Octopus's Garden
"Octopus's Garden" is a song by The Beatles written by Ringo Starr from their 1969 album Abbey Road.
| "Octopus's Garden" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by The Beatles | ||||
| from Abbey Road" | ||||
| Released | 26 September 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 26 April 1969 (32 takes) 29 April 1969 (overdubs) 17 July 1969 (overdubs) 18 July 1969 (overdubs) | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock | |||
| Length | 2:51 | |||
| Label | Apple Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ringo Starr | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin, the Beatles | |||
| Abbey Road track listing | ||||
| ||||
George Harrison worked on this the song with Ringo Starr; perhaps because his own songs were not seen as good enough by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.[1] Harrison said: "'Octopus's Garden' is Ringo's song. It's only the second song Ringo has ever written, mind you, and it's lovely." He added that the song gets very deep into your mind "because it's so peaceful. I suppose Ringo is writing cosmic songs these days without even realising it."[2]
Background
Ringo Starr got the idea for the song when he was on a boat owned by comedian Peter Sellers in Sardinia in 1968. He ordered fish and chips for lunch, but instead of fish he got squid. It was the first time he'd eaten squid, and he said, "It was OK. A bit rubbery. Tasted like chicken."[3] The boat's captain told Ringo how octopuses travel along the sea bed picking up stones and shiny objects to build gardens.[4] The Let It Be movie had a scene where George Harrison is shown helping Ringo Starr work the song out on piano.
The song, which contains the words "Oh what joy for every girl and boy / Knowing they're happy and they're safe,"[5] 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 been performed by the Muppets several times in their shows.[6]
Recording
The basic instrumental track was recorded April 26, 1969, with two electric guitars (Harrison and John Lennon), bass guitar (Paul McCartney), and drums (Starr). George Martin did not produce the song, so the Beatles themselves were listed as producer, with Martin's assistant Chris Thomas present in the control room to help. Thirty-two takes were needed before the Beatles were happy with the song.[7]
The backing vocals by McCartney and Harrison during the guitar solo were put through compressors and limiters to create a gurgling sound. Harrison added the sound of bubbles being blown into a glass of milk using a straw.[8][9]
Performers
- Ringo Starr – vocal, drums, percussion, sound effects
- George Harrison – backing vocal, lead guitar, synthesizer
- Paul McCartney – backing vocal, bass, piano
- John Lennon – guitar
- Personnel per Ian MacDonald[10]
Other websites
- ↑ "Octopus's Garden". The Beatles Bible. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
- ↑ Marks, Marvin (2009-08-23). "Abbey Road: The Beatles In Their Own Words". Music by Day. Archived from the original on 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
- ↑ Anthology book (2000, p. 312)
- ↑ "Abbey Road". The Beatles Interview Dtabase. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
- ↑ "The Beatles--"Octopus's Garden" Song Lyrics". www.brianhartzog.com.
- ↑ Classic Sesame Street - Octopus's Garden at YouTube
- ↑ Lewisohn, Mark (2004). The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0-681-03189-1.
- ↑ "DM Beatle's Site: Abbey Road (UK, 1969)". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ↑ "Only Some Northern Songs in Abbey Road". Archived from the original on 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ↑ MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). p. 351. ISBN 1-844-13828-3.