(Friday, April 9, 1971) — The single “It Don’t Come Easy“/”Early 1970” by Ringo Starr was released today in the UK (Apr. 16, 1971 in the U.S.).

It was Starr’s first rock single since The Beatles broke-up. The track was produced by George Harrison, Starr’s former Beatles bandmate, who also helped write the song, although only Starr is credited.

“Early 1970” was inspired by the break-up of the Beatles and documents Starr’s relationship with his former bandmates, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

The lyrics to the verses comment in turn on each of the ex-Beatles’ personal lives and the likelihood of each of them making music with Starr again; in the final verse, Starr acknowledges his musical limitations before expressing the hope that all the former Beatles will play together in the future.