Glass Onion

Zoo Freaks, get ready to peel back the layers of "Glass Onion" by The Beatles, a track from their 1968 self-titled album, famously known as the White Album. This song, penned primarily by John Lennon, is a playful jab at fans and critics who obsessively analyzed Beatles lyrics for hidden meanings. In a 1980 interview, Lennon revealed he wrote lines like "The Walrus was Paul" to both confuse listeners and subtly acknowledge Paul McCartney’s role in holding the band together during tense times, especially as Lennon was growing closer to Yoko Ono. The song’s title itself, as director Rian Johnson noted when naming his 2022 film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, was inspired by Lennon’s love for wordplay, evoking something transparent yet complex, much like the song’s lyrical structure. The Beatles posted on X in 2018 about how Lennon developed the track from an acoustic Esher demo to its final form, with producer Martin Giles discussing the 2018 remix, highlighting its intricate production.

The song is packed with self-referential nods to other Beatles tracks, like “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Fixing a Hole,” “The Fool on the Hill,” and “Lady Madonna,” creating a meta-commentary on their own catalog. According to uDiscoverMusic, Lennon was inspired to write “Glass Onion” after a letter from a student at his old Quarry Bank School, who said his teacher was having the class dissect Beatles lyrics, prompting Lennon to craft a song that mocked such overanalysis. During recording, Ringo Starr experimented with a double bass-drum setup, inspired by drummers like Ginger Baker and Keith Moon, but froze during a fill due to the overwhelming setup, as noted by roadie Mal Evans in Beatles Book Monthly. The track also features quirky overdubs, including tape loops of a ringing phone, breaking glass, and a snippet of BBC’s Kenneth Wolstenholme’s 1966 World Cup commentary shouting, “It’s a goal!” These elements add to the song’s chaotic, tongue-in-cheek vibe.

The Beatles, formed in Liverpool in 1960, grew from John Lennon’s skiffle group, The Quarrymen, which he started in 1957 with schoolmate Paul McCartney. Rooted in 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, the band—eventually solidified with George Harrison and Ringo Starr—honed their craft in Liverpool and Hamburg clubs. Manager Brian Epstein polished their image, while producer George Martin shaped their sound, transforming their raw energy into groundbreaking recordings. Their first hit, “Love Me Do,” in 1962, sparked Beatlemania, a global frenzy fueled by their long hair, wit, and innovative music. Blending rock, pop, and later psychedelia and Indian influences, they revolutionized the music industry, becoming icons of the 1960s counterculture. Their evolution from club act to studio pioneers is chronicled on sites like Britannica, detailing how Lennon and McCartney’s songwriting partnership drove their meteoric rise.

Zoo Freaks can dive deeper into The Beatles’ world through their official website, which shares news like the upcoming 2028 four-film cinematic event directed by Sam Mendes. Follow them on Facebook (37.1M followers), Instagram (5M followers), and X (3.8M followers) for updates, vintage photos, and fan engagement. Fan sites like The Glass Onion Beatles Journal offer news, reviews, and memorabilia, while Beatles Story provides a virtual tour of their Liverpool legacy. Join fan communities like The Fest for Beatles Fans (401.6K followers) or They May Be Parted for stories, interviews, and photos celebrating the Fab Four’s enduring magic.