Everyone has a favourite Beatle, and for some people, the answer isn’t the caustic genius of John Lennon, the songwriting mastery of Paul McCartney or the spiritual softness of George Harrison, but the jovial, affable and all-around saintly Ringo Starr. While he may have been unfairly derided for decades, his role within the band is undeniable.
Starr was not only a pivotal member of the Fab Four but also faced significant criticism during his time with the band, with some suggesting that his natural ability for simple yet effective drum fills somehow made him a poor drummer. Despite this, Starr has proven himself to be a great musician in his own right throughout his solo career. Perhaps a key reason Starr has remained so beloved is his undeniably welcoming nature. Radiating a warmth only matched by the sun itself, it was only in recent years that Starr stopped signing autographs for his fans, after having previously promised to personally respond to every piece of fan mail. This approachability has endeared him to generations of fans.
While some people know him primarily as a drummer, Starr has earned his stripes as a singer-songwriter, too, proving an ability for a catchy tune on multiple occasions, as well as devising some great roles on screen. Even during his time with The Beatles, Starr contributed his vocal ability on some of their most adored songs, including ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’, and one of the most memorable Beatles numbers, ‘Octopus’s Garden’, a song which, despite its somewhat childlike tone, is perhaps more well-known than much of the group’s album work.
While he may well be the most famous musician in his neighbourhood, the man at the centre of the fame is still a music lover at heart. So when Ringo Starr was asked the question, “What song do you want played at your funeral?” by the NME, he had a tough choice ahead of him.
The former Beatle gave an intriguing answer by picking one of his songs with The Beatles, suggesting that the imprint the band had on his life should be carried on in death, too. In response to the question, Ringo Starr said, “I don’t know what we’d have playing, so I’ll say this one because it’d be nice to have everyone singing along” in regards to ‘Octopus’s Garden’.
It’s actually extremely sweet sentimental, especially given that the song in question is such a fun and carefree one. Although some people might find it slightly egotistical in other circumstances for an artist to choose a song that they wrote themselves, Ringo Starr’s choice is a wholesome one on reflection, especially considering the criticism he has received over the years.
The song is one of the few from the band’s canon, which was written by Ringo Starr. “‘Octopus’s Garden’ is Ringo’s song,” George Harrison once said. “It’s only the second song Ringo has ever written, mind you, and it’s lovely.”
When explaining why the song is so loved by Beatles fans, Harrison added: “Because it’s so peaceful. I suppose Ringo is writing cosmic songs these days without even realising it.” That’s hard to argue with. The “peace and love” man is the archetypal Zen master of drums, and the music explored in the track has a way of nestling beneath your skin without so much as a hair out of place.
It was the mark of a band starting to fully explore their creativity in the face of growing tensions. In fact, the song was composed during a tough time for Ringo as he felt pushed out of the band and took himself on holiday with actor Peter Sellers.
Having ordered fish and chips on board, Starr was presented with squid and found the whole meal a little peculiar. Having never eaten the animal prior, Starr was taken aback by his surprise meal, which kickstarted a conversation with the boat’s captain. The captain would tell a story about how “octopuses travel along the sea bed picking up stones and shiny objects with which to build a garden.” It delighted Starr, stirring his creative juices, and the song was born. With the Beatles’ thrust of musical creativity, it was given the space it desired.
It seems that The Beatles might just make for some popular funeral music, which isn’t an unheard-of sentiment. However, the usual “funeral song” picks appear to be a bit more melancholy. Songs like ‘Blackbird’ or ‘Here Comes the Sun’ come to mind when considering potential Beatles funeral tracks much more than ‘Octopus’s Garden’, but that’s what makes Starr’s choice even more special. The thought of one’s family and friends slowly bopping their heads and tapping their feet as the imagery of an underwater nursery rhyme billows out is a comforting one. If it is actually played at the drummer’s funeral is by the by, itt’s a song that will define Ringo Starr forever.
