In one of the most emotional moments captured in Martin Scorsese’s documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Ringo Starr opens up about his final visit with George Harrison — and the last, tender words spoken between two Beatles who had shared a lifetime of music, friendship, and fame.
As Harrison lay dying in Switzerland in late November 2001, weakened from his battle with cancer, Ringo flew in to say goodbye. Starr recalled that he was on his way to Boston, where his daughter was undergoing surgery, and he made a detour to be with George, who had only days to live.
In the footage, Ringo’s voice breaks as he recounts the moment:
“I was going to Boston, ‘cause my daughter had a brain tumour. And I said, ‘Well, I’ve got to go to Boston.’ And he just said, ‘Do you want me to come with you?’”
It was a gesture so purely selfless, filled with love and concern — a dying man offering to be by his friend’s side in a time of need, even when he himself had little time left. The moment stunned Ringo and remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful exchanges in Beatles history.
George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, at the age of 58. But in that final exchange with Ringo, he reminded the world of the quiet depth of his spirit — loving, giving, and always putting friendship before everything else.
