Ringo STARR


Ringo

(1973)




1. I'm The Greatest 3'21
(John Lennon)
2. Have You Seen My Baby ? 3'45
(Randy Newman)
3. Photograph 3'57
(Richard Starkey / George Harrison)
4. Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond) 2'45
(George Harrison)
5. You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful And You're Mine) 2'49
({Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
6. Oh, My My 4'17
(Vini Poncia / Richard Starkey)
7. Step Lightly 3'15
(Richard Starkey)
8. Six O'Clock 4'09
(Paul McCartney)
9. Devil Woman 3'50
(Richard Starkey / Vini Poncia)
10. You And Me (Babe) 5'00
(George Harrison)

Bonus Tracks


11. It Don't Come Easy 3'02
(Richard Starkey)
STARTLING MUSIC Ltd. (BMI)
12. Early 1970 2'21
(Richard Starkey)
STARTLING MUSIC Ltd. (BMI)
13. Down And Out 3'02
(Richard Starkey)
STARTLING MUSIC Ltd. (BMI)

Total Time: 45:33


  • Ringo Starr - Drums, Lead Vocals, Percussion (4), Dancing Feet (7)
  • George Harrison - Guitars (1, 4, 10), 12-String Acoustic Guitar (3), Harmony Vocals (3), Backing Vocals (5)
  • John Lennon - Piano (1), Harmony Vocal (1)
  • Paul McCartney - Kazoo Solo (5), Synthesizer (8), Piano (8), Mouth Sax Solo (5), Backing Vocals (8), String and Flute Arrangements (8)
  • Steve Cropper - Electric Guitar (7)
  • Vini Poncia - Acoustic Guitar (3, 8, 10), Percussion (8), Backing Vocals (5)
  • Robbie Robertson - Guitar (4)
  • Levon Helm - Mandolin (4)
  • Billy Preston - Organ (1)
  • James Booker - Piano (2)
  • Marc Bolan - Guitar (2)
  • Jimmy Calvert - Acoustic Guitar (3), Guitar (6, 9)
  • David Bromberg - Banjo (4), Fiddle (4)
  • Tom Hensley - Piano (6, 9)
  • Nicky Hopkins - Piano (3, 5), Electric Piano (10)
  • Garth Hudson - Accordion (4)
  • Tom Scott - Saxophone Solo (6), Horns (9)
  • Chuck Findley - Horns (9)
  • Bobby Keyes - Tenor Saxophone Solo (3)
  • Rick Danko - Fiddle (4)
  • Klaus Voormann - Bass (1-3, 7-9), Upright Bass (4), Backing Vocals (9)
  • Jim Keltner - Drums (1-3, 5-8)
  • Lon Van Eaton - Percussion (3)
  • Derrek Van Eaton - Percussion (3)
  • Milt Holland - Marimba (8), Percussion (9)
  • Linda McCartney - Backing Vocals(8)
  • Harry Nilsson - Background Vocals (5)
  • Merry Clayton - Background Vocals (6)
  • Martha Reeves - Background Vocals (6)
  • Richard Perry - Background Vocals (9)

    Produced by Richard Perry
    Engineered by Bill Schnee
    Doug Sax - Mastering
    Jim Horn - Horns Arrangements (6)
    Tom Scott - Horns Arrangements (2, 6, 9, 10)
    Jack Nitzche - Orchestra and Chorus Arrangements (3), String Arrangement (10)
    Judy Szekely - Tape Operator
    Larry Walsh - Remastering
    Staffan Olander - Liner Notes
    Alan Pariser - Package Coordinator
    Barry Feinstein - Art Direction, Photography
    Cover Painting by Tim Bruckner
    Lithographs by Klaus Voormann

    Recorded: March - July, 1973





    1. I'm The Greatest

      When i was a little boy,
      Way back home in liverpool,
      My mama told me, i was great.

      Then when i was a teenager,
      I knew that i had got something going,
      All my friends told me i was great.

      And now i'm a man,
      A woman took me by the hand,
      And you know what she told me...i was great.

      I was in the greatest show on earth,
      For what it was worth.
      Now i'm only thirty-two;
      And all i wanna do, is boogaloo!

      Hey !

      I looked in the mirror,
      I saw my wife and kids,
      And you know what they told me...i was great.

      Yes, my name is billy shears,
      You know it has been for so many years.
      Now i'm only thirty-two;
      And all i wanna do, is boogaloo!

      Hey, hey, hey, ( hey, hey, hey ) yeah !

      ( Hey, hey, hey )

      I'm the greatest and you better believe it, baby!

      Ho! ho! ho!

      I'm gonna be the greatest in this world, (ho!)
      In the next world and in any world! (hey!)

      Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright,
      Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, alright.

      Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right !

    2. Have You Seen My Baby ?

      Have you seen my baby on the avenue?
      You know she's driving me crazy
      With the funny things she do.
      I seen her with the milkman,
      Ridin' down the street,
      When you're through with my baby, milkman,
      Send her home to me.

      Hold on, hold on, hold on,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on.
      You know it's been so long
      Since she has been gone,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on.

      I seen her with the gypsies, dancin' in the woods,
      She's always been unfaithful to me,
      She's never been good.
      I said, "please, don't talk to strangers, baby."
      But she always do.
      She said, "i talk to strangers if i want to
      'cause i'm a stranger too."

      Hold on, hold on, hold on,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on.
      You know it's been so long
      Since she has been gone,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on.

      Alright!

      Hold on, hold on, hold on,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on.
      You know it's been so long
      Since she has been gone,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on,
      Hold on, hold on, hold on.

      Bara-oompah-oompah-pah-pah !

    3. Photograph

      Ev'ry time i see your face,
      It reminds me of the places we used to go.
      But all i got is a photograph
      And i realise you're not coming back anymore.

      I thought i?d make it the day you went away,
      But i can't make it
      Till you come home again to stay-yi-yay-yi-yay.

      I can't get used to living here,
      While my heart is broke, my tears i cried for you.
      I want you here to have and hold,
      As the years go by and we grow old and grey.

      Now you're expecting me to live without you,
      But that's not something that i'm looking forward to.

      I can't get used to living here,
      While my heart is broke, my tears i cried for you.
      I want you here to have and hold,
      As the years go by and we grow old and grey.

      Ev'ry time i see your face,
      It reminds me of the places we used to go.
      But all i got is a photograph
      And i realise you're not coming back anymore.

      Ev'ry time i see your face,
      It reminds me of the places we used to go.
      But all i got is a photograph
      And i realise you're not coming back anymore.

      Ev'ry time i see your face,
      It reminds me of the places we used to go.
      But all i got is a photograph
      And i realise you're not.

    4. Sunshine Life For Me ( Sail Away Raymond )

      Uh-hoo !

      It's a sunshine life for me,
      If i could get away from this cloud over me,
      Seems to just follow me around.

      It's a sunshine life for me,
      If i could get away from this cloud over me,
      Seems to just follow me around.

      There's a good life had for free,
      When you're out in the country.
      That's what i could use,
      If i could get away there soon.

      It's a sunshine life for me,
      If i could get away from this cloud over me,
      Seems to just follow me around.

      There's a good life had at sea,
      If you're not in the navy.
      That's the life for you,
      Sail away, raymond, sail away.

      Ho !

      Ah !

      Now most folks just bore me,
      Always imposing
      And i?d rather meet a tree
      Somewhere out in the cornfield.

      And it's a sunshine...

      It's a sunshine life for me,
      If i could get away from this cloud over me,
      Seems to just follow me around.

      It's a sunshine life for me,
      If i could get away from this cloud over me,
      Seems to just follow me around.

      It's a sunshine life for me,
      If i could get away from this cloud over me,
      Seems to just follow me around.

      And it's a sunshine,
      I said, sunshine,
      It's a sunshine.

      Ha ! ha ! ha ! hoo !

    5. You're Sixteen ( You're Beautiful And You're Mine )

      Ho !

      You come on like a dream, peaches and cream,
      Lips like strawberry wine.
      You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're mine. (mine, all mine)

      You're all ribbons and curls, ooh, what a girl,
      Eyes that sparkle and shine.
      You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're mine.
      ( Mine, all mine, mine, mine )

      You're my baby, you're my pet,
      We fell in love on the night we met.
      You touched my hand, my heart went pop,
      Ooh, when we kissed, i could not stop.

      You walked out of my dreams, into my arms,
      Now you're my angel divine.
      You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.

      You're my baby, you're my pet,
      We fell in love on the night we met.
      You touched my hand, my heart went pop,
      Ooh, when we kissed, i could not stop.

      You walked out of my dreams, into my car,
      Now you're my angel divine.
      You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.

      You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.

      You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.

      All mine, all mine, all mine.

      All mine, all mine, all mine.

      All mine, all mine, all mine, all mine, but i do.

      You are mine!

      What shall we do with the drunken sailor?
      What shall we do with the drunken sailor ?

    6. Oh, My My

      One, two, three, four!

      I phoned up my doctor to see what's the matter,
      He said, "come on over."
      I said, "do i have to?"
      My knees started shakin', my wrist started achin'
      When my doctor said to me:

      "Oh my my, oh my my, can you boogie, can you slide?
      Oh my my, oh my my, you can boogie if you try.
      Oh my my, oh my my, it's guaranteed to keep you alive."

      The head nurse she blew in, just like a tornado,
      When they started dancin', i jumped off the table.
      I felt myself healin' and as i was leavin',
      This is what they said to me:

      "Oh my my, oh my my, can you boogie, can you slide?
      Oh my my, oh my my, you can boogie if you try.
      Oh my my, oh my my, it's guaranteed to keep you alive."

      ( Oh - yeah hey !
      All right !
      Oh !
      Yeah ! yeah !
      Yeah! yeah ! yeah !
      All right now !
      Ooh ! )

      Now if you should slow down and you're feelin' low down,
      Don't call up your doctor, just grab you a partner.
      It's what you've been missin', i've got your prescription,
      That boogie woogie remedy.

      "Oh my my, oh my my, you can boogie, you can slide?
      Oh my my, oh my my, we can boogie 'til we die.
      Oh my my, oh my my, it's guaranteed to keep you alive, alright."

      "Oh my my, oh my my, watch me boogie, watch me slide,
      Oh my my, ( ow ! ) oh my my, born to boogie, born to slide. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my, oo-wee, boogie, oo-wee, aye. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my, play that boogie, play that slide. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my, love that boogie, love that slide. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my, oh, my boogie, oh, my slide. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my, come on, baby, come on now. (can you boogie)
      Oh my my, oh my my, come on, baby, i'm willing to die. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my, come on, baby, come on, try. (can you boogie?)
      Oh my my, oh my my."

    7. Step Lightly

      Step lightly,
      You're movin' too fast.
      Take your time, boy,
      Soon the pain will pass.
      In the meantime,
      You gotta find yourself a love
      That's gonna last.

      Step lightly,
      Things will work out fine.
      Nice and easy,
      All it takes is time.
      Please, believe me,
      I wish this song was yours instead of mine.

      Now don't be angry at what i'm telling you,
      I'd be happy if you would see it too.
      But in the meantime,
      Find yourself a love that's true to you.

      ( Ah - )
      ( Sha la la )

      But in the meantime, (meantime)
      Find yourself a love that's gonna last.

      Now i told you,
      Things don't work out fast,
      Gotta go now,
      Let's forget the past.
      But in the meantime, (in the meantime)
      You gotta find yourself a love that's gonna last.
      You gotta find yourself a love that's gonna last.
      You gotta find yourself a love that's gonna last.

      ( In the meantime )
      You gotta find a love that last.
      ( In the meantime )
      You gotta find a love that last.

    8. Six O'Clock

      Six o'clock in the morning, you've just gone to sleep,
      I wipe a tear from my eye.
      It can't be the kind of company i keep,
      That keeps me askin', you keep me askin',
      You keep me wond'rin' why.

      I don't treat you like i'd like to treat you,
      Ev'ry planet in the sky is in your eyes,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i should.

      It could be the comfort going to my head,
      That makes me wanna dream of you.
      But while you're sleeping softly in your bed,
      I wanna tell you, i'd like to tell you,
      I'd love to tell you too.

      I ( i ) don't ( don't ) treat ( treat ) you ( you )
      Like i'd like to treat you,
      Ev'ry diamond in the sky is in your eyes,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i should.

      I know you would say, you love my way,
      It's good enough for you.
      But i know for sure, i could do more, (more) more. (more)

      I want to tell you, i'd like to tell you,
      I'd love to tell you too.

      I ( i ) don't ( don't ) treat ( treat ) you ( you )
      Like i'd like to treat you,
      Ev'ry diamond in the sky is in your eyes,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i should.

      But i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i should.

      ( Uh - )
      But i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i should.

      ( Uh-uh-uh )
      But i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i,
      No, i don't treat you like i could.

      Hit it!
      Uh, uh,
      A-boom-achaca !

      Well, i don't treat you like i,
      Well, i don't treat you like i,
      Well, i don't treat you like i do.
      ( Hey, hey, hey, yeah )

      Well, i don't treat you like i,
      Well, i don't treat you like i,
      Well, i don't treat you like i. (oh, oh, oh)

      Alright!

      Well, i don't treat you like i,
      Well, i don't treat you like i,
      Well, i don't treat you like i. (yeah, yeah)

      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i. (yeah)

      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i.

      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i. (no, i don't treat you)

      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i,
      But i don't treat you like i.

    9. Devil Woman

      Ev'rytime i see you walkin' down the street,
      I say, you're the kind of woman i just gotta meet.
      You look so good and you look so fine
      And one of these days i'm gonna make you mine.

      Your eyes are green and your legs are long,
      And if i'm gonna get you, well, i gotta be strong.
      But you're like the devil with horns in your head,
      The only way i'll get you is to get you in bed.

      Devil woman, you're like a stranger to me.
      Devil woman, this ain't the way it should be.

      Ev'rytime i see you in the neighbourhood,
      I say, you're the kind of woman that makes me feel good.
      I wanna beat you up then i wanna be kind,
      And one of these days i'm gonna make you mine.

      Sexy sadie, you look like the devil to me.
      Devil woman, that's not the way it should be.

      Yeah !

      Devil woman, you're like a stranger to me.
      Devil woman, this ain't the way it should be.

      Early in the mornin' when the sun is hot,
      All i do is think about the things you got.
      But you're like the devil with horns in your head,
      The only way i'll get you is to get you in bed.

      Devil woman, you're like an angel to me.
      Devil woman, this ain't the way it should be.

      Yeah.

      Ev'rytime i see you walkin' down the street,
      I say, you're the kind of woman i just gotta meet.
      But you're like the devil with horns in your head,
      The only way i'll get you is to get you in bed.

      But you're like the devil with horns in your head,
      The only way i'll get you is to get you in bed.

      You look like the devil with horns in your head,
      The only way i'll get you is to get you in bed.

      I said, you look like the devil.

    10. You And Me (Babe)

      For you and me, babe, it's time that we part,
      And between you, babe, i gave you my heart,
      For these few moments,
      I wish we could start at the top again.

      For me and you, babe, it's the end of our date,
      Me and the band, babe, all thought it was great,
      To entertain you,
      But it's getting late and it's time to leave.

      Now i wanna tell you the pleasure really was mine.
      Yes, i had a good time, singing and drinking some wine.
      And when the sun sets in the sky
      And you close your weary eyes,
      I'll be in some night-club, getting high, that's no lie.

      Now you and me, babe, we may meet again,
      And in the meanwhile, stay out of the rain.
      But keep your nose dry
      And give as a smile if you liked the show.

      Now i wanna tell you the pleasure really was mine.
      Yes, i had a good time, singing and drinking some wine.
      Though i may not be in your town,
      You know that i can still be found
      Right here on this record, spinning 'round, with the sounds.

      For you and me, dave, they turned out the lights,
      The violins stayed to wish you good night.
      Me and the band-aid are reaching the end, so it's off we go.

      Goodbye, ev'rybody !

      Come on, lads, play it for me, boys, there we are.

      "Well, it's the end of the night and i?d just like to say thank you to ev'ryone involved
      In this piece of plastic we're making.
      Good, old Jim Keltner, Klaus Voorman, Nicky Hopkins, George Harrison and John
      Lennon, Paul McCartney.
      Richard Perry, who's producing this masterpiece, Bill Schnee, ever smiling, ever
      Loving, Vini Poncideo and all his other friends and ev'rybody else who joined in and
      Helped us on this wonderful record.
      So it's a big good night from your friends and mine, Ringo Starr.

    11. It Don't Come Easy

      It don't come easy,
      You know it don't come easy.

      It don't come easy,
      You know it don't come easy.

      Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues,
      And you know it don't come easy.
      You don't have to shout or leap about,
      You can even play them easy.

      Forget about the past and all your sorrows,
      The future won't last,
      It will soon be over tomorrow.

      I don't ask for much, i only want your trust,
      And you know it don't come easy.
      And this love of mine keeps growing all the time,
      And you know it just ain't easy.

      Open up your heart, let's come together,
      Use a little love
      And we will make it work out better.

      ( Ah - )
      ( Ah - )
      ( Ooh-ooh )
      ( Ah-ooh-ooh )

      Got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues,
      And you know it don't come easy.
      You don't have to shout or leap about,
      You can even play them easy.

      Peace, remember peace is how we make it,
      Here within your reach
      If you're big enough to take it.

      I don't ask for much, i only want your trust,
      And you know it don't come easy.
      And this love of mine keeps growing all the time,
      And you know it don't come easy.

    12. Early 1970

      Lives on a farm, got plenty of charm, beep, beep.
      He's got no cows but he's sure got a whole lotta sheep.
      And brand new wife and a family,
      And when he comes to town,
      I wonder if he'll play with me.

      Laying in bed, watching tv, cookie!
      With his mama by his side, she's japanese.
      They scream and they cried, now they're free,
      And when he comes to town,
      I know he's gonna play with me.

      He's a long-haired, cross-legged guitar picker, um-um.
      With his long-legged lady in the garden picking daisies for his soup.
      A forty acre house he doesn't see,
      'cause he's always in town
      Playing for you with me.

      I play guitar, a - d - e.
      I don't play bass 'cause that's too hard for me.
      I play the piano if it's in c.
      And when i go to town i wanna see all three,
      And when i go to town i wanna see all three,
      And when i go to town i wanna see all three.

    13. Down And Out

      Looked at the sky, what did i see?
      I saw someone looking at me.
      And i'm down and out, down and out,
      Well, i'm down, so down, down and out.

      Looked in the fire, what did i see?
      I saw someone looking at me.
      And i'm down and out, down and out,
      Well, i'm down, so down, down and out.

      Alright, gary!

      Looked in the fridge, what did i see?
      I saw someone looking at me.
      And i'm down and out, down and out,
      Well, i'm down, so down, yeah, down and out.

      Looked at the sky, what did i see?
      I saw someone looking at me.
      And i'm down and out, down and out,
      Well, i'm down, so down, down and out.

      Looked in the fire, what did i see?
      I saw someone looking at me.
      And i'm down and out, down and out,
      Well, i'm down, so down, down and out,
      Well, i'm down, so down, down and out.