When Starr temporarily left The Beatles on 22nd August 1968 (see Back In The USSR), he took his family on holiday to Sardinia where, chatting with a fisherman, he was fascinated to learn that octopuses roam seabed picking up stones and shiny objects with which they build gardens. After the stormy air of Abbey Road, the idea of living under the sea must have held a certain attraction, and Starr forthwith set about writting this, his second song. A commonplace tune in country and western style, it was fondly welcomed back to Abbey Road along with its author some days later, and worked on a little by Starr and Harrison during the 'Get Back' sessions. With a spirited guitar solo and Starr's usual vocal brand of forlorn good cheer, Octopus's Garden glides by without drawing attention to itself - a poor man's Yellow Submarine.

Anthology notes:

In August 1968, two months after recording his first solo song composition Don't Pass Me By, Ringo took a break from the White Album sessions and, while on holiday, was inspired to begin writing a second number, Octopus's Garden. The piece developed over the next few months and, in April 1969, The Beatles recorded the basic track for Abbey Road. Knowing that he would re-record his vocal as an overdub, Ringo sang a guide vocal while playing the drums, with Paul contributing bass and John and George guitars. The master, Take 32, was brimful of added sound effects and backing vocals, but this Anthology recording is Take 2, concluding with a humorously ironic statement from the end of Take 8.