The Beatles - Octopus's Garden

Tags:: 1969 Abbey The Beatles Ringo Starr Roads

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Added: 24-Apr-08

The Beatles - Octopus's Garden Copyright - 1969 EMI Records Ltd. "Octopus's Garden" is a song written by Ringo Starr with a little help from George Harrison (although it is credited solely to Starr, as "Starkey"). It is featured on The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road, and their later albums The Beatles 1967-1970, Anthology 3 and most recently the mash-up album Love. Harrison commented: "'Octopus's Garden' is Ringo's song. It's only the second song Ringo has ever written, mind you, and it's lovely." Ringo's first solo composition had been "Don't Pass Me By" on The Beatles album. He added that the song gets very deep into your consciousness "because it's so peaceful. I suppose Ringo is writing cosmic songs these days without even realizing it." Conception The idea for the song came about when Starr was on a boating trip with his family in Sardinia in 1968. He was offered an octopus lunch, but turned it down. Then the boat's captain told Starr about how octopuses travel along the sea bed picking up stones and shiny objects with which to build gardens. Starr said that hearing about octopuses spending their days collecting shiny objects at the bottom of the sea was one of the happiest things he had ever heard, inspiring him to write this song. The song is sometimes thought of as being a song for children, like "Yellow Submarine", "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" or "All Together Now". It has also been performed by the Muppets several times in various episodes of their shows. Australian comedian Chas Licciardello said on Australia's Favourite Album, "'Octopus's Garden'? That was a classic when I was in kindergarten!" However, like both "Yellow Submarine" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", the song can also be interpreted as alluding to psychoactive drugs or the effects thereof. In the Beatles' film Let It Be, Starr is shown rehearsing the song on piano, joined by Harrison, who assists him with the "We would be, so happy you and me..." portion of the song. Starr received sole writing credit despite this. Recording The basic instrumental track was recorded 26 April 1969, with the classic Beatles lineup of two electric guitars (Harrison and John Lennon), electric bass (Paul McCartney), and drums (Starr). Starr also provided a temporary guide vocal. In the absence of George Martin the Beatles themselves were listed as producer, with Martin's apprentice Chris Thomas present in the control room to assist. Thirty-two takes were required before the Beatles were satisfied with the track. The backing vocals by McCartney and Harrison during the guitar solo were put through compressors and limiters to create a gurgling sound. Starr added the sound of bubbles being blown into a glass of water using a straw. Love version On the album for the Cirque du Soleil production Love, which features re-imagined and re-interpreted Beatles songs, "Octopus's Garden" is track 16. It begins with the dropped key music from "Good Night," (it is in E major, instead of its original G major), some chords from "She's Leaving Home," an occasional, minute sound from "Tomorrow Never Knows," the grinding noise from "All Together Now," and slowed down lyrics from "Octopus's Garden". It then speeds up with the actual music from the song after the drum solo from "Lovely Rita". Background noise from the song "Yellow Submarine," some xylophone chords from "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill," and the background acoustic guitar with some percussion from "Polythene Pam" can be heard. A few small random shouts from "Revolution 9" can be heard along with the "Yellow Submarine" background talking. Other noises can be heard including Lennon saying things like, "Sensational!" during the guitar solo. At the end, some of the guitar ladder chords from "Helter Skelter" play behind the vocals before moving to music from "Sun King" mixed with the wave noises from "Yellow Submarine." This leads into the track 17, "Lady Madonna". Recorded 26 April 1969 (32 takes) Lyrics: I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus's garden in the shade He'd let us in, knows where we've been In his octopus's garden in the shade I'd ask my friends to come and see In an octopus's garden with me I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus's garden in the shade We would be warm below the storm In our little hideaway beneath the waves Resting our head on the sea bed In an octopus's garden near a cave We would sing and dance around because we know we can't be found I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus's garden in the shade We would shout and swim about The coral that lies beneath the waves Oh what joy for every girl and boy Knowing they're happy and they're safe We would be so happy you and me No one there to tell us what to do I'd like to be under the sea In an octopus's garden with you in an octopus's garden with you in an octopus's garden with you

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