This article is about the Beatles song. For the children's book, see Octopus's Garden (book).
"Octopus's Garden" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written and sung by Ringo Starr (credited to his real name Richard Starkey), from their 1969 album Abbey Road. George Harrison, who assisted Starr with the song, commented: "'Octopus's Garden' is Ringo's song. It's only the second song Ringo wrote, and it's lovely." He added that the song gets very deep into the listener's consciousness "because it's so peaceful. I suppose Ringo is writing cosmic songs these days without even realising it."[2] It was the last song released by the Beatles featuring Starr on lead vocals.
The idea for the song came about when Starr was on a boat belonging to 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 had eaten squid, and he said, "It was OK. A bit rubbery. Tasted like chicken.")[3] The boat's captain then told Starr about how octopuses travel along the sea bed picking up stones and shiny objects with which to build gardens.[4] Starr's songwriting was further inspired by his desire to escape mounting hostility among the Beatles; he would later admit that he had "just wanted to be under the sea, too". Uncredited assistance in developing the song's chord changes was provided by Harrison, who can be seen helping Starr work the song out on piano, with Lennon later joining in with drums, in the documentaries Let It Be (1970)[5] and The Beatles: Get Back (2021), both using the same footage.
The song, which contains the lyrics "Oh what joy for every girl and boy/Knowing they're happy and they're safe,"[6] is sometimes thought of as being a song for children,[7] like "Yellow Submarine" or "All Together Now". It has also been performed by the Muppets several times in various episodes of their shows.[8]
RecordingEdit
The basic instrumental track was recorded 26 April 1969, with the Beatles lineup of two electric guitars (Harrison and Lennon),[9]bass guitar (McCartney) and drums (Starr). Starr also provided a temporary guide vocal on this date. (Take 2 of the recording, featuring this guide vocal, Starr singing the first verse three times, is track 14 on disc 2 of Anthology 3.) 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.[10]
The backing vocals by McCartney and Harrison during the guitar solo were put through compressors and limiters to create a gurgling sound. At Starr's request, Harrison[11] added the sound of bubbles by blowing through a straw into a glass of milk.[12][13]
The song was remixed in 2006 for the Beatles album Love, which contained remixes of classic Beatles songs. The remix begins with Starr's vocals over the orchestration from "Good Night", then transitions into the original instrumental backing track on the line "I'd ask my friends...", with sound effects from "Yellow Submarine" added in the background. During the guitar solo, the drum track is replaced with that of "Lovely Rita".
In 2014, Starr wrote a children's book based on and named after the song. The book, which consists of the song's lyrics, is illustrated by Ben Cort.[15][16] A CD is included with the book, including an introduction by Starr, a new version of the song, the lyrics spoken as prose, and an instrumental version of the song.
Reparata and the Delrons released the song as a single in 1972 on Dart records, backed with "Your Life Is Gone". It used vocal effects and ocean-themed sound effects to mimic the style of their 1968 UK hit, "Captain of Your Ship". It was re-released in 1976, with the A- and B-sides reversed, and credited to Reparata (no Delrons).
Noel Gallagher of Oasis adds adapted lyrics from "Octopus's Garden" to the end of their song "Whatever" during some of his live performances. The phrase "I'd like to be under the sea" is in the refrain of one of Oasis' most popular b-sides, "Take Me Away". Also, the refrain from the chorus of "Octopus's Garden" can be heard about forty seconds from the end of "The Masterplan", also by Oasis.
The song was covered and recorded by Canadian children's musician Raffi for the 1985 album One Light, One Sun.
Beatles cover band The Punkles did a punk cover on their fourth album For Sale sung by their drummer Markey Starkey.[17]
NotesEdit
^J. O'Grady, Terence (1983). The Beatles, a Musical Evolution. Twayne. p. 160. ISBN9780805794533.
^Marks, Marvin (23 August 2009). . Music by Day. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
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This article is about the Beatles song For the children s book see Octopus s Garden book Octopus s Garden is a song by the English rock band the Beatles written and sung by Ringo Starr credited to his real name Richard Starkey from their 1969 album Abbey Road George Harrison who assisted Starr with the song commented Octopus s Garden is Ringo s song It s only the second song Ringo wrote and it s lovely He added that the song gets very deep into the listener s consciousness because it s so peaceful I suppose Ringo is writing cosmic songs these days without even realising it 2 It was the last song released by the Beatles featuring Starr on lead vocals Octopus s Garden Cover of the song s sheet musicSong by the Beatlesfrom the album Abbey RoadReleased26 September 1969Recorded26 29 April 17 18 July 1969StudioEMI LondonGenrePop rock 1 Length2 48LabelAppleSongwriter s Richard StarkeyProducer s George Martin Contents 1 Composition 2 Recording 3 Personnel 4 Remix in Love 5 Book 6 Other versions 7 Notes 8 External linksComposition EditThe idea for the song came about when Starr was on a boat belonging to 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 had eaten squid and he said It was OK A bit rubbery Tasted like chicken 3 The boat s captain then told Starr about how octopuses travel along the sea bed picking up stones and shiny objects with which to build gardens 4 Starr s songwriting was further inspired by his desire to escape mounting hostility among the Beatles he would later admit that he had just wanted to be under the sea too Uncredited assistance in developing the song s chord changes was provided by Harrison who can be seen helping Starr work the song out on piano with Lennon later joining in with drums in the documentaries Let It Be 1970 5 and The Beatles Get Back 2021 both using the same footage The song which contains the lyrics Oh what joy for every girl and boy Knowing they re happy and they re safe 6 is sometimes thought of as being a song for children 7 like Yellow Submarine or All Together Now It has also been performed by the Muppets several times in various episodes of their shows 8 Recording EditThe basic instrumental track was recorded 26 April 1969 with the Beatles lineup of two electric guitars Harrison and Lennon 9 bass guitar McCartney and drums Starr Starr also provided a temporary guide vocal on this date Take 2 of the recording featuring this guide vocal Starr singing the first verse three times is track 14 on disc 2 of Anthology 3 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 10 The backing vocals by McCartney and Harrison during the guitar solo were put through compressors and limiters to create a gurgling sound At Starr s request Harrison 11 added the sound of bubbles by blowing through a straw into a glass of milk 12 13 Personnel EditAccording to Kevin Howlett 14 Ringo Starr double tracked lead vocals drums percussion bubbling effects John Lennon guitar Paul McCartney backing vocals bass guitar piano George Harrison backing vocals lead guitarRemix in Love EditThe song was remixed in 2006 for the Beatles album Love which contained remixes of classic Beatles songs The remix begins with Starr s vocals over the orchestration from Good Night then transitions into the original instrumental backing track on the line I d ask my friends with sound effects from Yellow Submarine added in the background During the guitar solo the drum track is replaced with that of Lovely Rita Book EditMain article Octopus s Garden book In 2014 Starr wrote a children s book based on and named after the song The book which consists of the song s lyrics is illustrated by Ben Cort 15 16 A CD is included with the book including an introduction by Starr a new version of the song the lyrics spoken as prose and an instrumental version of the song Other versions EditJim Henson s Muppets made 3 video cover versions of the song on Sesame Street episode 19 in 1969 The Ed Sullivan Show in March 1970 and The Muppet Show episode 312 in 1978 which was performed by Kermit the Frog his nephew Robin the Frog and Miss Piggy Reparata and the Delrons released the song as a single in 1972 on Dart records backed with Your Life Is Gone It used vocal effects and ocean themed sound effects to mimic the style of their 1968 UK hit Captain of Your Ship It was re released in 1976 with the A and B sides reversed and credited to Reparata no Delrons Noel Gallagher of Oasis adds adapted lyrics from Octopus s Garden to the end of their song Whatever during some of his live performances The phrase I d like to be under the sea is in the refrain of one of Oasis most popular b sides Take Me Away Also the refrain from the chorus of Octopus s Garden can be heard about forty seconds from the end of The Masterplan also by Oasis The song was covered and recorded by Canadian children s musician Raffi for the 1985 album One Light One Sun Beatles cover band The Punkles did a punk cover on their fourth album For Sale sung by their drummer Markey Starkey 17 Notes Edit J O Grady Terence 1983 The Beatles a Musical Evolution Twayne p 160 ISBN 9780805794533 Marks Marvin 23 August 2009 Abbey Road The Beatles in Their Own Words Music by Day Archived from the original on 4 September 2009 Retrieved 18 September 2009 Anthology book 2000 p 312 Abbey Road The Beatles Interview Database Retrieved 25 September 2009 Spizer Bruce 2003 The Beatles on Apple Records 498 Productions p 166 The Beatles Octopus s Garden Song Lyrics Brianhartzog com Retrieved 21 August 2011 George Harrison Octopus s Garden beatlesbible com 16 March 2008 Octopus s Garden on Muppet Wiki The Complete Beatles Chronicle ISBN 978 1 851 52975 9 p 320 Lewisohn Mark 2004 The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions London Hamlyn ISBN 0 681 03189 1 Experiencing the Beatles A Listener s Companion ISBN 978 1 442 27144 9 p 104 DM Beatle s Site Abbey Road UK 1969 Webcitation org Archived from the original on 24 October 2009 Retrieved 21 August 2011 Abbey Road upv es Howlett Kevin 2019 Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition book The Beatles Apple Records pp 34 35 Starr Ringo Cort Ben 4 February 2014 Octopus s Garden Simon amp Schuster ISBN 9781481403627 Retrieved 5 January 2015 Video on YouTube Performance Octopus s Garden by The Punkles SecondHandSongs secondhandsongs com Retrieved 12 July 2022 External links Edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Abbey Road Alan W Pollack s Notes on Octopus s Garden Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Octopus 27s Garden amp oldid 1181567889, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
