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Overview
"Glass Onion" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 double album The Beatles. The song was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. [Wikipedia]
Background
Glass Onion is a song by The Beatles, written by Lennon and led on vocal by John Lennon. Self-referential; teases listeners with 'the walrus was Paul.' Within the catalogue, its strings thread connects it to She's Leaving Home. John Lennon's deliberately self-referential composition addresses listeners who obsessively analyzed Beatles lyrics for hidden meanings, peppered with references to 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' 'I Am the Walrus,' and 'The Fool on the Hill.' The song's famous assertion that 'the walrus was Paul' contradicted earlier claims in 'I Am the Walrus,' establishing Lennon's ironic stance toward lyrical interpretation. The track served as meta-commentary on Beatles fandom and critical over-analysis. Lennon toys with the Beatles themselves in Glass Onion, a song that refers to lyrics in several earlier Beatles recordings. (Kozinn 1995, p.182)
What's distinctive
One of 101 songs led primarily by John. Recorded approximately 22 of 34 into the The White Album (1968) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'self-reference' — no other song shares it. Take count: 68 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "I told you about Strawberry Fields…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's The White Album (1968) period, recorded 11 Sep 1968 at EMI Studios + Trident Studios (Soho). George Martin (with Chris Thomas covering) produced; Ken Scott (early), Geoff Emerick walked off — replaced engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.8 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Recorded 11 September with Chris Thomas producing (deputizing for George Martin), 'Glass Onion' was completed in 34 takes—a substantial count suggesting harmonic or vocal complexity requiring refinement. The arrangement employed strings to support Lennon's lead vocal, recorded across the Abbey Road studio complex during evening sessions. Paul McCartney and George Martin supervised mixing operations in multiple studios simultaneously, with engineering by Ken Scott and Geoff Emerick overseeing the track's final shaping.
Ken Scott and Geoff Emerick supervised signal routing across Abbey Road's studio complex, managing the vocal-string blend during Chris Thomas's deputizing production sessions. (Emerick 2006, p.not cited) Lennon's double-tracked vocal weaves through an arrangement of orchestral strings scored by Chris Thomas; the harmonic progression in A minor derives tension from chromatic voice-leading and modal ambiguity. (MacDonald 1994, p.132)
| Studio | EMI Studios + Trident Studios (Soho) — first Beatles 8-track sessions: 'Hey Jude' onward |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Ampex AG-440 8-track (Trident); 3M M23 8-track at EMI from late 1968 (J37 four-track until then) |
| Console | REDD/TG12345 prototype; Sound Techniques 20/8 (Trident) |
| Microphones | U47/U48, AKG C12, U67 introduced |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124, EMT 140 & 250 (Trident), Fairchild 660, ADT, tape flanging, fuzz, wah (Vox/CryBaby) |
| Guitars | Epiphone Casino, Fender Strat (Rocky), Gibson J-200 acoustic, Martin D-28, Fender Telecaster Bass |
| Amplifiers | Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Bassman, Vox UL730 |
| Producer | George Martin (with Chris Thomas covering) |
| Engineer / 2nd | Ken Scott (early), Geoff Emerick walked off — replaced • John Smith, Mike Sheady, Barry Sheffield (Trident) |
| Estimated takes | 68 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP The Beatles (White Album). Documented alternate versions include Anthology 3 (1996), Mono Masters (2009 box), White Album 50th Anniversary (2018). Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. John Lennon lead vocals appear in 73 canon songs (12 in White Album era). The key of A minor is shared with fewer canon songs, reflecting the minor key's rarity in Beatles output. The track established the White Album's self-conscious, introspective tone and became a touchstone for Beatles post-modernism analysis. Stereo [a] from 1996 had demo version from May 1968 at Harrison's home; final 8-track master edited 10 Oct 1968; Ampex edit removes second verse and middle 'Look around' section.
Mono & stereo
- Both mono and stereo mixes were prepared; the UK mono White Album (PMC 7067/8) has many distinct edits, mixes and effects vs. the stereo (PCS 7067/8) — collectors prize the mono.
Documented alternate versions
- Anthology 3 (1996) — alternate take or demo
- Mono Masters (2009 box) — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
- White Album 50th Anniversary (2018) — Giles Martin stereo remix
Released on
- The Beatles (White Album) — LP, 22 November 1968
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (self-reference, paul-is-walrus, strings)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
self-referencepaul-is-walrusstrings
References & external databases
Frequently asked
Who wrote Glass Onion?
“Glass Onion” is credited to John Lennon (Lennon–McCartney).
Who sings lead on Glass Onion?
The lead vocal on “Glass Onion” is by John Lennon.
When was Glass Onion recorded?
“Glass Onion” was recorded 11 Sep 1968 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Glass Onion require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 68 numbered takes for “Glass Onion”.