Ringo Starr names the one song that ‘ruined his career’ from The Beatles’ discography

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A song given to legendary drummer Ringo Starr “ruined his career” according to The Beatles member.

While the Fab Four has plenty of incredible songs in their discography, one track performed by Starr and written by John Lennon is not looked on all too fondly by the veteran drummer. The song in question features Starr on lead vocals and no other members of The Beatles. Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison are absent from the song Starr would later say “ruined his career”. Recording the White Album had already proved taxing on The Beatles’ relationships, but it would appear there was a breaking point for Starr, who recorded the song but was unhappy about doing so as it went against the image he wanted as a musician.

He recalled: “They ruined my whole career when they gave me Good Night. I wanted to be a rocker. A lot of it was John or whoever wrote it saying ‘Well, you do this one Ringo.’ They’d written it and they felt I could present that in a great way which was a nice feeling.”

Though Starr believes Good Night had the potential to “ruin” his career, he went on to find success outside of The Beatles. The veteran musician would tour continually and released twenty-one studio albums including Goodnight Vienna and Look Up.

Fans of the White Album claimed Starr was wrong to suggest Good Night ruined his career. The lullaby written for Lennon’s son, Julian, served as the closing track to the album. One user wrote: “Ringo, your version of Good Night is fantastic. Ending the White Album with it is perfect.”

Another wrote: “I love the song Goodnight. I’m glad John gave it to Ringo to sing.” A third added: “Ringo your voice is the voice of a friend, someone you trust. That’s why it fits so well.”

Starr did have some words of thanks for his fellow bandmates, though, and says two songs he had made with the group keep him touring. He added: “I thank Paul you know because I’m on tour because I do A Little Help from My Friends, and Yellow Submarine. So those two songs have given me a career.”

In a separate interview with The Rolling Stones, Starr again joked that Good Night had ruined his career. He shared: “I used to be a rock singer, and they’d always give me those soppy songs. And so they ruined my whole career!”

While Good Night may be a soppy number, it counters the “creepy” feeling picked up on by some fans of the White Album. Some listeners have suggested the album has a sinister feeling underscoring it.

Several Reddit users said the album does give off a sinister feeling, with one user suggesting it provides the album some crucial context. One wrote: “Absolutely. There are so many moods on the album that they all amplify each other, and the creepy songs make the happy and whimsical ones feel unsettling in the context of the whole album.