Sir Ringo Starr refused to sing “one of the saddest lines” T-Bone Burnett wrote for Long Long Road.
The Beatles legend has reunited with the iconic producer on the 85-year-old drummer’s new star-studded country album, and he admitted some of the lyrics were too heartbreaking to sing.
Reflecting on the track Why, Ringo told PEOPLE magazine: “One of the saddest lines was ‘Why do we die?’ I wouldn’t sing it! I made it ‘Why can’t we fly’ and then sent it back to him! [laughs]
“But that’s country, isn’t it? Like, you’re in the bar, the wife’s left, the dog’s dead and you don’t have any change for the jukebox.
“I got into [the genre] with Hank Williams and all those people. There was a sad aspect to country music.”
The genre is relatable to many people, and while the Yellow Submarine singer doesn’t think he’s “good at advice”, he had a tip for people struggling with life.
He said: “Play it a bit faster! I’m not all that good at advice, but move forward. That’s the thing.
“Move forward and move on — on down the road. That’s why this [album] is Long Long Road. I was reflecting on myself.
“This has been a long, long road with a few bad moments but lots of great moments. I’m blessed.”
Meanwhile, Ringo noted that whenever he’s presented a song to record, there needs to be a common thread.
He explained: “It has to be something I can feel. I mean, [for 2025 album Look Up], T-Bone gave me more than nine, but there were a few that just weren’t me.
“And on Long Long Road we did six of his — but he gave us 12! He’s always writing… or so he tells me.”
As for Ringo’s own songwriting, there is a little more optimism, which has come from his meditation.
Of the title track, he said: “I wrote that years ago. A thought comes into your head and we hang onto it.
“Suddenly we can’t sleep: I’ll do this, I’ll do that. What if this happens, what if that happens? You’re just laying there in hell!
“I was advised to let those thoughts come in but then let them go out. It’s meditation, which I got from the Maharishi. I do that pretty good now, after a lot of years.”