top of page
Lets examine one of the most disputed and interesting Paul is dead clues. The Walrus. Who was the Walrus? John or Paul? Or maybe even another Beatle?

So lets begin with the front cover from the Magical Mystery Tour EP, where the image of a Beatle as a Walrus first apears. The Hippo is wearing a ring on its right hand pinkie. This means that it is likely to be Ringo. The Rabbit and the Chicken both have watches on their left wrists, indicating they belong to the two right handed Beatles, John and George. So here, Paul could be the Walrus, which fits in with the lyrics from Johns later song, Glass Onion "Heres another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul" and the scene from the film Magical Mystery Tour:
"John: I am the Walrus
Nicola: No you're not!"
However it does not fit in with the John Lennon song, "I am the Walrus", nor his own solo career song "God" in which he sings, "I was the Walrus, but now Im John". Also it doesn't fit into the video scene for Johns "I am the walrus" in which all the Beatles appear to have switched costumes completely...
For now, take a closer look at the walrus from the front cover. Above the mask line, it looks to be covering a head with rotting flesh and missing teeth... Note that whilst the other animal costumes have their own eyes (or glasses) the walrus has cut outs. The person in the walrus costume also appears to be in pain.
So why is the walrus a significant symbol? As a spirit guide the walrus can teach us to ride the emotional waves and be close to those we love. In both Alsaka and Chukotka the Aurora Borealis is believed to be a place where those who died by violence play ball with a walrus head. Most famous in popular culture for Lewis Carrols Poem "The Walrus and The Carpenter", itself written within the story "Through the Looking Glass". As is often recieted on many other Paul is dead sites, it is not known to be a symbol of death, but in this story is an imposter... It is however worth noting that in the widespread legend of the raven, that the orriginal walrus was created by an evil spirit who cast down his daugther into the sea, where she became a walrus. The tusks either being her tear trails or long braided hair.



So now lets move on to the video scene featuring I am the Walrus. Here we see the Beatles in a still taken from the I am the Walrus scence in the Magical Mystery Tour film. Notice what they are playing. More on the Magical Mystery Tour (Film) Page. Pauls Bass guitar is blood spattered and the Bass Drum Says Love the 3 Beatles.
Here we see that the Walrus is clearly NOT Paul, but John at the piano. Paul being a left handed bass player, is playing the bass as in the first picture, though now dressed as a hippo. Notice the switch of bass guitar from the first photo, from a red/white to a black/white. More on the significance of Pauls Hippo costume on the Magical Mystery Tour (Film) page. Ringo is also the Rooster, which he does not appear to have been on the front cover.


Even though John was clearly the Walrus, at least part of the time, the references to Paul being the walrus dont stop with the Beatles breakup. Head over to George Harrisons Solo Page to see the hidden meanings in his song When We Was Fab where in the music video a left handed bass player is dressed in a Walrus costume.
bottom of page