What Goes On

Credited as "Lennon-McCartney-Starkey," What Goes On is mainly a Lennon composition from 1957, the Quarrymen days in Liverpool. Paul added new lyrics for verses two and three. The song was brought out to give Ringo a vocal lead on at least one track of the Rubber Soul album, particularly because he had become such a favorite of US audiences. Ringo added "about 5 words" to the lyrics, and for that received song credit under his real last name. The song is a strong rock-a-billy tune in the Carl Perkins tradition. Because the band knew the song so well, it was recorded in just one take.