It Don't Come Easy

Album: Ringo (1971)
Charted: 4 4
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Songfacts®:

  • Ringo is the only songwriter credited on this, but he had a lot of help from George Harrison, who was very generous in giving his buddy full writing credit. The track (less Ringo's vocal and horn parts) was already completed when Harrison gave it to him, and it included a scratch vocal by George.
  • If you listen carefully during the guitar solo, the backup singers throw in a "Hare Krishna," which was mixed way down. This is a nod to George Harrison's 1970 hit "My Sweet Lord," where he sings the mantra. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Barry Kesten - Bellmore, United States, for above 2
  • This was Ringo's first big hit as a solo artist (his cover of "Beaucoups of Blues" made #87 US a year earlier). From 1971-1975 he had a string of hits, including two #1s: "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen."
  • Peter Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger sang on the intro to this song ("It don't come easy, ya know it don't come easy"). Badfinger was signed to The Beatles' Apple Records, and helped out George Harrison's first solo album. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Scott - Carpentersville, IL
  • This song served Ringo well throughout his career. When he assembled his first "All Starr Band" in 1989 (featuring Dr. John, Clarence Clemmons, Joe Walsh and Billy Preston), this was the opening number on their tour. Throughout several subsequent incarnations of the band, "It Don't Come Easy" typically remained at the top of setlist when they performed live.
  • Ringo performed this song with his good friend, musical cohort, and brother-in-law Joe Walsh when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Comments: 31

  • Nick Hayes from Richmond, VaI heard somewhere along the line, that George Harrison assumed that Ringo would have a hard time starting up a solo career after the breakup of the Beatles, so he gave Ringo this song to help him get started. I don't know where I heard it, and I don't know if it's true, but I'd sure like to think it is. Regardless, it's a great song and I have enjoyed it for 50+ years.
  • Phil Z from Fairfield, CtReading all the comments and laughing... I was listening to he song today.. For the first time since the 1970's I wondered to myself who was playing lead guitar because the riffs sounded a lot like Harrison. I wasn't shocked to find out that it was. Harrison was a great musician unto himself. He was mostly obscured by John and Paul until about 1965. His song writing from then on was right in line with Lennon and McCartney.
  • Sue Bee from The Forest Actually, it was Eric who lifted some guitar styles and sounds from his buddy, George.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThe song was used to great effect in a Simpsons episode that guest-starred Starr.
  • Chris from Norman, OkLong live Ringo! Easily my favorite Beatle!
  • Esskayess from Dallas, TxI hadn't noticed the Krishna vocals before. GH sure liked plugging that bunch.
  • David from Mumbai, IndiaI agree with poster Alex -- this song was stolen from Eric Clapton's "Let It Rain," which was on Clapton's first solo album, not Derek and the Dominoes.
  • David from Woburn, MaI actually like Ringo's singing, it's really not that terrible. And this song shows exactly what Paul and John (and I hate to admit this for John) refused to see: that George was actually a damn good writer.
  • Rick from Belfast, MeI heard this song was never on an album....just a 45 rpm....as under-rated as Ringo was w/ the Beatles, I believe that his songs It dont't Come Easy/Photographs" are the best to come from any of the Beatles after the split!
  • Linc from Beaumont, TxFor some reason this reminds me of Gordon Lightfoot...
  • Rachel from North Jersey, NjI love the groove on this song. You just get swept up in it, kick back and enjoy.
  • Daxmonster from Saint Paul, MnPersonaly, I rate this song highly. Not only for melodic content, but for everyone that helped it become what it became. Give credit where credit is due; thanks Ringo, George Harrison, Tom Evans, Joey Molland, Mike Gibbons, Klaus Voorman, and Steven Stills. And this was never labeled a "superband"? BTW; I heard George Harrison's and Badfinger's draft of the song today on YouTube... So yes, it's out there.
  • Eric from Byron, NyAccording to Ringo himself (on the VH1 Storytellers record): "This next song is called It Don't Come Easy. I wrote this song with the one and only George Harrison. Let's hear it for George. We wrote it in the early 70s, and George was very much into spiritual things, and we're writing the song and we got to the last verse..."

    He then goes on to talk about the ending, when George said "God", then "Hare Krishna", but they settled on "Peace."

    The liner still only credits it to Starkey.
  • G. from Newport News, VaWas once told the song was a muscial response to the many who asked the uber-successful Beatles what's the secret to making it in the music industry. Seems rather apt.
  • Melinda from New York City, FlRingo is very good on this song and it says George Harrison helped write it. I thought it sounded like something he would say. I always listen to it when I get in a fight with my boyfriend, I don't know why, but it always calms my nerves.
  • Mary from Rodeo, CaThe back-up singers on this song are not just any back-up singers, but the band, Badfinger. Who were signed by the Beatles and had many hits of their own (Come and Get It, No Matter What, etc.).
  • Tiffany from San Diego, CaNo Mike, actually Ringo played the drums on this. February 18, 1970 at Studio Two at Abbey Road during the Sentimental Journey sessions when it was known as 'You Gotta Pay Your Dues'. There were three versions of the number recorded, one of which included Klaus Voormann on bass and George Harrison on guitar, with another having Eric Clapton on guitar and Gary Wright on piano. The version released as a single was recorded on March 8, 1970 and featured Klaus Voormann on basss, Steven Stills and George Harrison on guitars, Ringo on drums and Ron Cattermole on saophone and trumpet.
  • Alex from Ottawa, Canadatheres a good entry on wiki on this song. I always found this song sounded like 'let it rain' by derek and the d's , and everytime i sing it i always end up going'..you know it dont come easy. Let it rain, let it rain.'
  • Steve from Fenton, MoI'm a pretty big Beatles fan, but I've never heard that George helped write this song. What interview or book indicates so?
  • John from Kirkland, WaMany expected that after the Beatle Break-up, that either Paul or John would come out with a hit single. All were suprised when Ringo came out with the first post-Beatal hit - It Don't Come Easy
  • Tom from Mishawaka, InActually George Harrison recorded a version of this
    song but it was never released in which the backup singers sing Hare Krishna !!!!
  • Melissa from Fairborn, OhI love the song because it has a strange lead guitar and it has a slightly psychedelic touch.
  • Fyodor from Denver, CoIn the movie Let It Be you can see Harrison helping Ringo write Octopus's Garden. Guess George finally wised up and asked for credit on "Photograph"!
  • Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaRingo is a very underated musician!
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaThis may have been Ringo's response to the rest of the Beatles. As you may know, his opinion was the least important to the rest of them. Or Georges, since he wrote it.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI agree with you all. Ringo rocks! George Rocks! They made a great song that I didn't know was them.
  • Steve from Fenton, MoThe lead guitar riff in this song makes the song. This was a good enough song to have been a Beatles single in my opinion. Ringo gets full credit for writing the song and if he did, congratulations to him...a great song.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnOne of Ringo's great solo hits. Lete's not forget the backup singers in the opening who sand "it don't come easy. You know it don't come easy." If you know who there are, feel free to post.

    To Randy, from Kitchner, I ddn't know Imus was the announcer on Goodnight America.
  • John from Woburn, MaGreat song, has the White Album Beatle's taste to it with some 70's rock.
  • Randy from Kitchener, Ont., CanadaThis song was once used as the opening theme song for "Goodnight America," a late-night talk show hosted by Geraldo Rivera on ABC-TV in the mid-1970's. And the voice-over announcer was Don Imus, now known as the "I-Man."
  • Mike from Ames, IaGeorge Harrison plays a 12-string lead guitar, along with three of the members of Badfinger (a rhythmn, a bass, and a drumset) while Ringo sings.
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