The idea of “Octopus’s Garden” came to Ringo Starr when he was on comedian Peter Sellers' boat in Sardinia in 1968, on holiday with his family after having temporarily leaving The Beatles during their recording of the “White Album” due to tensions in the group. Starr ordered fish and chips, but the waiter mistakenly gave him squid, a first time for him, and he said of it, “It was okay. A bit rubbery. Tasted like chicken.” The captain went on to tell Starr about how octopuses travel along the seabed picking up stones and other shiny objects and create gardens with them.

George Harrison said of the song, which he helped write, “‘Octopus’s Garden’ is Ringo’s song. It’s only the second song Ringo has ever written, mind you, and it’s lovely”. Paul McCartney and George Harrison supply backup vocals and the bubble sounds were created by Harrison, who blew them into a glass of milk using a straw.