Ever wonder what the dialogue was at the very end of “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles? If you’re a Beatles fan, then of course you have because this song (album: Magical Mystery Tour) was released in the midst of their drug-induced heyday; which means that many things they did made absolutely no sense and us fans are left to be confused and wondering. However, the answer “they were just on drugs, this literally means nothing and holds no significance” is not good enough for a lot of people. Therefore, many devote much time and effort to try and analyze what the heck the Fab Four were thinking/doing during this phase. This of course leads to many foolish conclusions and far-fetched conspiracies, but here is one that is actually successful:
At the very end of “I Am the Walrus” (starting at 3:30) there is a chorus of people loudly chanting in high pitched voices “smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smoke pot…everybody smoke pot, everybody smoke pot!”. At 3:52, the chant decreases in volume and we hear voices that are slightly muffled. These voices are actually dialogue from the BBC broadcast of King Lear!
Here’s the exact part:
Act 4, Scene 6, lines 249-259:
Oswald: Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse.
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body
And give the letters which you find’st about me
To Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
Upon the English party. O, untimely death!
Death! [He dies]
Edgar: I know thee well: a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
Gloucester: What, is he dead?
Edgar: Sit you down, father. Rest you.
Link to Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7uuLzSeyw4&feature=related
Why did The Beatles do this?
No one will ever know, but I believe that since the song is about death, this excerpt would be appropriate to include. Furthermore, this of course contributed to the whole “Paul is dead” rumor/scandal/conspiracy (many people started pulling out ridiculous evidence and claiming that Paul was dead. Instead of the Beatles stifling this bizarre rumor, they decided to have fun with it and do things to go along with it/screw with people’s minds). Or perhaps they were paying homage to their homeland’s most famous playwright. But above all, they used King Lear as a tool to demonstrate a point, and that’s pretty significant.
Why else does this matter?
It shows how Shakespeare is prevalent in popular culture, no matter what era. It’s interesting to see how his work has been incorporated in various forms of entertainment such as movies, literature, and music. His work has shown to be flexible: from basic adaptations, to videos like “Sassy Gay Friend”. If you don’t like Shakespeare, you’re S.O.L. because this man’s legacy has proven to never fade.
1 comment:
I always wondered what the significance of the talking was in that song. I mean, now that I know it's from King Lear, it doesn't change much (as it's still the most bizarre thing ever). But with that in mind, I mean, it's hard not to implant Lear's aesthetic to the overall tone of "I Am the Walrus". This is pretty cool anyway though and you make a great point about the value in Shakespearean contemporary incorporation.
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