Under the Sea

Abstract Thursday: An Octopus's Garden

I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade
He'd let us in, knows where we've been
In his octopus' garden in the shade

I'd ask my friends to come and see
An octopus' garden with me
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade.

We would be warm below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head on the sea bed
In an octopus' garden near a cave

We would sing and dance around
Because we know we can't be found
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade

We would shout and swim about
The coral that lies beneath the waves
(Lies beneath the ocean waves)
Oh what joy for every girl and boy
Knowing they're happy and they're safe
(Happy and they're safe)

We would be so happy you and me
No one there to tell us what to do
I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden with you.

The Beatles - An Octopus's Garden

You have to feel sorry for Ringo in some ways.  

There is that famous "quote" that "Ringo is not the best drummer in the world, he's not even the best drummer in the Beatles".  Although there was a suggestion that John said this, there is actually no evidence that he ever did, although it does have his acerbic sense of humour.

Then, there  was the songwriting problem.  He had the misfortune (or great luck depending on your point of view) to be in a band with 3 great songwriters.  Inevitably as a non songwriter you are going to be the lowest man on the totem.

Finally, there was the singing.  John, Paul and George have great voices and sing brilliantly together.  Ringo, well Ringo gets by.  But even so, the others insist that Ringo has to sing a track on every beatles album.  And everyone goes, "oh yeah, that's the Ringo track - its just filler really to keep the drummer happy"...

... and yet, you look at the songs he gets to sing:

Yellow Submarine
Don't pass me by
With a little help from my friends
What goes on
Act naturally
good night
I wanna be your man
Honey Don't 
Boys

Perhaps you don't have to feel sorry for Ringo after all, for when you actually look at it, Ringo has done rather well for himself, and who wouldn't want to be under the sea, warm below the storm, In a little hideaway beneath the waves?

Whimsical thoughts on a Thursday, prompted as ever by Youoregon1's Abstract Thursday challenge :-)