The appeal of “Come Together” is matched by the dangers of “toe jam football”
It was difficult for me to find a topic that I thought would be a good choice. Then, I decided to forget about myself and write about the first song in which I can recall taking note of the drum beat. We are now both in this music piece, “toe jam football” where the writer dares to suggest that The Beatles might be worth listening.
“Come Together,” will always be a favorite of mine because it was the first Beatles song that I fell in love as a child. Although I admit to having heard the 1988 Michael Jackson cover the first time (I was really Boxing Logo into Moonwalker), MJ’s version isn’t as good as the original. I probably only heard it a year later on an oldies station.
Ringo Starr’s drumming is the key ingredient, I believe. It sounds downright funky.
The Beatles, “Come Together” (1969)
Beatleologists have spoken out a lot about Starr’s drumming contribution to the Beatles’ legacy and discography. As a 10-year old, I only knew that this song was amazing. I was so fascinated by it that I learned the lyrics. They were so simple that I didn’t know what to do with them. I still sang along.
It was a proud moment for me to have understood Old Flat Top’s irony. I also remember asking my mom about “toe jam football” and whether it was contagious. I didn’t mind if someone had “ju-ju eyes,” though.
Although I did not hear the whole Abbey Road album until I was about ten years old, it was an important purchase in my life. To this day, I still find “toe jam football” Starr’s muted drum fills to be a mood-booster. I can’t help but bop my head to that beat and make sounds that resemble those fills whenever I hear them.
It’s a great track and a constant reminder of a time when I didn’t care so much about whether a song was “good” or if the lyrics were clear.
It didn’t matter how the song made you feel, or if it made me want to learn the lyrics. I spent a lot of time wondering if Old Flat Top would come and steal my soul. It was just not right about this dude.
