What does Octopus's Garden mean?

Beatles: Octopus's Garden Meaning

Album cover for Octopus's Garden album cover

Octopus's Garden Lyrics

I'd like to be under the sea
In an octopus' garden in the shade
He'd let us in, knows where we've been
In his octopus' garden in the shade

I'd ask my friends to come and see
An octopus' garden with me
I'd like to be under the sea
In an...

  1. anonymous
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    Mar 31st 2009 !⃝

    I believe that octopuses garden is about that place of safety
    and happiness we sometimes find in rare places, the message is basically: we are below trouble
    in a safe calm place with you happy and hidden with friends.

  2. devabandicoot
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    Jan 12th 2009 !⃝

    i think, the octopus's garde is a safe place during a time of war.(wwII maybe)
    we would be warm below the storm;
    Resting our head on the seabed. in an octopus's garden near the cave;
    we would sing and dance around because we know we cant be found;
    knowing they're happy and they're save

  3. anonymous
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    Jan 11th 2009 !⃝

    First find out what an octopus' garden is!! Then you'll be on track. The rest is self explainatory. I'm pretty sure Ringo would tell you the same thing.

  4. ny7yankee
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    Nov 20th 2008 !⃝

    I believe poster number one has the answer. I also believe it was a lot of nonsense too. This was probably written around the time Yellow Submarine was made, and some of their songs had a children's theme to them (Yellow Submarine, Octopus' Garden, Bungalow Bill).

  5. anonymous
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    Oct 24th 2008 !⃝

    LSD!! or even a slight touch of marijuana would give you these crazy lyrics!!

  6. jtg08
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    Oct 12th 2008 !⃝

    Yeah it does sound dirty but yes it's about safety from life, possibly in a drug haze but interpret it how you want it and Ringo still got the last laugh because as Ozzy Osbourne says: only I know what goes on in my head. Let it be.

  7. anonymous
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    Sep 20th 2008 !⃝

    Ok, so honestly when I first heard this song, I though it was really dirty. I don't know why, but I thought it was really perverted. Maybe it's because I have a dirty mind? I don't know. But that's what I think. :) No need to tell me that I'm wrong, I know I am. Haha

  8. anonymous
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    May 13th 2008 !⃝

    Poster 1 is right!

  9. JohnLennon
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    Aug 28th 2007 !⃝

    Yeah, I agree people think to hard on stuff like this if it comes from the person who wrote its mouth then there's no need to discuss this matter any longer. Sure others may think they know the real meaning, but it only matters what the Beatles meant by it not what some poser trying to be a Beatles fan thinks.

  10. anonymous
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    Mar 29th 2007 !⃝

    Actually, poster 2 is correct - this is almost word for word what was said by Ringo when asked where the song came from. Funny how people always try to read too much into a simple, cute song like this one.

  11. Dontpassmeby
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    Mar 18th 2007 !⃝

    This song was originally written by George Harrison, but Ringo changed almost every word. I agree with poster 1.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  12. anonymous
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    Oct 12th 2006 !⃝

    The idea for the song came about when Ringo was on a boating trip with his family in Sardinia in 1968. The boat's captain offered him an octopus lunch, but he turned it down. It was then that the captain began to tell him everything he knew about octopuses, and how they travel along the sea bed looking for shiny objects and stones with which to build gardens. Ringo once said that hearing about octopuses spending their days collecting shiny objects at the bottom of the sea was one of the happiest things he'd heard of. Wanting to write a song on it, ringo decided to write this song. Hence, it is not just a feel-good song, it has a meaning.

  13. anonymous
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    Aug 26th 2006 !⃝

    I feel this song is about finding peace, security and happiness far below the 'storms' of life. I think the octopus is mostly nonesense and merely a way to get across the metaphor of being under the storms, all cosy and warm, while the world rages above, unaffecting the sanctuary of his garden.

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