Which Beatles songs did Ringo write?
These are Don’t Pass Me By (The Beatles/White Album) and Octopus’s Garden (Abbey Road). The former was also released as a single in northern Europe, reaching number Denmark in April 1969.
He also has these joint writing credits:
- What Goes On Rubber Soul (Lennon-McCartney-Starr)
- Flying Magical Mystery Tour (Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr)
- Dig It Let It Be (Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr)
- Maggie May” (Let It Be) (traditional: adaptation by Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr)
Anthology, remasters & limited editions
- Free As a Bird Anthology 1 (1995) Original composition by Lennon; remixed by Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starkey)
- Christmas Time Is Here Again Anthology 1 (Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr)
- 12-Bar Original Anthology 2 (1996) Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr)
- Los Paranoias Anthology 3 Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr)
- Now and Then (2023) Original composition by Lennon remixed by Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starkey - see here
'Ringoisms'
Sometimes Ringo contributed to a lyric without a formal credit. Lennon and McCartney borrowed 'Ringoisms' - unusual and original phrases he would use in conversation:- The best known of these is A Hard Day's Night.
- Eight Days a Week is attributed to Ringo, who overheard it from an overworked driver
- He used the phrase Tomorrow Never Knows in an early interview see here.
- The working title for Don't Pass Me By was That's Some Friendly. This an impromptu phrase Ringo used at the end of one of the sessions
Uncredited musical input
On numerous occasions Ringo added unusual musical features. One example is the striking drum fill on She Loves You. George Martin liked this so much that he used it as the intro in the arrangement.
Paul McCartney has also credited Ringo's contribution to the defining rhythm of Get Back.
The Story Behind Octopus' Garden - 4 free minute read
The Story Behind Don't Pass Me By 4 free minute read
Ringo's Childhood 'A chronicle of Dickensian misfortune'
