Editing I Am the Walrus (section)

==Recording==
"I Am the Walrus" was the first studio recording made by the Beatles after the death of [[Brian Epstein]], in August 1967. The basic backing track featuring the Beatles was released in 1996 on ''[[Anthology 2]]''. George Martin arranged and added orchestral accompaniment that included violins, cellos, horns, and clarinet. Paul McCartney said that Lennon gave instructions to Martin as to how he wished the orchestration to be scored, including singing most of the parts as a guide. [[The Mike Sammes Singers]], a 16-voice choir of professional studio vocalists, also took part in the recording, variously singing "Ho-ho-ho, hee-hee-hee, ha-ha-ha", "oompah, oompah, stick it up your jumper!", "everybody's got one" and making a series of shrill whooping noises.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=68}}

In 2015, founding [[Moody Blues]] member [[Ray Thomas]] said in an interview that he and fellow band member [[Mike Pinder]] contributed backing vocals to the song, as well as harmonicas to "[[The Fool on the Hill]]".<ref name="discussionsmagazine.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2015/01/an-exclusive-interview-with-moody-blues.html |title=Discussions Magazine Music Blog: An EXCLUSIVE interview with THE MOODY BLUES' Ray Thomas! |website=Discussionsmagazine.com |date=15 January 2015 |access-date=1 October 2016 |archive-date=23 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323101548/http://www.discussionsmagazine.com/2015/01/an-exclusive-interview-with-moody-blues.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Incorporation of text from ''King Lear''===
The dramatic reading in the mix is [[Shakespeare]]'s ''[[King Lear]]'' (Act IV, Scene 6), lines 219–222 and 249–262.<ref name="Fontenot">[http://oldies.about.com/od/thebeatlessongs/a/iamthewalrus_2.htm Robert Fontenot, "I Am the Walrus", on Oldies Music page from about.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412230501/http://oldies.about.com/od/thebeatlessongs/a/iamthewalrus_2.htm |date=12 April 2014 }}. Retrieved 2 May 2014</ref> It was added to the song on 29 September 1967,<ref name="Rybaczewski">[http://www.beatlesebooks.com/walrus Dave Rybaczewski, "I Am The Walrus", on ''Beatles Music History''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617140326/http://www.beatlesebooks.com/walrus |date=17 June 2013 }}. Retrieved 2 May 2014.</ref> recorded directly from an AM radio Lennon was fiddling with. Lennon tuned around the dial and settled on the 7:30&nbsp;pm to 11&nbsp;pm<ref>{{cite web|title=Network 3 Programme Listings for Friday, 29 September, 1967|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/networkthree/1967-09-29|website=BBC Genome Project|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 December 2016|archive-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023204329/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/networkthree/1967-09-29|url-status=live}}</ref> broadcast of the play on the [[BBC Third Programme]].{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=128}}

The first excerpt (ll. 219–222) moves in and out of the text, containing fragments of lines only. It begins where the disguised Edgar talks to his estranged and maliciously blinded father the Earl of Gloucester (timings given):<ref name="Fontenot"/>
{{poemquote|
''Gloucester:'' (2:35) Now, good sir, wh— (Lennon appears to change the channel away from the station here)
''Edgar:'' (2:38) — poor man, made tame by fortune — (2:44) good pity —
}}

In the play, Edgar then kills Oswald, Goneril's steward. During the fade of the song, the second main extract (ll. 249–262), this time of continuous text, is heard (timings given):<ref name="Fontenot"/><ref>Walter Everett. ''The Beatles as Musicians. Revolver Through the Anthology''. Oxford University Press. NY. 1999. {{ISBN|0-19-509553-7}}. {{ISBN|0-19-512941-5}}. pp. 134–35.</ref>
{{poemquote|
''Oswald:'' (3:52) Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse.
If ever thou wilt thrive, (4:02) bury my body,
And give the (4:05) letters which thou find'st about me
To (4:08) Edmund, Earl of Gloucester; (4:10) seek him out
Upon the British party. O, (4:14) untimely Death!
''Edgar:'' (4:23) I know thee well: a (4:25) serviceable villain;
As duteous to the (4:27) vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
''Gloucester:'' What, is he dead?
''Edgar:'' (4:31) Sit you down, father, rest you.}}

On the radio broadcast, the roles were read by [[Mark Dignam]] (Gloucester), [[Philip Guard]] (Edgar), and John Bryning (Oswald).<ref name="Rybaczewski"/>