The Beatles’ first recorded composition by Ringo Starr, “Don’t Pass Me By” was written several years before its 1968 release on the eponymous White Album.
The first time the band mentioned “Don’t Pass Me By” was on July 14, 1964, during an introduction to “And I Love Her” for the first edition of the BBC radio music series Top Gear.
Unlike the rest of his bandmates in The Beatles, Ringo Starr stood out more for his interpretation than for his musical creation. However, the drummer had his moments where he could shine.
Ringo was asked if he had any plans to write songs and replied that he had written one. Paul McCartney then chimed in singing “Don’t pass me by, don’t make me cry, don’t make me sad”.
However it took nearly 4 years before they recorded it on an album.
I wrote ‘Don’t Pass Me By’ when I was sitting at home” recalled Ringo Starr on Anthology. “I only play three chords on the guitar and three on the piano. I was fiddling around on the piano – just banging away – and then, if a melody comes along and some words, I have to go on.”
“That’s how it happened: I was sitting alone at home and ‘Don’t Pass Me By’ came on,” recounted Ringo Starr. “We played it with a country attitude. It was great to be able to write my first song, one that I had written. It was a very exciting moment for me and everyone was very helpful, and recording that crazy fiddle player was a thrilling moment” he added.
That violinist was Jack Fallon, who provided the counter-melodies to Ringo’s composition. Paul McCartney played piano, bass and, surprisingly, drums. While Ringo, in addition to singing, played piano and bells.
The Beatles – Newquay, Cornwall in 1967
