Bazza January 8th, 2009 07:04AM  
I have studied this song at great lengths and I think that many theories listed here (concerning the song being about band members) are correct but the confusion lies in trying to apportion one verse to one band member.

I believe we need to view the song as a need by John to settle differences and reunite the band. He (at the time) was seen to be causing difficulties within the band by involving Yoko and his growing benevolent behavior. With Paul expressing his intent to leave and friction growing towards John by both the other band members and the press/public, this was John's attempt to clear the air and lay the cards on the table.

Each verse contains John's view of ALL band members and follows a pattern, the exception being Ringo who seems to be the target of that old joke, "The drummer never has anything interesting to say!" The first line being about John's first meeting with the member. The second line concerning a memorable theme of the band member. The third line is about John's feelings towards the other members at the height hostilities. The forth line portrays the current thoughts John has about the other members. And the last line of every verse is either criticism defense or criticism of John by the band.

The first line of every verse is about Paul, the first to join John's band. ("The Quarrymen" at the time)
Lines -
1 - Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
2 - He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
3 - He bad (not bag) production he got walrus gumboot
4 - He roller-coaster he got early warning
Interpretation -
1 - Paul met John at a gig and was trying to act cool and older than his age and impress with his guitar playing skills (He was only 15 at the time)
2 - In reference to the shoeless Abbey Rd. picture.
3 - Paul would stop recording (production) to argue and fight with John and was unhappy with the his behavior whilst recording "I Am The Walrus"
4 - "Roller-coaster" referring to Paul's moods (up and down) and his "warning" about leaving the band.

The second line of every verse is about George. The second to join after being introduced to John by Paul.
Lines -
1 - He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
2 - He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
3 - He got ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
4 - He got muddy water he one mojo filter
Interpretation -
1 - "Joo-joo eyeball" is in relation to George idolizing John before he was excepted into the band and attending every performance and "eyeballing" John at every gig. The "holy roller" refers to George's amazing grasp of both American blues/gospel and rock and roll bass lines at only 14!
2 - This line refers to George's drug use.
3 - "Ono" obviously refers to Yoko. George was known to sideline (sideboard) Yoko during Paul's outbursts to John about her involvement with the band and John is calling him spineless for doing so (Spinal cracker).
4 - This line is about George switching off and distancing himself from the troubles within the band, filtering the bad "mojo" but acting despondent feeling the blues (Muddy Waters reference)

The third line of every verse is about Ringo. The last member to join the band after replacing Pete Best.
Lines -
1 - He got hair down to his knee
2 - He say "I know you, you know me"
3 - He got feet down below his knee
4 - He say "one and one and one is three"
Interpretation -
1 - Ringo had long hair at a time when the others had gone for the famous bowl cut and when sitting at the drums, his hair would hang down to (well, not quite) his knees.
2- This line is in reference to the hard time he had after joining the band. Pete Best had a huge following that protested Ringo replacing him. As it was, Ringo had played at many gigs with the Beatles when Best was unable or unwilling to play!
3 - This is a joke about not being able to see Ringo below the waist when sitting behind the drum kit.
4 - This line is about both a reference to rhythm and Ringo's feelings that he was left out and isolated from the other three members decisions regarding the band.

The forth line of every verse is related to John himself, containing both criticisms of him by the others and a rebuttal.
Lines -
1 - Got to be a joker he just do what he please
2 - One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
3 - Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
4 - Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
Interpretation -
1,2 & 4 - These lines are criticisms of John made by the other band members. They relate to his difficult behavior, dragging the others down and general hostility towards him.
2 - This line is both very interesting and crucial to the interpretation of the whole song! It is the only line in which "I" is used. This is John speaking directly to the band (and us, the listener). It is a rebuttal and an excuse for his behavior. It is his only explanation to the feelings the others have towards him. He is feeling stifled by the band and is possibly ready to leave.

The chorus -
Come together, right now. Over me.

It seems clear at first, "come together, right now". It demands an end the the current hostility, immediately. We know John was commissioned to write a song for Timothy Leary and his campaign but John got no further than the title when Leary was arrested and I believe that the words "come together" stuck a resonance with John at that time. The last part, "Over me" offers two outcomes to the bands current situation. The first having holding the meaning "get over me", put the past behind and we can continue happily together. The second meaning can be interpreted as "I'm over", announcing John's intent to leave the band and go his own way.

Thankyou for reading and I hope my views on this song and the man who wrote it may ring true to you.

Peace.

splitzmw89 March 21st, 2009 11:34PM  
ok i didnt read all the way down but the few i did read you guys need to listin to this song about 1000 more time's, when john say's he's got muddy water he shoots coke a cola that means dope at the time come together came out i know that john was useing herion not sure about paul and i think george was to.. the hole song does have lyrics about the guy's but it's just mostly about getting high

MONGOOSE March 23rd, 2009 05:50PM  
It is about a funeral: that was a stand in for Paul. John and Paul were about the same height even with John not wearing a shoe that would have a heal on it and paul with no shoes and looking a little to the left. Look at the difference in heights.

At the time of the cover shoot paul was in a very bad car accident on oct 10 1979 one day before John's birthday and was in St. Pete's hospital. Where it says he must be so good looking he so hard to see has nothing to do with Ringo, Ringo was always on a 3 foot stand you sure could see him. It's about John because of his long hair and his bread you could not see his face. you can also see on the magical mystery tour cover on the bass brum their is 2 10's in the middle of the bass drum, Paul's accident.

When Paul was on Larry King show he said the the Beatles just wanted to have some fun with this. It says i didn't bury Paul, Paul said that on Larry King show live.

Believe it or not, i have this recorded on a cd so i and a lot of other know now.

the mongoose
and their's a lot more about who and why they had John shot.

Motown_Carwasher March 23rd, 2009 10:38PM  
I like the idea of the 4 beatles each being one verse, it just doesn't seem right to me. I've always thought it was a person in the four stages of addiction, describing each step. Perhaps describing the four stages Brian Epstein went through. Here come old flat top...He got JooJoo eyeballs (Brian when he first met the Beatle's including his eyeglasses ( Jew Jew eyeballs), then he has to "do what he please" experimenting with drugs. He wear no shoe-shine, he got monkey-finger (reference to Heroin, the monkey) I know you, you know me, is him talking to the drug. He bag production... a reference to Brain Epstein's falling off in working with the Beatles, who blamed him for not securing the rights to Northern Songs. The rest of the verse is a drug trip. Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease, is an attempt to kick the drugs and go straight, when you go into DTs The third verse, roller coaster, early warnings, muddy waters, is the person dying of drug overdose. Got to be good looking cause he's so hard to see. They fix you up for the funeral, and then you're in the ground so you're "So hard To See" and then the chorus, Come Together Right now, over me, is the people standing at his graveside, Over him so to speak. This might not be directly related to Brian Epstein, but its definitely influenced by him. I can see all the stages of addiction including death, when you're "So Hard To See"

anonymous April 24th, 2009 02:32PM  
"Sideboards" is (in England) synonymous with Sideburns! Its nothing to do with arms on sofas!!

The line is "He got Oh no sideboards" and is just a comment on his (whoever he is) appearance like the lines about length of hair, etc. Sideboards/sideburns were of course cool in this era and not having them would have been un-cool.

rmileyfan May 5th, 2009 08:46PM  
I read somewhere this song has no meaning whatsoever! A school was researching songs meanings and how they're about drugs and this and that, but truely this song has no meaning. He just threw to them and then a couple years later explained what i just heard.

Mazeman May 7th, 2009 12:30PM  
Look at the album cover: Feet below his knees: Paul, who is barefoot. He wear no shoe shine: Lennon, who has sneakers. Also, "One and one and one is three. Got to be good looking cuz he's so hard to see": Ringo, who keeps the beat, and is hidden behind drums. They are coming together over their last recorded album.

taxman May 8th, 2009 01:52PM  
I agree with those who think it's about each of the 4 Beatles, but one must remember that Paul was called the "Cute" Beatles, and he and John we not really getting along at the time this was written. Is it safe to say that Verse 4 is about Paul? "Got to be good lookin' cuz he's so hard to see?" A possible dig at Paul? Just a thought.

anonymous June 6th, 2009 12:15PM  
Yeah, I feel as though most of you are correct in your belief that the four verses represent the four band members. But, I believe that each paragraph is not dedicated to a specific band member. That would be too simple, and the song is far from simple. The song is a mess of jumbled phrases, but those phrases are about people. Those jumbled phrases are describing all of the Beatles coming together.

MONGOOSE June 8th, 2009 07:11PM  
THIS SONG AND I WILL PUT IT LIGHTLY. JOHN IS TELLING THE OTHER 3 BOY'S THAT "THE BEATLES" IS HIS f'ING BAND", WHEN YOU SEE ANY TAPE OR CD AND THIS SONG PLAYS YOU WILL NOTICE THAT JOHN IS LOOKING RIGHT AT PAUL THREW MOST OF THE SONG. JOHN DIDN'T WANT TO JUST COME OUT AND SAY THIS IS MY F'ING BAND AND JOHN SAID TO THE OTHERS IF I LEFT THE BAND THIER WOULD NOT BE ANY BAND CALLED "THE BEATLES", IT'S MY BAND. PAUL AND JOHN GOT INTO A LOT OF DISAGREEMENTS ON THIS AND THEY CAME CLOSE TO GETTING INTO A REAL FIGHT AND JOHN WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE BAND A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE IF THIS. THIS IS A FACT NO BULL-CRAP.

thomasfly June 9th, 2009 03:15PM  
This song is the last of Lennon's compositions (at least as a Beatle) that may be characterized as "lyrical impressionism," the most glaring / salient example of which is "I Am the Walrus."

From WikiPedia: the "musical impressionism (of the 19th century) focused on suggestion and atmosphere rather than strong emotion or the depiction of a story."

It’s not clear that Lennon consciously set out to create a new "artistic movement" in popular/rock music – in other words, that one day he said to himself, “I think I’ll write some songs that superficially appear to be nonsensical and meaningless – which, in fact, (may) HAVE NO concrete meaning - but which, nonetheless, strongly suggest some kind of meaning … conveying an interpretation and / or feeling subliminally.”

But, as if to acknowledge that he was “up to something,” "Come Together," refers back to “Walrus” (via the phrase, "he has walrus gumboot") – and "I Am the Walrus" itself refers to a previous example: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." (“Hey Bulldog” seems to be the first of his songs that fit this description.)

Precisely why Lennon wrote such songs is open to speculation. Probably he wrote them because he could (and not many good songwriters can), but Lennon also seemed to enjoy being a bit inscrutable at times, as if his ability to mystify the masses were evidence of his intellectual superiority (which perhaps it was).

On the surface, at least, the song asks for everyone to “come together” (in love & peace), and evidently, Timothy Leary had asked Lennon to write a song along these lines. Considering that the most obvious interpretation of “I Am the Walrus” is that it’s a lament for the fact that “we are (CLEARLY NOT) all together,” this also makes some sense.

However, Lennon’s moaning at the end of the song, along with the theme of the “Abbey Road” album itself (i.e., a romantic life experience), along with slang meaning of “come,” suggest a simple, salacious interpretation (which Lennon likely would have regarded as his own, largely private joke) ... and that - apart from the little aphorism, “one thing I can tell you is you got to be free” - the rest is pretty much poetic gibberish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAqekT-GuA

Sheryl Crow has written song lyrics that also may be described as impressionistic - "If It Makes You Happy" is one example. In that song, it’s worth noting the similarity between her ironic “and drank till I was thirsty again,” and the “surrealistic logic” of Lennon’s “got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see.”

MONGOOSE June 9th, 2009 03:59PM  
Good job "Good time Charlie".

You just about hit it on the spot.
About John, theirs three things, when they say he's got to be a joker 'cause he do what he please, meaning Johns being himself joking aroung all the time having fun when he wanted to and then it says 'cause he's so hard to see, means as you can see Johns hair is all puffed up, it was only for that picture and he has a beard, so you can't see his face, so he's to hard to see.
Dressed all in white meaning John is a preast.
Then what I said about the songs name "Come Toegther" OVER ME. John is telling the others that it's his band, and look who is walking in front.
You are right about Paul being the dead man, which that is not Paul on the cover, one more thing the number nine played backwards, says I didn't burrie Paul not Pauls a dead man, Paul was on the Larry King Show and that is what Paul said to everyone.
Paul told the others why don't we have some fun with this when Paul was in the hospital and "thats how the whole thing started".
When they shot the cover for the album they had a stand in for Paul. Paul was in a very bad accident Oct.10th., the same year they did the Abbey Road Cover I believe in 1979. Paul was in the hospital so they had no choice but to get a stand in and the stand in was holding a cigarette in his right hand Paul always helt his in his left hand since Paul was left handed. On the Sgt. Peppers cover in the middle of the cover it has a bass drum that has two tens on the bass drum, Pauls accident Oct. 10th.
John told a very few close freinds that he has this wierd feeling that he might not be around after 1980, that blew them away they didn't know what John was talking about, it was really getting to John on the feeling he was having about what he said and felt and how Yoko was acting different in her ways being gone a lot to China and look what happen a year later on Dec. 8th. 1980. V33 IIOl3
Goerge as the grave digger.
Ringo as a usher.
You will notice on the right side of the street going down the street, their is a man standing on the side walk next to a black car, the car is a herz. The man was the driver.
So everyone, who's funeral were they going to?
Good luck on this one, it's kind'a easy after I gave you the answer.
THE MONGOOSE
They did have everyone going on this "Big Time", but not for long.

anonymous July 18th, 2009 06:08PM  
"He got monkey finger, he shoot coca-cola" Obviously he's talking about an opposable thumb, which monkeys as well as humans have...and as to the 'he shoot coca-cola' he's referring to shooting cocaine. It pieces together cause you need a thumb to push down on the plunger of a syringe (while shooting drugs)

anonymous July 28th, 2009 08:13PM  
Grant Kaumura! How stupid are you! I know a bunch of songs where George sang lead!!!! They are... "Love You To" "Within You Without You" "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" "Taxman" "I Want To Tell You" "Blue Jay Way" and finally "Something"! So there! He did sing lead!

anonymous August 4th, 2009 10:40AM  
When trying to understand these lyrics, you have to realize that when this song was written it was meant to not have a clear understandable meaning or at least not one that could be perfectly fit into one commonly accept answer, for that, I believe, would be dangerous for such a song about Jesus.

Picture Jesus walking up, as if an entrance in a movie, what would you see?

The Beatles were all about metaphors and this first verse is about what his persona would be like. Jesus probably was a pretty entertaining guy, he got a lot of people to follow him because he was probably a pretty happy person.

Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please

This next verse probably refers to his sandals at first. Monkey finger probably means that he is man and shooting coca-cola, refers to happiness and togetherness, after all that is what all of the advertising made it seem to be.

He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He say "I know you, you know me"
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
Come together right now over me

I cannot explain the first two lines because, I'm sure it has personal meaning, more metaphors and such. The next line has something to do with a strong foundation, feet below his knees. His armchair as you may see Jesus holding children in his arm chair, his disease being Love.

He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me

Jesus had a pretty rocky early life, I can imagine, because he was born out of wed-lock. and there is evidence to back up a prediction that someone like him was coming. The muddy water is probably the tax-collectors and sinners that were very present at that time, and he was the Mojo filter. He said One and One and One is three, probably referring to the Trinity. And Jesus was probably a pretty good looking guy, but we have no idea.
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He say "One and one and one is three"

Just my understanding of these lyrics, agree with them or not, they may help clear some things up. But we don't know so that is probably what made this a pretty popular song.
Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me

shoveitin August 5th, 2009 06:27AM  
God wake up this song is about suicide or death. "come together over me" the longing for a funeral

anonymous August 28th, 2009 08:50PM  
I believe John wrote the song exclusively about Paul. He makes many derogatory comments in the song about Paul stemming from his resentment about the bands eminent dissolution. He made references in many other songs during that time. He blames Paul for the break up, founded or unfounded. He makes references to Paul being a 'holy roller' inferring that Paul thinks he's better than him morally. The "walrus gumboot" line (gumboot is a mollusk that is a bottom feeder) implies his ideas like the walrus are not his own. Ono sideboard implies that Yoko is just an excuse to break up the band. He got 'early warning' he knew that he was leaving the band before the rest knew, the One+One+One=only 3 left! Finally, he's 'got to be good looking' and charm is a fake front and he is a back stabber. I like Paul, but that's what I think.

monkee5th September 1st, 2009 11:13PM  
I realize we all have this need to know in our genes but could it be quite possible that the joke is on all of us and the song has no meaning at all. But if I have to give it any meaning I would say the song is very autobiograghical, at about this time the Beatles were falling apart. The she loves you yeah yeah yeah days were gone they just grew apart as a group. it wasn't that much later John wrote ....I don't beleive in Beatles I just believe in me Yoko and me that's reality. The dream was over or finishing by the time Abby Road was recorded.

anonymous September 12th, 2009 02:12PM  
From what I read/heard years ago, this song is totally about John and is his plea to his fellow bandmates to "come together" during the in-fighting at the time within the group. I also read that John loved to play around with lyrics on purpose to get us fans wondering what's what, so in any case, any interpretations one could come up with could have no basis, whatsoever! That said, here is my possible take on it:

"..got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller..."

Possibly refers to John's bespeckled look (i.e. His glasses) and his developing spirituality.

"He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please"

..his long hair at the time and his well-known penchant for being daring and outspoken.

"...he shoot coca-cola..."

Perhaps in reference to John's cocaine addiction at the time.

"He bag production..."

John's reference to his "extra-curricular" activities with Yoko.

"He got Ono sideboard..."

His relationship with Yoko.

"..He say "One and one and one is three"..."

Referring to his bandmates, Paul, George and Ringo.

"Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see.."

John possibly poking fun at himself in that his hair was so long you couldn't see his face.

I've also just heard that "shoot me" is whispered by John just before each verse. Some say it is fact, some, a rumor. I also just read it is actually a rotary phone that was used to make the sound. Honestly, I don't hear John say "shoot me" at all. I only just found out about it because my niece bought Rock Band yesterday and "Shoot Me" comes up in the lyrics. Another person on a site said that they saw John perform this song live (post-Beatles)on a show and that he actually just says, "shoop".

adre September 17th, 2009 12:30PM  
Come together - Beatles

I think this song refers to the history of humanity, arts and sciences

HE COME OLD FLATTOP
at the beginning we were nothing else but warms and reptiles
HE COME GROOVING UP SLOWLY
after that we started climbing trees and mountains
HE GOT JOO-JOO EYEBALLS
we discovered we had eyes (joojoo eyeballs)
HE ONE HOLY ROLLER
we also noticed that we were something better than the other animals, we were clever holy rollers
HE GOT HAIR DOWN TO HIS KNEE
we got hair down to our knees
GOT TO BE A JOKER HE JUST DO WHAT HE PLEASE
we must have humor

HE WEAR NO SHOE-SHINE,
we didn't wear shoes
HE GOT TOE-JAM FOOTBALL
HE GOT MONKEY-FINGER,
we continiued to discover our body
HE SHOOT COCA-COLA
? sometimes we druged

HE SAY I KNOW YOU, YOU KNOW ME
language just created!
ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU IS YOU GOT TO BE FREE.
Off course we ve got to be free

COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW...OVER ME
poet gathered people around him, or her- who knows?

SsT! SsT! SsT!
the poet imposes silence

HE BAG PRODUCTION
we stored the production
HE GOT WALRUS GUM-BOOT
?
HE GOT ONO SIDEBOARD
we builded temples
HE ONE SPINAL CRACKER
we made mechanic inventions
HE GOT FEET DOWN BELOW HIS KNEE
anatomy
HOLD YOU IN HIS ARMCHAIR YOU CAN FEEL HIS DISEASE
thinking is a diseasing hobby

think about the rest!
HE ROLLER COASTER,
HE GOT EARLY WARNING.
HE GOT MUDDY WATER,
HE ONE MOJO FILTER.
HE SAY ONE AND ONE AND ONE IS THREE
GOT TO BE GOOD LOOKING 'CAUSE HE'S SO HARD TO SEE"