Ringo Starr’s second composition for The Beatles was written in Sardinia. On 22 August 1968 he temporarily walked out of sessions for the White Album after becoming disenchanted with the increasing tensions within the group. He took his family abroad for a boating holiday, returning to Abbey Road on 5 September.
I wrote ‘Octopus’s Garden’ in Sardinia. Peter Sellers had lent us his yacht and we went out for the day… I stayed out on deck with [the captain] and we talked about octopuses. He told me that they hang out in their caves and they go around the seabed finding shiny stones and tin cans and bottles to put in front of their cave like a garden. I thought this was fabulous, because at the time I just wanted to be under the sea too. A couple of tokes later with the guitar – and we had ‘Octopus’s Garden’!
Anthology
The song was first worked on by Starr and George Harrison during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in January 1969; perhaps Harrison felt a sense of solidarity after feeling that his own compositions were being dismissed as second-rate by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
‘Octopus’s Garden’ is Ringo’s song. It’s only the second song Ringo wrote, and it’s lovely. Ringo gets bored playing the drums, and at home he plays a bit of piano, but he only knows about three chords. He knows about the same on guitar. I think it’s a really great song, because on the surface, it just like a daft kids’ song, but the lyrics are great. For me, you know, I find very deep meaning in the lyrics, which Ringo probably doesn’t see, but all the thing like ‘resting our head on the sea bed’ and ‘We’ll be warm beneath the storm’ which is really great, you know. Because it’s like this level is a storm, and if you get sort of deep in your consciousness, it’s very peaceful. So Ringo’s writing his cosmic songs without noticing.
In early 1969, while filming The Magic Christian, Starr was interviewed by the New Musical Express. In the article, which was published in March, the reporter noted that “current Beatle work involves the completion of their next LP and among several tracks so far recorded is one by Ringo titled ‘In An Octopus’s Garden (Or I Would Like To Live Up A Tree)’”. The Beatles had not, at this stage, begun recording the song, although it was known to the group from the January 1969 sessions.
A composite version of ‘Octopus’s Garden’, opening with Ringo’s vocals superimposed onto the orchestral backing from ‘Good Night’, was included on 2006’s Love album.
In the studio
Although The Beatles temporarily considered ‘Octopus’s Garden’ as Ringo Starr’s vocal spot on what would become the Let It Be album, it wasn’t recorded properly until the Abbey Road sessions.
In January 1969 Starr brought the outlines of three songs to the band. They were ‘Taking A Trip To Carolina’, ‘Picasso’, and ‘Octopus’s Garden’. On 26 January, at the Apple basement studio, Starr demonstrated the latter song to George Harrison, George Martin, and Glyn Johns.
On 26 April 1969 The Beatles began recording the song properly. Take two of the song, including Starr’s guide vocal, was included on Anthology 3 in 1996.
The arrangement was in place early on, including the opening guitar runs played by Harrison, suggesting that it was well-rehearsed prior to recording. The eight-track tape had Paul McCartney’s bass guitar on track one; Starr’s drums on two; Harrison’s lead guitar on three; John Lennon’s finger-picked rhythm guitar on four; and Starr’s guide vocals on eight.
Take nine from this first session was released in 2019 on some formats of the 50th anniversary reissue of Abbey Road.
On 29 April Starr overdubbed his lead vocals, though these were later re-recorded, and McCartney added a piano part during the bridges.
The song was then left until 17 July, when McCartney added a bass part, he and Harrison contributed backing vocals, and various sound effects were added – including the sound of Starr blowing bubbles into a glass of water.
The song was completed the following day, 18 July, when Starr finally recorded his lead vocals.
On that date, from 8-10.30pm, ‘Octopus’s Garden’ was mixed in stereo in the control room of Studio Two. Five mixes, numbered 10-14, were made. Starr’s vocals in the verses were treated with artificial double tracking.
Seven mono mixes were also made, for unknown purposes, as Abbey Road was never considered for mono release. ‘Octopus’s Garden’ was the only song on the album to be mixed in mono.
Harrison’s opening guitar run is a highlight of this song. It sounds like two guitar are playing. Did he overdub or did McCartney play the second guitar?
The lyric, “No one there to tell us what to do.” Is an obvious dig against McCartney.
Don’t think so, as Ringo and George worked out the basic song together first.
It’s pretty obvious that George got inspired with ‘no one there to tell him what to do’, very much like how it works out on his own songs, but indeed also with John’s songs. The Pisces George always enjoyed the freedom of composing his own guitar arrangements, and endured too strict directions as a sort of straitjacket. His guitar intro, solo and outro on Octopus’s Garden all manifest this. However, the backing vocal contribution is a fine and equal collaboration with Paul and him.
It’s not doubled. George Harrison played his guitar through a Leslie speaker cabinet. It’s working with rotating speakers to create ‘Doppler effect based’ vibrato, tremolo and chorus effects. Leslie speakers were originally built for Hammond organs and look like cupboards without doors and drawers. On ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ John’s vocal was put through a Leslie speaker cabinet.
Is Harrison’s opening just notes on the pentatonic?
Definitely pentatonic: I think the notes are c, g, a, c, d, e, A, G, e, d, c, d, e, c, g, a, c, d, e, C, A, G, e, c, d, c.
The song’s chords are easy: C, Am, F, G.
Wrong key. The chords are E c#m A B.
On the surface the song appears simple, which it was before the Beatles (mainly George?) re-arranged it.
Verse A has two variations, shorter and longer, the middle eight or verse B starting by the vi minor grade of the key (c#m), i.e. these go on E major. The clever part, typical to the Beatles arrs, is the guitar solo section, which modulates to the key A major, and that part finishes in v grade of A, which is the E, which was the verse key – and as a transition chord before going back to verse, the chord B, which is the v grade of the verse key! Clever.
Harrison’s all guitar work is brilliant: the discant arpeggio pattern, solo and transition /break additions, all really tasty.
Good job, Beatles!
P.s. The verse A second variation (shorter E, c#m, A, B run)) has a function as the song’s chorus.
There´s one document of Ringo´s first attempts.
You can notice, how much the rest of the Beatles arrangements has improved the song.
This little segment was always one of my favorites in LIB
It has valua of a friendly moment, and as a document.
And shows how primitive Ringo s original was.
Not as more than an interesting document.
All songs are “primative” until the arrangement is worked out.
Lennon’s songs were just melody and lyrics until everyone figured out what to play (McCartney often had arrangements largely worked out before bringing them in – hence the sometimes – succeeding tensions….).
I agree, George’s guitar work is spectacular, especially on the solo.
I believe in the let it be film they were playing it in the key of C. It ended up in E on the record.
Sgt.P1909.
Yes pretty much. Actually, it’s sort of ddifficult to do.
I pulled it off a couple times in the late 90’s early 2000.
I’m not a “great” guitarist. I’m probably about equivalent to Lennon on guitar.
And I’m just guessing “pentatonic” from memory of when I played the run (from the Complete Beatle Scores book. By Hal Leonard) and also, years ago I’ve sort of went through Gtr Scales books. I still don’t know My scales per se.
Good for you,as John Lennon’s guitar work often is underrated.
Just remember that he made the heaviest darkest guitar riff ever, which comes on the next song.
The lead guitar is some of the best Harrison work ever. The song was co-written by Starr & Harrison. It’s one of the best on Abbey Road. Something is the best.
“Octopus’s Garden is Ringo’s song.”
Whatever Harrison did to help Ringo get the song into shape, he didn’t co-write it.
Harrison helped Starr with the composition, but wanted it to be “Ringo’s song,” so he didn’t give himself true credit for it.
The same goes for “It Don’t Come Easy”
I always figured this, but especially after watching Get Back twice, those four helped each other a lot. Credited on paper or not. So if they’re ok with who’s name is listed as writer…why should the rest of us care.
It’s like Macca once said, “there are only four people who know what is was like to be a Beatle.” None of them are on this board.
I’d presume that Harrison’s main contribution was the guitar flourishes and fills and whatnot. The basic tune’s only four chords, so there’s no reason Ringo couldn’t have come up with that and most of the words on his own.
It’s a bit of a moot point where writing ends and arranging starts. One could call Octopus’s Garden a Ringo song, interpreted by George Harrison. Although, if you ever get the chance to see the Let It Be movie, you’ll notice that what Ringo presented to George was far from being the finished product. The middle eight [I’d ask my friends…] I seem to remember being completely missing, or at best unfinished.
The main verse was pretty much there, musically, but he only had words for the first one. That’s how I remember it, anyway.
What guitar was George playing, it sounds like a Casino, but I don’t think he used it in the Abbey Road Sessions.
I believe John was playing a Casino. George played a Fender Strat through a Leslie speaker
Could be his Fender Telecaster?
in 1965 or so the Beatles sent Mal to the shop whereupon he returned with two sky blue strats.
nothing on this track remotely sounds like lennon, he isnt audible at all either guitarwise or vocally
Is that not John’s vocals on the Frankie Valli-esque “aaaaaaa”s starting at about the 1:34 point in the song?
It sounds like John is singing in those backing parts to me.
John is playing all the rhythm guitar on this, finger style in the Travis picking style he learned for Julia.
The lead guitar is George’s Tele.
George played his Stratocaster for this tune
if you watch the Let it Be movie you can see George helping Ringo out on this song, playing some chords on the piano
The Octopus’s Garden segment in Let It Be is very short and it just seems as though George is helping Ringo sort the song out.
The evolution of this song is one I’d love to know more about – especially the middle section (“I’d ask my friends to come and see . . “) which sounds very John.
Hearing it on the remasters shows what an incredible song this really is – never getting it’s due honor.
What it shows me overall was that during Abbey Road every one gave 100% to every song.
Octopus’ sonic textures are nothing short of amazing.
Again, George didn’t play synthesiser on this.
I believe George played the Moog synthesizer
No, he didn´t.
Well who did?
If you listen to the Love remix,during the solo, you can hear the drum part from the Polythene Pam solo
it was George’s synth so he may have played it, i think he and Ringo played it
I don’t hear any Moog per se in this song, but maybe those warbling vocals (during the guitar solo/bubbling bit) were processed through its filters?
The current Guitar World Magazine article on the Beatles. It states the bubbling effect was achieved by running the track through a compressor triggered by a pulsing signal from the Moog low-frequency oscillator. The magazine had some interesting other observations on other Beatles songs on how they were recorded
Are you sure john doesn’t sing backup vocals? I could swear that I hear him singing.
I agree. I hear John too. The backing vocals are very John. By the way, don’t you just every second of George’s playing on this song.
I could swear I heard an old interview with John Lennon where he stated that he sang on Octopus’ Garden. He said something along the lines of “you can tell who wrote or helped develop a Beatle song by listening to who sings on it; we all sing on Octupus’ Garden,..so” – giving an impression that they all helped Ringo write the song, and therefore all sang. Is this accurate?
Right, it wouldn’t really make sense that John wouldn’t sing on this song.
He probably does the high-pitched, heavily tremoloed “aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh” part with the bubbly/guitar solo later on?
It doesn’t make sense that John didn’t participate in most of George’s songs either.
I only hear John singing backing vocals during the Chorus and the Coda.
I only hear John singing backing vocals during the Chorus, Solo and the Coda.
George’s guitar playing is absolutely gorgeous.
Excellent Ringo’s vocal work. Amazing.
Ringo’s second composition on record and, once again, it ISN’T the weakest song on the album! Who’d of thought? (the weakest song on the White Album being “Wild Honey Pie” and on Abbey Road “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”).
I agree with you 100%.
This is a late reply. I think Maxwell is pretty decent song. A lot of words in the song. It sits well with Octopus. Bith unusual songs for a “rock” band.
I’m aware of all growling and complaining by Lennon and Harrison. Especially Lennon. And sometimes I side with him.
All those takes and rehearsals. .etc.
But the sonic texture and the finished recording are great. That Moog is awesome. A lot of stuff going on in that song. And it’s smooth clean too. IMHO.
Thank God McCartney didn’t use Teddy Boy or something else as bad that he had on a back burner list during those days.
George helped a little with this song perhaps, but the same happened with many others Beatles song: would you say that Eleanor Rigby was a “Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr” composition? This is the same. Anyway, George´s contribution to this song is amazing, his guitar playing is epic.
sounds like jerry garcia doing the intro.
Sounds like Garcia to me as well, the phrasing and choice of notes are unlike anything I’ve heard George play…
Harrison’s intro to this song shows his appreciation and influence of and for Chet Atkins, the sound and style mimics some of Chet’s work. Sakes! He even played a Gretch Chet Atkins style guitar. What a great job for a great song!
Calling this a “great song” is ridiculous, even tho George’s guitar work is amazing.
Silly. This song is an absolute gem.
Love the bit in Let It Be when George is helping Ringo out – plays some chords; and that gets you back to thur, he says after basically writing the bridge heh heh.
There’s also something of a party atmosphere. John tokes up and thumps the tubs. George strums. George Martin joins in with a brass band impression!
And then Paul enters.
You can almost read the thought bubbles…
I agree. The whole atmosphere seemed to change when paul walked in.
The Boss is here…
Well there are three of them in backing vocals, so when they join Ringo on “I’d like to be…” you could say this is the first and only Beatles 4 part harmony! Am I right in this? Okay, I’ll give you Yellow Submarine but that song is mostly unison oriented. What a great song, Octopus’s. George is flat out terrific.
The above was in response to Jeff. Somehow it didn’t make it there.
Yellow submarine is NOT unisson oriented!! 3 parts harmony…
Ah ha! You are right. Don’t know what I was smokin” 🙂
This song is in the blue album too.
Joe, I always thought John contributed backing vocals to this song but he is not credited as doing so. Am I wrong? if so, do you think Paul was purposely imitating John’s voice?
John doesn’t sing on this.
Like Chris, I think Lennon does the high-pitched, heavily tremoloed “aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh” part with the bubbly/guitar solo.
I heard it was Peter Sellers who wrote this… ;o)
Check out the finale of Dimitri Shostakovitch’s Jazz Suite #2. It’s hard to believe that this tune wasn’t the basis of Octopus’s Garden.
It’s interesting. The chords sound similar indeed. Mr Starkey should be proud. Shostakovich being one of the greatest composers of all time!…..
Those chords are typical. You got the Emaj. And the next minor naturally does exactly what it does…sic’ C#m and then an A then B.
But I wouldn’t mind googling, Shostakovich. I never heard of him. I enjoy classical music. But I don’t know the names of very many composers.
I get lost after..Mozart..Beethoven. .Schubert..Bach…and..and..?? Ya know..
🙂
I remember when I was little. We couldn’t tell who played what. Sometimes it was even hard to know who wrote or even sang the lead vocal in this or that song.
That was part of the magic.
Because they were four you see? The Beatles!
The four-headed monster…
Pete couldn`t play half as good as George. Thus the reason for the diss.
Hi! I think this is one of the best songs on Abbey Road, which of course makes it one of the best Beatle songs ever. I simply love Ringo’s tunes and his solo albums, and I agree that George gave his best for his friend effort. By the way can any of you enlarge on the tv re recording of Octopus’s graden? I’ve recently discovered it and I like it a lot of course. What was that musicians unions ban? Is that the reason Ringo had to re record it? The other 3 wouldn’t show up on the special? Who are the musicians who re recorded it?
Great song. Too bad it was not ready for Yellow Submarine. It would have been a perfect fit. – also in that movie / album it would have been one of the highlights – especially with Ringo singing. On Abbey Road, the closing chords are a great lead in to Lennon’s “I want you (she’s so heavy)”. – silly and innocent taking us into dark and moody.
It reads that McCartney added a bass part on 17 July – not so, he added a piano part
John didn’t sing. Strangely.
It sounds like Paul’s imitating John again on the higher harmony. Not sure if he sings during the bubbly solo and afterwards though.
If anyone wants to hear the beginning stages of this song watch this videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-BdGchS0yk
Did anyone ever notice that John’s rhythm guitar has the same fingerpicking style that he played on Julia, Dear Prudence, and Happiness is a Warm Gun?
Actually Julia trick is a little bit different from Prudence and Happiness (and Octopus too); but it has another example in Look at Me.
The guitar solo section switches to the key of A; and then back to the key of E for the last verse. I don’t know who thought of this but it’s brilliant.
Sorry to those asserting that John did not sing on this track. He clearly sings on the backup vocals. Just use your ears, gents.
Of course he sings on the track. Whoever says he isn’t is deaf, to put it mildly. His vocals 100% and put through the Moog as well for the warbly effect. Can we put this one to rest, everyone?
I am no expert and besides nobody can confirm exactly what instruments were used on the album (not even Geoff Emerick, likely not even Macca or Ringo at this point) but the solo bits sound like a Telecaster to me. Teles and Strats don’t use the same type of pickups (eureka!), and Teles have a very distinct sound. The neck p/u is a bit stockier then a stock Strat p/u and the major difference between the two is the traditional Tele bridge pickup (Tele’s base plate is much thicker than Strat’s).
I play a Tele and *this sound* is exactly why I chose it over the Strat (plus i don’t need 3+ pickups with 5 positions and all that unnecessary choice getting in the way). It’s the same sound I hear on Octopus’ Garden coming out of George’s solo(s).
I hear two pianos in this song
I swear I hear John singing
At 1:34, on the remastered version, the backing vocals for “in the shade”, are we sure it’s not John? It certainly sounds a lot like John to me.
“perhaps Harrison felt a sense of solidarity after feeling that his own compositions were being dismissed as second-rate by Lennon and McCartney”. I really don’t appreciate this comment. Why? Why do people are always doing their best to destroy the Beatles image of good friends? Why do some people stick to a story with no comprovation at all? i don’t beieve George’s compositions were being dismissed as second-rate by Lennon-McCartney. Maybe they were. I never was lucky enough to live near them to know. But most who insist in this story also have never lived near them. I never saw any evidence Paul and John had this bad idea about George’s songs…Second – rate…Come one. If so they would have never recorded them. We know they would never record any song they didn’t like. Besides, Ringo’s song is great! No need to look for excuse to why George gave him a hand. Only for solidarity? That is the same as saying the song was not good enough. And it is. George could be there because he also liked it. And also for the reasons he gave.