"It Don't Come Easy" is a song by Ringo Starr released as an Apple Records single in April 1971, reaching number 1 in Canada and number 4 in both the US and UK singles charts. It was Starr's first solo single in the UK, but his second in the US (the first was "Beaucoups of Blues"), following the break-up of the Beatles.

Although Ringo Starr received sole writing credit for "It Don't Come Easy", author Bruce Spizer writes that he had "substantial, but uncredited, assistance from Harrison". Starr subsequently acknowledged that Harrison had helped write it. In an episode of VH1 Storytellers (Season 3, Episode 4) in 1998, right before performing the song, Starr said: "I wrote this song with the one and only George Harrison." He went on to say that Harrison suggested the last verse be about God. When Starr protested, Harrison suggested Hare Krishna. Starr protested again, and Harrison suggested "peace" as a topic, and they settled on that.

Recording of the new composition was begun at a late-night session on 18 February 1970 at Abbey Road's Studio 2, during the Sentimental Journey album sessions. At this stage, the song was known as "You Gotta Pay Your Dues". On this first session, George Martin was producing, with Harrison playing acoustic guitar and directing the other musicians – namely, Starr (on drums), Klaus Voormann (bass) and Stephen Stills (piano). Twenty basic track takes were made, with take 20 being labelled "best". Starr then added a lead vocal and Harrison added two electric guitar parts, finishing at 4 am, with the song being mixed into stereo.

On 19 February, after overdubs onto "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing", recording resumed on "You Gotta Pay Your Dues", with Starr overdubbing another lead vocal. Harrison was not present at the session that evening, although Eric Clapton may have been involved. During the session, Starr decided to remake the song; a new basic track was then taped between 7 and 11 pm. Take 30 was labelled "best" and onto this take, two bass parts were added. This version was also discarded, however, since Starr again decided to remake the song.

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