The Beatles Songs That Was Inspired By Ringo Starr

Ringo Starr’s contributions to the Beatles extended much beyond the drum kit, even if he may not have written as many songs as Lennon, McCartney, or even George Harrison. Starr’s presence influenced the band in unexpected ways, from creating famous song titles to appearing in Beatles movies. His sense of humor and peculiar musical style also made him a favorite among fans.

A Modest Start, But a Big Impact

Ringo was already well-known in the late 1950s skiffle scene when he joined The Beatles. He was a member of the Raving Texans, who supported singer Rory Storm, and Eddie Clayton and the Clayton Squares. Starr first connected with the Beatles while playing with Storm in Hamburg. They eventually asked him to take Pete Best’s place as their drummer, which initially infuriated some fans, who even staged a disturbance at The Cavern Club.

However, this backlash was short-lived. Fans were soon won over by Starr’s laid-back demeanor, charm, and on-screen image. In Beatles movies like Help! and Yellow Submarine, he took center stage and proved that he was more than simply the drummer.

A Few Songs, but Memorable Ones

Starr penned just two songs for The Beatles: “Don’t Pass Me By” and “Octopus’s Garden,” in contrast to the prolific Lennon-McCartney songwriting combination or even Harrison’s expanding contributions. Despite having few composition credits, his distinctive drumming, which was influenced by his left-handed technique, gave the band’s sound a unique taste.
However, Starr’s impact extended beyond that. Some of the band’s most recognizable song titles were influenced by his unconventional expressions and “Ringo-isms.”

Ringo’s Accidental Genius

One of Ringo’s most famous contributions was the title “A Hard Day’s Night.” Paul McCartney explained, “There wouldn’t have been ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ without him. He had this kind of thing where he moved phrases around.” Lennon agreed, calling it “a Ringo-ism, where he said it not to be funny… just said it.” That unintentional genius turned into the name of The Beatles’ third album and 1964 comedy film.

Then there’s “Eight Days a Week,” another title credited to Ringo’s colorful expressions. “He said it as though he were an overworked chauffeur,” McCartney said, mimicking his bandmate: “‘Eight days a week.’ When we heard it, we said, ‘Really? Bing! Got it!’” The song went on to become their seventh No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

The Unexpected Depth of Ringo

Perhaps the most surprising Ringo-inspired moment came with the psychedelic masterpiece “Tomorrow Never Knows.” While the lyrics came from Lennon’s LSD experiences, the title was lifted directly from something Starr had said in a 1964 interview. McCartney recalled, “He used to say, ‘Well, tomorrow never knows.’ And he’d say it for real. He meant it.”

McCartney went on to explain that Starr’s contributions went far deeper than fans often realized. “That wasn’t all he did. That was just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “On the surface, Ringo was just some drummer. But there was a hell of a lot more to him than that.”

So while Ringo Starr may have only written two Beatles songs, his creativity, personality, and unintentional brilliance left a lasting mark on the most famous band in history.