Ringo Starr Shares Emotional Last Words With George Harrison

Ringo Starr has always cherished the deep connection he shared with his fellow former Beatle, George Harrison, a bond that endured until Harrison’s final moments. In the 2011 documentary “George Harrison: Living in the Material World,” Starr fondly recalled the emotional exchange that marked his friend’s last words to him, which were notably poignant. 

For fans of the legendary Beatles, it’s well-known that George Harrison succumbed to lung cancer in 2001. During this challenging period, Ringo Starr experienced his own personal turmoil, as his daughter Lee Starkey faced a serious health crisis, undergoing surgery in Boston to remove a brain tumor. Preceding this surgery and mere moments before Harrison’s passing, Starr visited his bedridden bandmate in Switzerland. “I had to explain, ‘Well, you know, I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go to Boston,'” Starr recounted (via Songsong). In a gesture that illustrated Harrison’s generous spirit, he offered, “Do you want me to come with you?” Starr, his voice wavering with emotion, reflected on this touching moment, admiring Harrison’s character and saying, “That’s the incredible side of George.” 

Fortunately, Lee, who is Ringo’s only daughter alongside his sons Zak and Jason Starkey, successfully recovered from her operation. Though she maintains a low public profile, Lee and her children reportedly enjoy a close relationship with Starr. In keeping Harrison’s legacy alive, Starr has actively supported Harrison’s daughter’s work, like her book of poetry titled “Came the Lightening: Twenty Poems for George,” while also sharing nostalgic memories on Instagram. Undoubtedly, Harrison would have been delighted with the public recognition Starr received, as exemplified when Harrison’s team celebrated Starr’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on their website in 2010. Though Harrison is no longer with us, his presence continues to resonate. 

Ringo Starr wasn’t the only member of the Beatles who shared meaningful moments with George Harrison in his final days. Paul McCartney, too, reminisced about the bittersweet times they spent together as Harrison’s life drew to a close. Just like with Starr, Harrison shared lighthearted musings about visiting places they would never get the chance to see. McCartney recollected a conversation with Harrison, who, worn out from moving between various clinics from Switzerland to New York, humorously requested, “Can we just stop in one place?” (via The Paul McCartney Project). In response, McCartney jokingly suggested, “We should go to Speke Hall,” to which Harrison enthusiastically responded, “Oh, that’d be great.” 

In another revealing interview with the Mirror, McCartney relived touching moments shared with Harrison and Starr. He humorously commented on a poignant visit, “The last time I met him he was very sick and I held his hand for four hours. … I kept thinking, ‘He’s going to smack me and tell me to f*** off.'” Harrison did no such thing, and McCartney, who lovingly regarded Harrison as a younger brother, fondly remarked, “What a lovely boy.”

Sadly, like Starr, McCartney had also been affected by cancer soon before Harrison died, with his first wife Linda tragically passing away, and he told the Mirror, “Here I was going through it all again with a mate of 50 years. He wasn’t my immediate family but almost.” Devastating as his passing was, it’s beautiful that both Starr and McCartney had such special memories with Harrison right towards the end.