Music Blog

Title Track: Photograph

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Song Lyric Sunday
where we’re writing about a song
that became the title of an album.
Here’s how the theme inspired me.

© Observation Blogger

This week for Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “Title Track”. The challenge? To write about a song that became the title of an album.

After the Beatles officially disbanded in 1970, all four members began to strive for artistic identity as solo artists; Ringo Starr, however, began to carve out a different kind of sound. He opted for something a little poppier and a little lighter than the experimental rock of his former bandmates.

By 1973, Ringo already had two full-length solo albums that had made him a force in his own right. Ever the glue guy, for his third album …. Photograph …. Ringo brought all the Beatles together in the closest thing fans ever got to a Fab Four reunion. The lead single off the album was “Photograph”; the song went on to become one of Ringo’s most famous solo efforts, notable for his collaboration with George Harrison.

Ringo and George began writing “Photograph” on a luxury yacht in the South of France in May 1971.  Ringo had hired a yacht, the Marala, for the duration of the Cannes Film Festival after he and his wife attended Mick Jagger’s wedding in St Tropez. They were then joined in France by Harrison and his wife, Pattie Boyd, for the Monaco Grand Prix. Another guest on the Marala was Cilla Black …. singer and friend of the Beatles since the ‘60s. She recalled Ringo and George Harrison playing “Photograph” during an evening get-together, with guests on board contributing ideas for the lyrics. In her autobiography, Black says she had hoped to record “Photograph” for a single later in 1971, only to be told by Ringo: “No, it’s too bloody good. I’m having it myself!”

“Photograph” is a sentimental ode to the loss of a lover. In the lyrics, Ringo sings about being haunted by the memory of the relationship with only a photograph to remember his lover by. While that theme is a familiar one throughout pop music, the lyrics take a different turn as Ringo alludes to having no hope of the one-time lovers ever finding their way back to each other. Instead, he is resigned to their fate. 

This is “Photograph” by Ringo Starr


LYRICS

Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go
All I’ve got is a photograph
And I realize you’re not coming back anymore

I thought I’d make it
The day you went away
But I can’t make it
‘Til you come home again to stay

I can’t get used to living here
While my heart is broke, my tears, I cry for you
I want you here to have and hold
As the years go by, and we grow old and gray

Now you’re expecting me
To live without you
But that’s not something
That I’m looking forward to

I can’t get used to living here
While my heart is broke, my tears, I cry for you
I want you here to have and hold
As the years go by, and we grow old and gray

Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go
All I’ve got is a photograph
And I realize you’re not coming back anymore
Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go
But all I’ve got is a photograph
And I realize you’re not coming back anymore

Every time I see your face
It reminds me of the places we used to go

Writer(s): Richard Starkey, George Harrison

Though “Photograph” first grabbed audiences for its romantic balladry, it took on new meaning in light of Harrison’s death in 2001. The loss changed from a lover to a dearly loved old friend. Ringo performed the song for Concert for George in 2002 alongside Dhani Harrison, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and a stellar group of other rock greats. The words to the chorus became all the more poignant when attributed to Ringo and George Harrison’s 40 year friendship.

From Concert for George, this is “Photograph’ by Ringo Starr …. with a little help from his friends.

Title Track

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jim’s site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some tunes.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

63 thoughts on “Title Track: Photograph”

    1. The only Ringo solo album I have is one he released back in 1970 called Sentimental Journey. It’s an LP of big bad songs which his mother loved. I have to say, I think it’s a really good album if you like the big band sound; I almost went with that one today but I knew everyone would like hearing Photograph much more than Sentimental Journey! Thanks, Glyn.

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  7. Great pick, Nancy. I know I’ve said this before, while I love each of the former Beatles, I went from John to Paul to George before finally getting to Ringo as my favorite ex-Beatle – yep, the dude who hardly did any writing and also didn’t have the greatest voice compared to his bandmates.

    Not only was Ringo a pretty innovative drummer, but he was AND IS the perfect bandmate. If I were a famous musician and put together a band, I would want Ringo in my group. The man radiates positivity, making everyone feel around him great. Plus, even though he arguably played in the world’s most famous band, he never let that go to his head. Every good band deserves a Ringo!

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    1. Excellent comment, Christian. While the other guys (mostly P&J) were losing their heads, Ringo stayed focused. As I said earlier, he was the glue, always bringing the guys together. As far as I know, his only “drum solo” was a short burst in the Medley on Abbey Road. He’s a really good guy helping others shine. All he wanted was to play in a band and he surely surpassed that dream.

      Thanks!

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  9. Nancy, good choice, good write-up, and good video selection. Seeing the video of the Concert for George, sung by Ringo, a year after George’s death was powerful and a perfect conclusion to your post.

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  13. This really is a wonderful tune, Nancy great choice for today. Photographs preserve memories and history, freezing special moments in time, allowing us to revisit significant events, cherish loved ones, and relive experiences that might otherwise fade from our minds.

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    1. Beautiful comment, Jim; thanks very much. It’s been a long while since I featured a Beatle; it was time.

      Sixteen years ago my sister and I had a falling out and she stopped talking to me. When our mother died shortly after that, my sister did a spiteful thing in her anger at me; she buried most of our family photos with our mother, unknown to me. This senseless act didn’t punish only me, it punished my sister as well and now neither of us has our treasured family photos. So many regrettable acts are done in haste and spite. We have since reconciled and are in a good place but we never talk about the photos. It’s almost as thought my sister doesn’t recall what she did. Very strange.

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        1. Thanks, Jim. For a variety of reasons, we haven’t seen each other since the onset of covid. Bill and I are going to visit my sister and her husband on Thursday and we’re bringing our 5 year old granddaughter with us; my sister has never met Colette so it will be a special day. Fingers crossed for you and your brother, my friend.

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    1. Wonderful comments, Christine. I read Cilla Black’s autobiography and laughed out loud when I came to that line about Photograph.

      Gotta love Ringo! He’s a lovely man, all about peace and love, and would do just about anything to help out a friend.

      Thanks, Christine; I’m glad you enjoyed Ringo and Photograph.

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    1. Thanks very much, Clive! You’re right about Ringo. I’m sure you know Joe Walsh is his brother-in-law. I recently heard a podcast with Joe where he said he didn’t come from a warm, loving or stable home. The first time he went for family dinner at Ringo’s house was like “walking into heaven, or Disney Land!“. Joe figured that was just a one-off but it’s like that every time with a room full of love. He never knew a family could be that happy and loving. That’s Ringo! 😊

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      1. Yes, I’ve read that as a news story – I don’t do podcasts! When Ringo says his trademark ‘peace and love’ he really means it. And this was one of his better solo songs, too.

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  19. Whatba great choice Sis and by the most over shadowed man in the music businesses! What an amazing talent Ringo is and so quiet about it.

    I am so glad he kept it for himself because he made a great job of it! Cilla just didn’t have the voice for it.

    The song is great it works for lost , missing or just not there, family, parents, lovers and friends it is perfect probably his best.

    Here’s my photo of my lovely departed Sister and my self.

    Thank you Nancy 💜

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    1. Oh, Sis! You brought tears to my eyes. It’s so important to have these family ties. Thank you for sharing this photo. I love it! (See my comment to Jim about my family photos)

      Ringo is such a joyful man with a loving, welcoming heart. He is everything you said, and more.

      Thanks, Sis! I love your comment. ♡

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