John Lennon became widely associated with "the Walrus" primarily due to the Beatles' 1967 song "I Am the Walrus", which he wrote and sang. The song's whimsical and enigmatic lyrics, combined with its declarative title, instantly linked Lennon to the character in the public imagination.
The Origin in Song
The connection to the walrus stems directly from the track I Am the Walrus, a key part of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour film and EP. Lennon drew inspiration for the character from Lewis Carroll's poem "The Walrus and The Carpenter" from Through the Looking-Glass, a literary work he admired. The song's surreal imagery and the repeated line "I am the walrus" led listeners and the media to naturally identify him with the persona. In the accompanying music video for the song, featured in the Magical Mystery Tour film, a character dressed as a walrus is prominently featured, even shown playing the piano in one segment.
Lennon's Shifting Identity with The Walrus
While the song's title clearly states "I Am the Walrus," Lennon himself later introduced a layer of playful ambiguity regarding who the walrus truly was. This created a lasting discussion among fans about the true identity behind the famous moniker.
Conflicting Statements from Lennon
Lennon's own lyrics in subsequent songs offered contradictory insights:
| Song Title | Year | Lyric/Context | Interpretation by Lennon |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Am the Walrus | 1967 | Song title | Implied John Lennon |
| Glass Onion | 1968 | "The Walrus was Paul" | Paul McCartney |
| God | 1970 | "I was the Walrus" | John Lennon (reaffirmation) |
In Glass Onion, a song from The White Album, Lennon sang "The Walrus was Paul," seemingly passing the identity to Paul McCartney. This line often fueled fan theories and playful interpretations, possibly even referencing the "Paul is dead" rumors prevalent at the time.
However, in his 1970 solo song God, Lennon unequivocally stated, "I was the Walrus," reaffirming his original connection to the persona and dismissing the earlier ambiguity. This back-and-forth demonstrates Lennon's characteristic wit, his love for mystification, and his complex relationship with his own public image and the mythology surrounding The Beatles.
Despite these later lyrical shifts, the initial and most enduring association of "the Walrus" remained with John Lennon, thanks to the impactful declaration in the original song.
