Do these words suddenly make sense, 40 years later?

Most of us are familiar with the old musical mysteries of the 1960's. Backwards recordings, puzzles, enigmas!

Walking barefoot on the album cover... (L)ucy in the (S)ky with (D)iamonds.... 1967, the walrus was Paul... Well, perhaps this was the answer to the Last Mystery - the Fab Four were Time Travelers from the Metaverse!

Get your tinfoil hats ready, evidence follows!


1. I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.
I'm crying.

(people swapping passwords, wearing pig avatars in a sandbox playing with an avatar cannon; with lots of internet drama)



2. Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

(Likely some offbeat Burning Life art installation, ridiculing corporations in Second Life, anger at Stipend Tuesday not coming through... playing with avatar controls, and a clear reference to beta member Eggy Lippman playing with a walrus avatar)



3. Mister City Policeman sitting
Pretty little policemen in a row.
See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run.
I'm crying, I'm crying.
I'm crying, I'm crying.

(reference to fake police groups flying and running around in the sandboxes. Apparent griefing by police or others making someone cry)



4. Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess,
Boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

(sounds like a w-hat Baku build, then meeting random people in an SL fetish mall - and the boy being a 'naughty girl', well, that's SL to a tee isn't it? Eggy still as a walrus, then International Text support breaks down to jibberish ascii)



5. Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan
From standing in the English rain.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.

(they made it to Caledon it seems!)



6. Expert textpert choking smokers,
Don't you think the joker laughs at you?
See how they smile like pigs in a sty,
See how they snied.
I'm crying.

(they are using text and got some free stogies at Yadni's, but can't hear voice, yet strongly suspect they are being laughed at by voice users. Sensing the ridicule, it makes them cry)



7. Semolina pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel Tower.
Elementary penguin singing Hari Krishna.
Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.
Goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob g'goo.

(a pilchard (sardine) climbing up a tower - definitely SLish! ...the Elementary Penguin a clear Linux reference. Someone was beating an Edgar Allan Poe avatar. One last encounter with the eggman, and it looks like the asset server crashes - goo goo g'joob...)


What's truly scary, is that these words almost make sense in the context of the metaverse... now what does that say about us!?

*goes back to his Yellow Submarine with his friends all aboard*

that you have too much free time on your hands, Des?

Inc

Us? You're the one they make sense to. I still say Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" fits SL better than this.

IT'S ALL TRUE! GASP!

Dang, Desmond. Waaaaay too much Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds in your past....

Dont worry Des, just lay down here in this darkened skybox... its going to be fine.


Nurse.. a light diet, a glass of porter with his evening meal, and no excitement.

*Shaking head gently* Just one sim too many...

Desmond has a barrow in the Marketplace.....

'The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might;
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.'

Well, a clear reference to the World Menu option to Set Sun, but we can also see hints of the upcoming Windlight release

'The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"'

And here we have those who disliked the first of the atmospheric changes, to wit, the increase in the size of the sun, aka 'Nuclear Dawn'

'The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky;
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.'

More of the discontent, here speaking about general failures to rez, borked bird scripts (remember the particle issues of a few months ago?) and the necessarily short draw distances. 'As wet as wet could be' and 'as dry...etc' are clearly ironical references to the non-reality of SL. As realistic as the ocean might be under our virtual sun, it is only as wet as it can be, to wit, not at all.

'The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand--
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"'

The Walrus and the Carpenter emerge, obvious icons of Linden Labs, promising fixes with the latest update.

'"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.'

Here they consider putting more personnel to work on bugs, vice the aforementioned Windlight updates, Voice, and other such new ideas. The Carpenter (representing the technical branch) rejects this idea of the Walrus (the PR/customer relations department)

'"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A Pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach;
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."'

The Walrus sends out press releases about SL to the Oysters (customer base), describing SL as a Fun! chatroom experience. The comment about limiting the numbers online seems a bit odd, but perhaps it refers to the early days of SL.

'The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said;
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.'

A question that remains--the targeted age range of MMPORGs(or whatever they're called) like SL. The Rev Dodgson seems to adhere to the conventional notion that the older generation would be less likely to adopt New Tech.

'But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat;
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.'

Ah yes, the joys of clothing oneself when newly rezzed We all enjoyed that tremendously, and one's inner clothes horse *is* apt to get out. The 'no feet' reference is about the clunky Slider shoes, poor newbie Oysters!

'Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.'

Despite the Walrus' earlier honesty about server limitations, quickly many Oysters all join in the fun and sign up. Note the lack of need for verification here, or payment of any kind.

'The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low--
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.'

A bit of a bridge with naught much to say, I think, aside from the fact that they apparently had to go to a telehub and walk to a beach. Not enough rocks to sit on, must be a Void sim with low prim limits.

'"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax --
Of cabbages -- and kings --
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."'

Typical SL chat, of course. But pigs DON'T have wings, they have Steam Retro Rockets. I know, I made one. Wings are for horses. But like many SLers, the Walrus must *simply* take the opposing view, despite being quite clearly wrong. I suppose I am digressing....

'"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.'

Might be a reference to the difficulty some new people have with text based chat, then ironically mentions an issue with Voice, to wit, the heavy breathing of the out of condition who cannot adjust their microphones.

'"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need;
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."'

Now comes the mention of tier increase and other fees.

'"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?"'

The Oysters whimper about this, but the Walrus points out the lovely Windlight effects again.

'"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but,
"Cut us another slice.
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"'

The Carpenter (tech department) speaks about the various stability issues, but the Walrus doesn't listen.

'"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick.
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but,
"The butter's spread too thick!"'

The Walrus wonders if he's made the right choice. Perhaps they should have focused more on improving the existing platform instead of new features, and slowed expansion a bit to the but one oyster hand in hand. After all, the Oysters were the customer base. The Carpenter continues to focus on technical issues, and little real communication between the departments is established

'"I weep for you," the Walrus said;
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.'

The Walrus thinks long and hard and comes up with an answer. He makes a sympathetic blog entry.

'"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?"
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.'

I think the ending so obvious, it needs no comment.

Does it seem really brillig in here, or is it just me?

)o: smoorhs more dnomseD sessap em/

ereht gnikniht taerg ..

tsop tnellecxE

ah ah ah

this way, got to be some reaaaaaaaaally good stuff to bring this up

Well Des, that song has always had many interpretations.

1. I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly.
I'm crying.

[We are all just pixels, we all come from the same avatar, Ruth. New avatars hit OI and scatter, flying. They become so frustrated they cry.]

2. Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

[Tuesday at LL, the day before the weekly maintenance/update. The engineers (“eggmen” from whom all code is hatched) sit glumly in their T-shirts, faces long. Everyone has missed their schedule. Engineering manager Rob Linden (walrus; his incisors an ironic reference to the two horns on Dilbert’s boss’s head) orders food and prods them to hurry: goo goo g’joob! ]

3. Mister City Policeman sitting
Pretty little policemen in a row.
See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run.
I'm crying, I'm crying.
I'm crying, I'm crying.

[It’s late Tuesday afternoon and Quality Assurance “policemen” sit in a row with nothing to do; the code is not ready. Suddenly it’s given to them! They run, they run! But Wednesday comes, and they have to ship it before they’re done testing! Oh, the humanity! Everyone cries.]

4. Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye.
Crabalocker fishwife, pornographic priestess,
Boy, you been a naughty girl you let your knickers down.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.

[Engineers are so exhausted their eyes are encrusted. Burned out, they take a break late Tuesday night, put on their raunchiest AVs and head into SL. Night falls in Hard Alley … OH NOES! The project managers arrive as walruses and chase everybody back to work (goo goo g’joob!)]

5. Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun.
If the sun don't come, you get a tan
From standing in the English rain.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.

(some made it to Caledon it seems!)

6. Expert textpert choking smokers,
Don't you think the joker laughs at you?
See how they smile like pigs in a sty,
See how they snied.
I'm crying.

[Oh jeez some fool puts up yet another garbled blog posting and yes, the entire userbase has a field day. Pigs! God. WHY do we let our newest employee write the blog? The world dissolves in laughter at the evident incompetence of the eggmen. Who go home crying.]

7. Semolina pilchard, climbing up the Eiffel Tower.
Elementary penguin singing Hari Krishna.
Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob.
Goo goo g'joob g'goo goo g'joob g'goo.

[Eggmen fall into their weary beds … fish sticks they had for dinner try to climb back out of their throats as they toss and turn, remembering suddenly that poor Edgar forgot to relink the Linux kernel before sending it to India for testing… damn … none of the fixes made it then ... poor guy’s gonna get the boot. Oh the walruses will hoot tomorrow …zzzzz….]

Beep

On the bright side, no one has made any comparrisons with a Barry Manilow song!

Do you want Drugs, Sex and Rock and Roll now?

I thought about comparing a few Nails lyrics to SL, but turns out I'm way to lazy.

ah, but there's short ones

Et il est un jour arrivé
Marteler le ciel
Et marteler la mer

"And when the day arrives
I’ll become the sky

You just got caged, and it's going up up and away...

"And I’ll become the sea"

What goes up... must come down.

"Et la mer avait embrassé moi
Et la délivré moi de ma cellule"

And the sea will come to kiss me"

splat

"For I am going
Home"

The only way out is to TP... Home you go to avoid the long way down.

"Rien ne peut m'arrêter maintenant"

"Nothing can stop me now"

Well, unless the TP fails

http://www.ninwiki.com/La_Mer

Hypatia wins the thread!

I really don't know what's going on in this thread... but pass one over here please?

Broccoli

"I just want something I can never have"
But that applies more to my personal sl, than sl in general.

But to travel towards something is sometimes better than to arrive

I loved I am the Walrus as a teenager. Listened to it far too much, and I'm glad to see it finally decrypted all these years later. I remember a 1980s documentary which showed a hippy rather freakishly turning up at John Lennon's country home looking for answers, and rather than make a cross with his fingers, call for security and panic, John took him inside and explained that they were just having fun with words and he shouldn't take it so literally. It was really touching.

There's a 1-second drum sequence, 37 seconds into I am the Walrus (it's better on the album version) that's firmly embedded in my psyche. I tap it out with my invisible drumsticks every time .. which usually terrifies any passengers who happen to be in my car when it comes on the radio.

There's a reverse message at the end of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club if I recall correctly (right after A Day in the Life) but despite trashing a Dansette record player by rotating the turntable backwards over and over again many years ago (with a Rolling Stones album too if I recall), I can't remember what it said anymore.

Gah. Wish I'd kept that Dansette now. It was gorgeous even when it didn't work.

"le temps est le voleur d'enfance"

Time is the stealer of childhood

Renaud.

I think that other people even have been far more prophetic
(All taken from Goethe's Faust English version: Http://www.levity.com/alchemy/faustidx.html)

Manager. Ye two that have so often stood by me
In time of need and tribulation,
Come, say: what hope in any German nation
For what we undertake have ye?
I much desire to give the crowd a pleasure,
In chief, because they live and let us live.
The posts, the boards are up, and here at leisure

looks like a mallowner discussing the projekt of a succesfull mall with the builders

Poet. You do not feel how bad such handiwork must be,
How little that becomes the artist true!
I see, neat gentlemanly botchery
Is now a sovereign rule with you.

The mallowner wants to use less prims, the builder doesn't agree

Manager. Words have been interchanged enough,
Let me at last see action too.

Resident's reaction to a linden blog

And swift beyond where knowledge ranges,
Earth's splendour whirls in circling flight;
A paradise of brightness changes
To awful shuddering depths of night.

Comment on the faster Day/Night cycle in SL

The Lord. You've nothing more to say to me?
You come but to complain unendingly?
Is never aught right to your mind?

LL's reaction to customer problems

Faust. I've studied now Philosophy
And Jurisprudence, Medicine,
And even, alas! Theology
All through and through with ardour keen!
Here now I stand, poor fool, and see
I'm just as wise as formerly.

Someone trying to get the grips on building and scripting

If I'm to share this room with you,
Poodle, then leave off howling,
Then leave off growling!

Am I the only one who thinks that he asks to turn animations and gestures off?

First, Mephistopheles is a poodle and then: [Mephistopheles steps forth from behind the stove while the vapour is vanishing. He is dressed as a travelling scholar.]

Seems to me, someone has changed his avatar

Faust: The being of such gentlemen as you, indeed,
In general, from your titles one can read.
It shows itself but all too plainly when men dub
You Liar or Destroyer or Beelzebub.
Well now, who are you then?
Mephistopheles: Part of that Power which would
The Evil ever do, and ever does the Good.

Clearly an annoyed resident after a clientupdate with resulting problems and inventoryloss talking to a linden.

Mephistopheles. I am the Spirit that denies!
And rightly too; for all that doth begin
Should rightly to destruction run;
'Twere better then that nothing were begun.

looks like someone is afraid of building because of rezzing problems and inventory losses

Well, Nostradamus predicted ALL of this (even including this Forum thread)
- if you read it in the right way


So all these songs are entries in caption competitions for scenes of SL.