 McCartney intended "Yellow Submarine" – a song he later characterised as a "kid's story" – as a vehicle for Starr's limited vocal range.The lyrics were written by McCartney and Lennon, with assistance from Scottish singer Donovan, and tell of life on a sea voyage accompanied by friends.Gould considers the song's childlike qualities to be "deceptive" and that, once in the studio, it became "a sophisticated sonic pastiche".