Talk:Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

Uncle Albert
Who is Uncle Albert referring to? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.214.200.130 (talk)

I was under the impression that it was a reference to Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Also I deleted "To many, it represents both McCartney at his best and his worst." because it smacks of bias. Reference? Vaginsh 06:37, 4 September 2006 (UTC)


 * It may refer to Albert Hoffman, the first synthesize of LSD who is sometimes called Uncle Albert. The song is considered to be psychedelic rock, which fits.  I've found a few sources for this, but none that would clearly be considered notable. Anyone find a good source? Wakedream (talk) 18:58, 12 January 2008 (UTC)
 * Just done a quick Google around. There is a statement on a blog saying this was an uncle of Paul's who used to read from the Bible when drunk, but we can't cite that as a reliable source. So, library on Monday it is, then... -- Rodhullandemu  (Talk) 19:09, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

This is merely a hypothesis, but I think he may have been referring to Albert Kesselring -- Spleebo14:20, 28 August, 2009(UTC)

Article analysis
Super Seventies JAF1970 (talk) 04:41, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Which Halsey?
I seem to remember from around the date of release of the original album that McCartney was refering to Admiral Lionel Halsey who was better known in the UK. Of course, everyone thinks of "Bull" Halsey of WW II fame but as far as I remember it was "Lionel" who was concerned about his tea. I have heard that the British Halsey was a bit of an eccentric, wearing a Maori war costume into battle. This just might have appealed to McCartney's humor. I've made general note of this in the article but we'll probably have to get Macca to tell us just who he meant.--Phyllis1753 (talk) 23:09, 16 August 2008 (UTC)
 * At the risk of inciting original research, i say "Duh!" A trans-Atlantic pair of Admirals? Hands across the sea? Is there no one who can rid us of this pestilential invisible elephant in the accompanying article's living room, by finding a sufficiently prestigious comment construing that parallel as a reference to both of them? --Jerzy•t 14:07, 9 November 2009 (UTC)

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Song Form
Is it "less a song" because it has three sections that don't repeat? 74.74.157.245 (talk) 01:53, 19 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Judged as a "song", however you define that, it lacks unity of theme and musicality and certainly has more in common with bits of the Abbey Road medley (and arguably, could have been fitted into it); "mini-suite" seems somewhat precious although it has some orchestrality. Best to regard it as a "work" and avoid specific terms. Who knows what McCartney had in mind to stick these two chunks together? -- Rodhull andemu  02:21, 19 January 2009 (UTC)

John Cleese
Am I crazy or does the voice at 1:31-1:56 in the song sound exactly like John Cleese? Was it Paul singing through effects, or someone else, or is there an outside chance it was actually Cleese himself?

The Sound Of Lightning
"The song is noted for its sound effects, including the sounds of thunder, lightning, and rain, heard between the first and second verse,"  The sound of lightning IS thunder, is it not?
 * Indeed. I suggest "thunder, lightning, and rain" -> "a thunderstorm". Rodhull  andemu  13:28, 19 May 2010 (UTC)

Single release
Any idea why this was released in the US but not the UK ? -- Beardo (talk) 16:34, 18 August 2012 (UTC)
 * I don't know, but it's a notable fact and should be mentioned in the article. --Ef80 (talk) 17:33, 12 December 2015 (UTC)

Page link
At the top of the page, there is a link to Talk:Uncle Albert - I can't see what causes that to appear - it surely shouldn't. -- Beardo (talk) 16:43, 18 August 2012 (UTC)

Elephant (film)
Yesterday i removed a link in the See also section to the film Elephant; today i was reverted. I don't mind, but i cannot make out why. Does anyone know, is there a link between the song and the film? Cheers, LindsayHello 07:08, 8 November 2012 (UTC)

Response: Hi Lindsay, thanks for leaving a message. This song clearly inspires Elephant.

1. In the beginning of the film, Timothy Bottom's character is seen erratically driving a car down a residential street, presumably drunk. After his son takes over driving, the father mentions "Admiral Halsey".

2. Later as the boy arrives at Watt High School, he makes a call from a pay phone. A phone prop also appears in the music video for the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aMZh3m_ez0).

3. Later in the film at the Gay Straight Alliance meeting, one of the students is talking about a cover story on the Oregonian about gay rams. He notes that "$10,000 is a lot of money for a ram". Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey is from the album Ram.

4. The sound of lightning also appears in the music video and film. Music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aMZh3m_ez0 ... Film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMY4AD94koE

5. When Alex shoots Eric in the film, the same chirping birds sound effect can be heard as in the song.
 * I have replied in a bit more detail here; essentially, this is Original Research, and doesn't belong. Cheers, LindsayHello 09:10, 8 November 2012 (UTC)

John's version
It could be noteworthy there exists a recording where John sings/spoofs the song: It was at a house party in the early 70s and somebody was secretely recording John as he was fooling around on the piano. --2003:71:4E6A:B420:FCB8:7534:8BAA:DC52 (talk) 19:16, 2 December 2016 (UTC)

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Opinions Are Not Facts
All the speculation included here from ‘critics’ and other tailwaggers about what the lyrics might imply is scarcely the stuff of which reliable encyclopaedias are composed.

McCartney’s whimsy is too flimsy for analysis; Lewis Carroll he ain’t. The words of ‘Get Back’ are a similar rag-bag of pleasing nonsense, and there are other examples; ‘She Came in Through the Bathroom Window’ just for one. Great music, but forget about delving for Macca’s meanings.59.167.234.198 (talk) 09:56, 11 November 2019 (UTC)

Uncle albert
Every time i hear this song i try to understand what it means,,,i mean its got meaning, ...the butter wouldn't melt so i put it in a pie, hands across the water, hmm 2607:FB91:482:2D31:AC39:66F7:5077:C9EC (talk) 21:25, 23 August 2023 (UTC)