The Story Behind the Only Song Paul McCartney Wrote with Ringo Starr

As every Beatles fan knows, the songwriting power in the band came from John Lennon and Paul McCartney. That’s not to say the other two members didn’t pen a few stellar songs themselves. But it was Lennon and McCartney that got the most cuts and they didn’t often differ to George Harrison or Ringo Starr for songwriting sessions.

In fact, it wasn’t until after the Beatles called it quits that McCartney and Starr ever hopped in the writers room together as a pair. Learn more about the only song this duo ever wrote together, below.

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The Story Behind the Only Song Paul McCartney Wrote with Ringo Starr

As McCartney was gearing up to work on his solo album Flaming Pie, he decided to tap Starr for some help in the songwriting department. Their collaboration started as little more than a jam session. Starr played on one of McCartney’s other songs from the project. After that was completed, McCartney wanted to keep his old bandmate around a little while longer.

“I wanted more fun,” McCartney once said. “So we jammed. The actor’s worst dream is being on stage not knowing what play he’s in – doing this vocal was like that, you can go anywhere. You’ve got to clear your mind – and play bass – let your head to and ad-lib it all.”

The pair eventually landed on the song “Really Love You.” Credited to McCartney and Starkey, the song was a pseudo Beatles reunion.

“He had a few ideas for a jam, playing his bass,” Starr once said. “I love to play drums when Paul’s playing bass – he’s such a fine player, still the most melodic. We were just jamming and he was shouting these words, and it turned into a song. Jeff Lynne was playing a little plunky guitar too – it was just the three of us and it turned out fine, just finding a pattern and playing it – it’s organic, it grows. It was a fun day and I like to hang out with Paul and Linda.”

Revisit the track, below.

Ringo Starr (Photo by Scott Robert Ritchie)