10 Songs That Prove Ringo Star’s Solo Career Is Better Than You Think
3. Never Without You
Never Without You is Ringo’s tribute to old friend George Harrison after the latter succumbed to cancer. As this list has demonstrated George was Ringo’s perfect creative foil and their friendship survived the break up of The Beatles, the passing decades and even George having an affair with Ringo’s wife Maureen.
The various Beatles have always done a good job of paying tribute to each other on record, even during creatively uneven patches and Never Without You is no exception. “Times were right, overnight we headline news,” Ringo sings, “crazy days and reckless nights/limousines and bright spotlights/we were brothers through it all.” Ringo has never been afraid to mythologise his Beatle past in his lyrics but the specific desire to commemorate George lends this particular effort focus and emotional heft.
George’s best friend Eric Clapton provides a solo, using a slide guitar to replicate the sound that became George’s trademark. “Here Comes The Sun is about You” Ringo concludes in the chorus. It’s a lyric that is a bit gauche but somehow at the same time spot on.