonder.com/html/ringostarr.html

Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Frightwolf on March 08, 2005, 03:42:50 AM
I gotta rewatch the IATW video to see how was playing piano in the video.  If it was the hippo, it would support the Paul is the Hippo side.  
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Sondra on March 08, 2005, 07:47:18 AM
It was the Walrus playing the piano. As in John. And I never see a watch on Ringo's right arm, lefty or not. which I don't think he is. But I don't really know.

Check out Ringo's face. You can tell it's him.
(http://www.maccafan.net/Gallery/MagicalMisteryTour/Magical24.jpg)

(http://www.geocities.com/penneylayne/films/magicalmysterytour.jpg)

(http://www.maccafan.net/Gallery/MagicalMisteryTour/Magical26.jpg)


BTW, is THAT what Paul's supposed to be? A hippo?? Sheesh, I'm stupid. I thought it was a gorilla!! Ah!
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on March 08, 2005, 02:19:53 PM
I checked a number of 'lefty' sites and they all mention Ringo as being left-handed.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: An Apple Beatle on March 08, 2005, 05:35:44 PM
^I'm sure he was too... A big reason for those fills he creates. ;)
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Frightwolf on March 08, 2005, 10:14:17 PM
Well, it was the bass guitarist that was the hippo, and the hippo's right arm has the watch, which would clue me in that it's Paul, personally.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Frightwolf on March 08, 2005, 11:37:05 PM
Just found out:

Ringo has orange pants on, and his costume has orange pants.  Paul has black pants, and so does the hippo.  More proof that it's Paul and not Ringo.  :)
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mrs JWL on March 09, 2005, 01:35:32 AM
JOHN IS THE WALRUS. PERIOD. THE ONLY THING THAT CAUSES MY STATEMENT TO SEEM WRONG IS BECAUSE GLASS ONION. BUT JOHN WAS JUST PLAYING AROUND OR DECIDED TO ADD TO THE "PAUL IS DEAD" HOAX RUBBISH

TIFF LENNON
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Man On Flaming Pie on March 09, 2005, 10:49:09 PM
Quote from: juniorsfarm

[url]http://www.celebritywonder.com/html/ringostarr.html[/url]




Go to http://www.Beatlebrunch.com and go to the sound clips thing and Ringo says that since he was born a lefty, his aunt or somebody forced him to use his right hand until he became used to it. He would write with his left hand and play ball too with it until she got p*ssed. She thought it "had to with witches."
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: sexy sadie on March 10, 2005, 12:07:46 AM
id go with john just cuz...the song is awesome & i love him ;)
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mairi on March 10, 2005, 12:10:46 AM
The songs says, "I Am The Walrus". That's basically a declarative statement right there. The only reason he said "The walrus was Paul" in Glass Onion was to mess with all of the hoax-believers.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Mairi on March 10, 2005, 12:34:52 AM
I asked Virtual John and he said:

"Mary Poppins was the original Walrus. Betcha didn't know that."
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: on March 10, 2005, 12:43:30 AM
It was John already.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Sondra on March 10, 2005, 06:13:54 AM
Quote from: juniorsfarm
I checked a number of 'lefty' sites and they all mention Ringo as being left-handed.

Wow, I never knew that! Cool.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Man On Flaming Pie on March 10, 2005, 09:28:12 PM
I read on the internet that some people think that the Paul Is Dead Hoax was started by a jealous John.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: In Blue Hawaii on March 10, 2005, 10:58:30 PM
JOHN was the walrus.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: Bobber on December 28, 2005, 09:17:55 PM
Quote from: Mairi
The only reason he said "The walrus was Paul" in Glass Onion was to mess with all of the hoax-believers.

But the funny thing is that the hoax started in 1969 and there's no proof that The Beatles really intented to start this hoax while they were making the White Album.
Title: Re: Who was the walrus?
Post by: raxo on December 29, 2005, 04:08:26 PM
so then he made it clear: I WAS the walrus (God, 1970)