Whilst the basic track was successfully recorded on 4 February, Lennon wasn't satisfied with the feel of the track. Several innovations were tried, including blowing through comb onto paper and humming to add texture to the track, and the addition of a pedal guitar and tambora. In the end, according to Lennon, McCartney persuaded John to call in the services of Lizzie Bravo and Gayleen Pease, two of the so-called Apple scruffs (the female fans who collected outside the studio) to add harmony vocals. Lennon later cited what he considered the substandard recording of the song as evidence of McCartney's "subconscious sabotage" of his compositions.

The track was mixed to mono and put aside as the group had decided to release "Lady Madonna" and "The Inner Light" as the single. On their return from India the group set about recording the many songs they had written there, and "Across the Universe" remained on the shelf. In the autumn of 1968 The Beatles seriously considered releasing an EP including most of the songs for the Yellow Submarine album including "Across the Universe" and went as far as having the EP mastered. However, the recent trip to India had soured Lennon on transcendental meditation and eastern spiritualism, and the song's mantra-type refrain already seemed outdated. His White Album contributions had an angrier, harder edge, reflective of his renewed personal assertiveness (which had been submerged with his heavy LSD use) and the growing political and social turmoil of 1968.

I'm glad they broke up.

@Uzi: You and your artsy-fartsy self-referentiality!

@Tearhone: Agreed.