"Never Without You" is a

tribute A tribute (; from Latin ''tributum'', "contribution") is wealth, often in kind, that a party gives to another as a sign of submission, allegiance or respect. Various ancient states exacted tribute from the rulers of land which the state conqu ...

song from

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

to his former

Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developme ...

bandmate

George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...

, who died on 29 November 2001. The recording appeared on Starr's 2003 album ''

Ringo Rama ''Ringo Rama'' is the 13th studio album by Ringo Starr, released in 2003. Background and recording As the follow-up to ''I Wanna Be Santa Claus'' (1999), it continues Starr's alliance with Mark Hudson as well as most of his collaborators fro ...

'', and was also released as a single.

History

"Never Without You" was co-written by Starr, Mark Hudson and Gary Nicholson. Starr commented: "Gary Nicholson started that song, and Mark brought it over and we realized we could tailor it. George was really on my mind then." In a 2003 interview, Starr said that he had remained closest to Harrison of all the former Beatles following the group's break-up in 1970, and that the song conveyed "how I miss him in my heart and in music". The recording includes a lead guitar part by Harrison's friend

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

. Starr said of Clapton's contribution: "Eric's on two tracks on the album 'Ringo Rama'' but I really wanted him on this song because George loved Eric and Eric loved George." Clapton uses Harrison's favourite technique, the

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos tha ...

, to achieve the characteristic sound of a song of the deceased former Beatle.

Lyrics

The heartfelt lyrics of "Never Without You" are sometimes misquoted, especially the following lines, which refer to the titles of two of Harrison's songs from the Beatles' ''

Abbey Road ''Abbey Road'' is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It is the last album the group started recording, although ''Let It Be'' was the last album completed before the band's break-up in April 1970. It was mostly re ...

'' and Harrison's ''

All Things Must Pass ''All Things Must Pass'' is the third studio album by English rock musician George Harrison. Released as a triple album in November 1970, it was Harrison's first solo work after the break-up of the Beatles in April that year. It includes the h ...

'' albums, respectively: * "

Here Comes the Sun "Here Comes the Sun" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album ''Abbey Road''. It was written by George Harrison and is one of his best-known compositions. Harrison wrote the song in early 1969 at the country house o ...

" is about you * " I Dig Love" is about you Starr uses the

riff A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...

-driven melody from Harrison's song "

What Is Life "What Is Life" is a song by English rock musician George Harrison from his 1970 triple album ''All Things Must Pass''. In many countries, it was issued as the second single (music), single from the album, in February 1971, becoming a top-ten ...

" in the middle of "Never Without You", right before he makes reference to "

". The lyrics also mention Harrison's composition "

Within You Without You "Within You Without You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. Written by lead guitarist George Harrison, it was his second composition in the Indian classical style, af ...

" from the Beatles' ''

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composi ...

'' album. After the first chorus, the lyric goes “Here today, not alone” which is a reference to the 1982

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...

song “ Here Today”, which was written as a tribute to former bandmate

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

after he was murdered.

References

External links

Music Video of "Never Without You"
{{Ringo Starr Ringo Starr songs 2003 singles Songs written by Ringo Starr Commemoration songs Songs written by Mark Hudson (musician) Music published by Startling Music Songs written by Gary Nicholson 2002 songs