Honestly, if you were a betting person in 1971, you probably wouldn't have put your money on Ringo Starr. The Beatles had just imploded. John was busy screaming into microphones about primal therapy, Paul was hiding out on a farm in Scotland, and George was busy releasing a triple album that basically redefined the scale of solo rock.
Ringo?
Most people thought he was done. They figured he’d maybe act in a few movies, play drums on his friends' records, and eventually fade into the "downtrodden drummer" trope. Then came It Don’t Come Easy.
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It wasn't just a hit. It was a statement. It reached number 4 in both the US and the UK, effectively proving that Richard Starkey could hold his own without the Fab Four safety net. But for decades, a cloud of "who actually wrote this?" has hung over the track.
The George Harrison Elephant in the Room
Let's be real: when you listen to that opening guitar riff, it screams George Harrison. It’s got that signature slide, that melodic precision, and that "Hare Krishna" spiritual energy.
For a long time, the rumor mill insisted George wrote the whole thing and just handed it to Ringo out of pity or friendship. Ringo has been pretty open about the fact that George helped him. In a 1998 VH1 Storytellers episode, he straight-up said, "I wrote this song with the one and only George Harrison."
But "with" is the keyword there.
Ringo usually came to the table with a basic 12-bar structure and a few verses. George would then come in and add what Ringo called "five more chords," making it sound like a complex masterpiece.
What the Lyrics are Actually Trying to Say
The Ringo Starr It Don't Come Easy lyrics are surprisingly heavy for a guy known for singing about yellow submarines and octopus gardens.
"Got to pay your dues if you want to sing the blues, and you know it don't come easy."
That first line is basically a biography of Ringo’s early life. People forget he spent massive chunks of his childhood in the hospital with peritonitis and tuberculosis. He didn't just walk into the biggest band in the world; he survived a pretty rough upbringing in the Dingle area of Liverpool.
There was a specific argument during the writing process about the third verse. George, being George, wanted the lyrics to be about God.
Ringo said no.
George then suggested "Hare Krishna."
Ringo said no again.
They finally landed on "peace," which felt much more like Ringo. "Peace, remember peace is how we make it / Here within your reach if you're big enough to take it." It’s a message that became his entire brand for the next fifty years.
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The Secret Recording Sessions
The track wasn't some quick throwaway. It actually started life under the title "You Gotta Pay Your Dues" back in early 1970.
If you dig through the bootlegs—and plenty of Beatles nerds have—you can find a version with George Harrison on lead vocals. This fueled the "George wrote it" fire for years. In reality, it was just a guide vocal. George sang it so Ringo could learn the phrasing and the melody.
The lineup on the actual record is a "who’s who" of 1970s rock royalty:
- George Harrison: Guitars (obviously).
- Klaus Voormann: Bass (the guy who designed the Revolver cover).
- Gary Wright: Piano (the "Dream Weaver" himself).
- Pete Ham and Tom Evans: Backing vocals (from the band Badfinger).
It’s a massive, polished sound that didn't appear on an official studio album until years later as a bonus track. It stood alone as a single because it was strong enough to.
The B-Side Nobody Talks About
While everyone focuses on the A-side, the flip side of that 45 rpm record was a song called "Early 1970."
If "It Don't Come Easy" was Ringo's public face, "Early 1970" was his private diary. In it, he goes through each of his former bandmates one by one. He talks about Paul’s farm, John’s bed-ins, and George’s "long-haired, cross-legged" guitar picking.
The most heartbreaking part? The chorus. Ringo admits he only plays "A, D, and E" on the guitar and can only play piano "if it’s in C." It was his way of saying he knew he wasn't the "musical" genius of the group, but he desperately wanted to play with his brothers again.
Why the Song Still Matters in 2026
We live in an era where everyone wants instant success. Ringo’s lyrics remind us that "paying your dues" isn't just an old-school cliché. It's a requirement.
The song has become the anchor of Ringo’s All-Starr Band sets. He’s performed it over 700 times live. It’s the song that transitioned him from being "the drummer" to "the artist."
If you're looking to really understand the track, don't just read the lyrics—look at the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh footage. Ringo forgets the words halfway through, laughs it off, and keeps going. That’s the essence of the song. It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be honest.
Actionable Insights for Music Fans
- Listen to the George Harrison demo: Find the bootleg version on YouTube or in the All Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary sets. Comparing the two shows you exactly how much "flavor" George added to the arrangement.
- Analyze the chord structure: If you play guitar, notice the shift from the verses to the bridge. That’s where you can "feel" George’s influence.
- Watch the "Concert for Bangladesh" performance: It’s the definitive live version and shows the genuine chemistry between George and Ringo.
- Explore the 1973 "Ringo" album: If you like this track, that album is the peak of his solo output and features contributions from all three other Beatles.
The narrative that Ringo was just a passenger in his own career is pretty much debunked by this song. He had the vision; he just had a really talented friend help him paint the house.