McCartney's Best "Meaningful Lyric" Songs
-
Above I referenced 2 songs (This One and Here Today) where Paul is emphasizing that one should'n put off being kind to someone waiting for a better moment. This next song (from yet again Chaos and Creation) is a little of the opposite where Paul is praising someone else for their kindness to him and getting him through a tough time. The song is "How Kind of You"...one of the most underrated songs on Chaos and one of my personal favorites. I think there is a video of Paul doing "How Kind of You" on one of his tour rehearsals. Can someone clarify that for me. Would love to see Paul do another "Unplugged" Show like he did in the early 90"s. There are so many of "his" songs that he could do that were not tackled on the previous "Unplugged". I would rather see him do "his" songs rather than covers of early rockabilly songs that he did on the original Unplugged. It's not that they were bad songs but why not do great acoustic McCartney songs that so many people don't know or hardly know. This thread alone has a list of great songs he could do. How Kind of You (from Chaos and Creation) excerpts: How kind of you to think of me When I was out of sorts It really meant a lot to be In someone else's thoughts Someone else's mind Someone else as kind as you The thoughtfulness you showed has made A difference in my life I won't forget how unafraid You were that long dark night I thought that all was lost I thought I'd never find A someone quite as kind, as you I thought my faith had gone I thought there couldn't be A someone who was there, for me _____________________________________________________ I thought this song was always about Linda and specifically during her illness. Any thoughts.
-
B J Conlee:
Above I referenced 2 songs (This One and Here Today) where Paul is emphasizing that one should'n put off being kind to someone waiting for a better moment. This next song (from yet again Chaos and Creation) is a little of the opposite where Paul is praising someone else for their kindness to him and getting him through a tough time. The song is "How Kind of You"...one of the most underrated songs on Chaos and one of my personal favorites. I think there is a video of Paul doing "How Kind of You" on one of his tour rehearsals. Can someone clarify that for me. Would love to see Paul do another "Unplugged" Show like he did in the early 90"s. There are so many of "his" songs that he could do that were not tackled on the previous "Unplugged". I would rather see him do "his" songs rather than covers of early rockabilly songs that he did on the original Unplugged. It's not that they were bad songs but why not do great acoustic McCartney songs that so many people don't know or hardly know. This thread alone has a list of great songs he could do. How Kind of You (from Chaos and Creation) excerpts: How kind of you to think of me When I was out of sorts It really meant a lot to be In someone else's thoughts Someone else's mind Someone else as kind as you The thoughtfulness you showed has made A difference in my life I won't forget how unafraid You were that long dark night I thought that all was lost I thought I'd never find A someone quite as kind, as you I thought my faith had gone I thought there couldn't be A someone who was there, for me _____________________________________________________ I thought this song was always about Linda and specifically during her illness. Any thoughts.
Yeah, probably. Wonder who that "someone" was!
-
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" has to be the greatest line ever. Perfect in so many ways, especially for an end of concert
-
B J Conlee:
Above I referenced 2 songs (This One and Here Today) where Paul is emphasizing that one should'n put off being kind to someone waiting for a better moment. This next song (from yet again Chaos and Creation) is a little of the opposite where Paul is praising someone else for their kindness to him and getting him through a tough time. The song is "How Kind of You"...one of the most underrated songs on Chaos and one of my personal favorites. I think there is a video of Paul doing "How Kind of You" on one of his tour rehearsals. Can someone clarify that for me. Would love to see Paul do another "Unplugged" Show like he did in the early 90"s. There are so many of "his" songs that he could do that were not tackled on the previous "Unplugged". I would rather see him do "his" songs rather than covers of early rockabilly songs that he did on the original Unplugged. It's not that they were bad songs but why not do great acoustic McCartney songs that so many people don't know or hardly know. This thread alone has a list of great songs he could do. How Kind of You (from Chaos and Creation) excerpts: How kind of you to think of me When I was out of sorts It really meant a lot to be In someone else's thoughts Someone else's mind Someone else as kind as you The thoughtfulness you showed has made A difference in my life I won't forget how unafraid You were that long dark night I thought that all was lost I thought I'd never find A someone quite as kind, as you I thought my faith had gone I thought there couldn't be A someone who was there, for me _____________________________________________________ I thought this song was always about Linda and specifically during her illness. Any thoughts.
Yes, I do believe that there is a soundcheck rendition of this song on the Back in The U.S. DVD..
-
no, my bad - that's too early of course.. it's on the Space Within Us DVD
-
after 7:18:
and also performed during Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road: -
Danish Macca:
after 7:18:
and also performed during Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road:________________________________________________________ Thank you so much Danish Macca. I had forgotten on the first video that Paul also played Friends to Go on that rehearsal. It comes right after "Whole Lot of Shaken" at the 4:11 mark. Then as you pointed out he plays How Kind of You at the 7:18 mark. Relative to the idea for Paul to do another Unplugged performance in the future (preferably 2017), Friends to Go and How Kind of You would both be excellent choices. Paul, please forget the covers and do your own songs. You have so many right on this thread.
-
you are most welcome! It also happens to be my favourite song from Chaos..
-
Nancy R:
If you would read my posts above this one, you'll see it's d i c k y bird which is Cockney rhyming slang for "word."
Obviously I know the lyrics. The point was that on Paul's site, we can't type the actual lyrics to his songs, or even the names of Charles ****ens, Emily ****inson, **** Cavett or **** Van Dyke because whoever programmed the auto censor giggles like a child whenever they see the name ****, but we can type words like "shitbird". Who is this insane censorship protecting?
-
HaileyMcComet:
Nancy R:
If you would read my posts above this one, you'll see it's d i c k y bird which is Cockney rhyming slang for "word."
Obviously I know the lyrics. The point was that on Paul's site, we can't type the actual lyrics to his songs, or even the names of Charles ****ens, Emily ****inson, **** Cavett or **** Van Dyke because whoever programmed the auto censor giggles like a child whenever they see the name ****, but we can type words like "****bird". Who is this insane censorship protecting?
I wasn't saying that you didn't know the lyrics! I merely wrote the word out with spaces (d i c k y) so it wouldn't be censored! You can't type dicky bird!
-
They only censored my "shitbird" comments after I pointed out the censorship. What does that tell us?
-
Another McCartney song that I think has great lyrics is "Figure of 8" from Flowers in the Dirt. Here Paul uses a metaphor of the numeral 8 (or figure of 8 used in sailing or rock climbing knots) to avoid slipping off the straight and narrow. This can apply to individual's or couples' lives, country or global hatred etc. Some of Paul's best lyric songs are very creative and this is one of them in my opinion. Figure of 8 (from Flowers in the Dirt) excerpts: Well you've got me dancing in a figure of 8 Don't know if I'm coming or going, I'm early or late Round and round the ring I go I want to know, I want to know Why can't we travel a continuous line? Make love a reliable covenant all the time Up and Down the hills I go I got to know, I got to know Is it better to love one another Than to go for a walk in the dark? Is it better to love than to give in to hate? Yeah we'd better take good care of each other Avoid slipping back off the straight and narrow It's better by far than getting stuck in a Figure of 8 ____________________________________________ I think these are brilliant lyrics and just as relevant today (probably more) than they were when they were written in the late 80's. Paul in my opinion doesn't get enough credit for his songs with very good lyrics. Personally I really liked the studio version. To me it was just the right length whereas the "single" version was too long and repetitive because of its length. That is a matter of personal opinion I know. Some like the longer version better. I did love the fact that on the tour in 1989 he had the courage to open the show with Figure of 8. He has a lot of great songs so he doesn't always have to be Beatle Paul.
-
We have already put together quite a list of Paul songs with good to great lyrics. As a huge fan, it bugs me when anti-Paul critics write how bad Paul's lyrics are. In some cases some try to say that Paul's only had great Beatle lyrics because of John. The research however (especially after Rubber Soul) strongly disagree with that theory. Many of Paul's mid to later great Beatle songs were written by Paul himself. Many had great lyrics...For No One, Here There & Everywhere, Fool on the Hill, Hey Jude etc etc. In this thread we have also listed many Solo songs with terrific lyrics. There are many examples but the anti-Paul critics will never cite them. Another Paul song with very good lyrics is "Tug of War" (the title cut). Tug of War was one of Nigel Godrich's favorites especially on the lyric side. I personally thought the phrase Tug of War itself was a great album and individual song title. It begs for different interpretations. Paul himself described the whole album in words like conflict, opposites, duality. The album is still one of my favorites. As far as the song, Tug of War definitely has multiple meanings to me. Parts of the song suggest that it is about John and himself and where the relationship had soured after the breakup. Other parts of the song suggest more of larger Global concerns. Anyway, it is a great song...one of Paul's best Solo efforts. It would be in my top 20 Solo songs for sure. Tug of War excerpts: It's a Tug of War What with one thing and another It's a Tug of War We expected more But with one thing and another We were trying to outdo each other In a Tug of War In another World In another World we could Stand on top of the mountain With our Flag Unfurled In time to come In time to come we will be Dancing to the beat played On a Different Drum It's a Tug of War Though I know I mustn't grumble It's a Tug of War But I can't let go If I do you'll take a tumble And the whole thing is going to crumble It's a Tug of War Pushing, pushing, pulling, pulling Pushing and Pulling In years to come they may discover What the air we breathe and the life we lead Are all about But it won't be soon enough Soon enough for me No it won't be soon enough Soon enough for me As I said, great song. If Tug of War was on a Beatle album it would be far more known and considered another Beatle classic. Another song that I wish Paul would have done live when his voice was still very good.
-
-
Easy; most of the lyrics to Golden Earth Girl resonate with me because they ARE about me! "Golden earth girl, female animal sings to the wind, resting at sunset" "Good clear water friend of wilderness sees in the pool, her own reflection" "Nature's lover climbs the Primrose Hill, Smiles at the sky, watching the sunset" These lyrics are deeply, deeply personal to me. Although I know it's about Linda, when I first heard it I really wondered who told him about me because they ARE so me! Nobody or nothing has 'got' me like this before or since. I have a deep affinity with the Highlands of Scotland (even though I'm a southern lass) and the song describes my love for, and relationship with, the land and nature there. I really do smile at the sunsets and sing out in the wind there (when nobody else is about!), and I walk through glens and climb hills where the wilderness is my friend. I always smile to myself when I sing the line 'smiles at the sky, watching the sunset'. I don't know why really; maybe it brings back many memories of smiling at sunsets but that particular line just makes me damn happy! On my many trips to the area, Paul's music has usually been my only companion which is how i have wanted it. It does mean though I do connect with his music on a very personal level and which is why a Macca gig, for me, is such an intense experience!
-
Golden*Earth*Girl:
Easy; most of the lyrics to Golden Earth Girl resonate with me because they ARE about me! "Golden earth girl, female animal sings to the wind, resting at sunset" "Good clear water friend of wilderness sees in the pool, her own reflection" "Nature's lover climbs the Primrose Hill, Smiles at the sky, watching the sunset" These lyrics are deeply, deeply personal to me. Although I know it's about Linda, when I first heard it I really wondered who told him about me because they ARE so me! Nobody or nothing has 'got' me like this before or since. I have a deep affinity with the Highlands of Scotland (even though I'm a southern lass) and the song describes my love for, and relationship with, the land and nature there. I really do smile at the sunsets and sing out in the wind there (when nobody else is about!), and I walk through glens and climb hills where the wilderness is my friend. I always smile to myself when I sing the line 'smiles at the sky, watching the sunset'. I don't know why really; maybe it brings back many memories of smiling at sunsets but that particular line just makes me damn happy! On my many trips to the area, Paul's music has usually been my only companion which is how i have wanted it. It does mean though I do connect with his music on a very personal level and which is why a Macca gig, for me, is such an intense experience!
__________________________________________________________ Thanks Golden Earth Girl. Always loved the words and melody to Golden Earth Girl. One of my favorites from the Off the Ground CD. You brought up another subject and area where Paul seems to get a lot of his inspiration. I'm talking about subjects like "nature, wildlife and the ecology". Paul has so many songs about our earth and how it relates to the universe. Just think about the many songs where Paul is referencing birds, the earth, the planets etc. Here's another one that jumps out to me...Mull of Kintyre Mull of Kintyre (excerpts) Mull of Kintyre Oh mist rolling in from the sea My desire is always to be here Oh Mull of Kintyre Far have I travelled and much have I seen Dark distant mountains with valleys of green Past painted deserts, the sunset's on fire As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre ______________________________________________________ One of the reasons Mull never resonated in the US is because people here had no idea what the "Mull of Kintyre" was. If you remember this was pre computer age where people just couldn't "google" things off their phones, tablets or laptops. Another reason why it was such a huge mistake that Paul didn't put the song on the US album version of London Town.
-
Yep, all we had was Encyclopedia Brittanica and the local library!
-
Did I miss it, or has no one mentioned "Riding to Vanity Fair"? Brilliant, scorching lyrics backed up with wonderfully sinister music. Yeah, he and Heather were still officially together, but this is still one of the great breakup songs of all time.
-
Bruce M.:
Did I miss it, or has no one mentioned "Riding to Vanity Fair"? Brilliant, scorching lyrics backed up with wonderfully sinister music. Yeah, he and Heather were still officially together, but this is still one of the great breakup songs of all time.
In an interview with the Observer (U.K.) Paul says it is not directed at a specific target. https://www.theguardian.com/observer/omm/story/0,,1571996,00.html Songfacts.com says he wrote it in 2003-2004, when he and HM were still together. Some there suggest he wrote it about John. Who knows? Paul could have been writing a composite song about several people. It does have brilliant lyrics, I agree!
-
Bruce M.:
Did I miss it, or has no one mentioned "Riding to Vanity Fair"? Brilliant, scorching lyrics backed up with wonderfully sinister music. Yeah, he and Heather were still officially together, but this is still one of the great breakup songs of all time.
__________________________________________________________ Bruce, Yes, Riding to Vanity Fair was included earlier. I agree that it is another great (and overlooked) Paul solo song. One of Paul's great "Beatle" breakup songs ...I'm Looking Through You... was also included earlier. Chaos and Creation as a whole had great lyrics. Besides Vanity Fair, we have included Friends to Go, Jenny Wren and How Kind of You already in this thread.