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    What's Paul's best protest song?

    NOT SUCH A BAD BOY
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    • J
      JoeySmith last edited by

      Although usually associated with John, Paul has written quite a few (e.g, Give Ireland back to the Irish, Freedom, Big Boys Bickering, etc.). I'd have to go with Give Ireland Back to the Irish. Paul just rocks on the vocals, especially in the chorus.

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      • Nancy R
        Nancy R last edited by

        I also vote for GIBTTI.

        Omni, Atlanta, GA May 18, 1976, Feb. 17, 1990

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        Bon Secours Arena, Greenville, SC May 30, 2019

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        • A
          admin last edited by

          Can somebody help me with a quick history lesson? How is Macca's Ireland protest-song not the polar-opposite of his recent stance on Scotland? Thanks.

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          • A
            admin last edited by

            Let It Be.

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            • A
              admin last edited by

              Looking For Changes is my favorite. But I also like GIBTTI, and Long Leather Coat.

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              • Sgt._Pepper
                Sgt._Pepper last edited by

                I've always been a fan of Big Boys Bickering.

                '02- L.A.'10- L.A., S.F.'11- NYC'12- Vancouver'13- Seattle, JKL'14- L.A., Phoenix, S.F., San Diego'15- Lollapalooza'16- Fresno, Desert Trip (x2)'17- Syracuse, Uniondale (Night 2)'19- San Diego, L.A. '22- Spokane, Seattle (Night 1), L.A.

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                • SusyLuvsPaul
                  SusyLuvsPaul last edited by

                  "Give Ireland back to the Irish" followed closely by his vigorously pro-animal songs on his album "Off the Ground" and also the beautiful song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" with its feminist slant. "Mistress and Maid" from OTG also features a stirring pro-feminist message as subtext, was co-written by Elvis Costello, I think. "Blackbird" can be heard as a subtle, poetic peon to racial equality-- he said struggles for equality of the races in the states inspired that song, didn't he?

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                  • oobu24
                    oobu24 last edited by

                    Sgt._Pepper:

                    I've always been a fan of Big Boys Bickering.

                    Agreed!

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                    • A
                      admin last edited by

                      I Like Long Leather Coat

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                      • Bruce M.
                        Bruce M. last edited by

                        I don't think protest songs are Paul's strength and none of them are home runs. If I had to choose, I actually would pick "Looking For Changes," even though I utterly loathe PETA.

                        "The only true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the nation all the time, loyalty to government when it deserves it."

                        \--Mark Twain

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                        • A
                          admin last edited by

                          SusyLuvsPaul:

                          "Give Ireland back to the Irish" followed closely by his vigorously pro-animal songs on his album "Off the Ground" and also the beautiful song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" with its feminist slant. "Mistress and Maid" from OTG also features a stirring pro-feminist message as subtext, was co-written by Elvis Costello, I think. "Blackbird" can be heard as a subtle, poetic peon to racial equality-- he said struggles for equality of the races in the states inspired that song, didn't he?

                          He said that, but I am not sure I believe him. And if the listener has to strain to hear the message, how much of protest is it, really?

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                          • A
                            admin last edited by

                            Some of Paul's best songs are about animals.

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                            • favoritething
                              favoritething last edited by

                              RMartinez:

                              SusyLuvsPaul:

                              "Give Ireland back to the Irish" followed closely by his vigorously pro-animal songs on his album "Off the Ground" and also the beautiful song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" with its feminist slant. "Mistress and Maid" from OTG also features a stirring pro-feminist message as subtext, was co-written by Elvis Costello, I think. "Blackbird" can be heard as a subtle, poetic peon to racial equality-- he said struggles for equality of the races in the states inspired that song, didn't he?

                              He said that, but I am not sure I believe him. And if the listener has to strain to hear the message, how much of protest is it, really?

                              It's strange that he's only been giving that explanation since about the 1990s, if I recall correctly, but it certainly does fit. I've always thought it made sense as a metaphor for anyone who's struggling to overcome something, and not just oppression. But in concert, Paul now drives his point home by repeating the "moment to be free" verse at the end instead of "moment to arise," as it was on the album.

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                              • favoritething
                                favoritething last edited by

                                I think "Give Ireland..." is his best protest song. Really rocks, and it's melodic. "Big Boys Bickering" I admire for its "moxie," shall we say, but the lyrics get a bit lazy for my taste. I find the lyrics of "Looking For Changes" a little awkward to be sung, but it does rock pretty nicely. Nice background vocals. "Long Leather Coat" is probably my second favorite, although I don't quite share the passion of the message. Clever, though, and it gets a good head of steam going. "Freedom"... well, he tried. I still love that scene in The Love We Make DVD where Paul is demonstrating that song to Eric Clapton backstage for the first time, and the look on Eric's face is priceless, kind of like, "Are you serious?" I actually like the chorus, though.

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                                • A
                                  admin last edited by

                                  favoritething:

                                  RMartinez:

                                  SusyLuvsPaul:

                                  "Give Ireland back to the Irish" followed closely by his vigorously pro-animal songs on his album "Off the Ground" and also the beautiful song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" with its feminist slant. "Mistress and Maid" from OTG also features a stirring pro-feminist message as subtext, was co-written by Elvis Costello, I think. "Blackbird" can be heard as a subtle, poetic peon to racial equality-- he said struggles for equality of the races in the states inspired that song, didn't he?

                                  He said that, but I am not sure I believe him. And if the listener has to strain to hear the message, how much of protest is it, really?

                                  It's strange that he's only been giving that explanation since about the 1990s, if I recall correctly, but it certainly does fit. I've always thought it made sense as a metaphor for anyone who's struggling to overcome something, and not just oppression. But in concert, Paul now drives his point home by repeating the "moment to be free" verse at the end instead of "moment to arise," as it was on the album.

                                  To me it will never fit, because it doesn't sound like a protest song. Give Peace a Chance? Yes. Overt. In your face. Give Ireland Back To The Irish? Yes. The title says it all. Blackbird, to me and my wife, is more about personal healing and freedom. Which makes it a very beautiful and powerful song. Which is what you said and I agree with you on that point. I just don't hear a protest song about civil rights when I listen to it. I think if the listener strains they may hear that!

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                                  • beatlesfanrandy
                                    beatlesfanrandy last edited by

                                    Tug of War or Too Many People. I'd choose one of those.

                                    Wings Over America - Cow Palace SF - June 1976. New World Tour - Anaheim Stadium - 4/17/93. Driving USA - Oakland Arena - 4/1/2002. US Tour - HP Pavilion - San Jose - 11/08/05. An Evening with Paul McCartney - The Joint at Hard Rock - Las Vegas - 4/19/09. Up & Coming Tour - Hollywood Bowl - 3/31/10. Walk of Fame Star Presentation - Hollywood - Feb. 2012. CBS-TV taping - The Night That Changed America (with Ringo!)  - L.A. Convention Center - Jan. 2014. Out There Tour -Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles - Aug. '14 and Petco Park - San Diego - Sept. '14. Petco Park - San Diego - June 2019.  Got Back Tour - SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles - May 2022

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                                    • Beatles4Ever
                                      Beatles4Ever last edited by

                                      audi:

                                      Can somebody help me with a quick history lesson? How is Macca's Ireland protest-song not the polar-opposite of his recent stance on Scotland? Thanks.

                                      Don't know for sure...bur maybe because there were British soldiers in Ireland killing people????

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                                      • favoritething
                                        favoritething last edited by

                                        RMartinez:

                                        favoritething:

                                        RMartinez:

                                        SusyLuvsPaul:

                                        "Give Ireland back to the Irish" followed closely by his vigorously pro-animal songs on his album "Off the Ground" and also the beautiful song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" with its feminist slant. "Mistress and Maid" from OTG also features a stirring pro-feminist message as subtext, was co-written by Elvis Costello, I think. "Blackbird" can be heard as a subtle, poetic peon to racial equality-- he said struggles for equality of the races in the states inspired that song, didn't he?

                                        He said that, but I am not sure I believe him. And if the listener has to strain to hear the message, how much of protest is it, really?

                                        It's strange that he's only been giving that explanation since about the 1990s, if I recall correctly, but it certainly does fit. I've always thought it made sense as a metaphor for anyone who's struggling to overcome something, and not just oppression. But in concert, Paul now drives his point home by repeating the "moment to be free" verse at the end instead of "moment to arise," as it was on the album.

                                        To me it will never fit, because it doesn't sound like a protest song. Give Peace a Chance? Yes. Overt. In your face. Give Ireland Back To The Irish? Yes. The title says it all. Blackbird, to me and my wife, is more about personal healing and freedom. Which makes it a very beautiful and powerful song. Which is what you said and I agree with you on that point. I just don't hear a protest song about civil rights when I listen to it. I think if the listener strains they may hear that!

                                        I agree with you that it seems inaccurate to call it a "protest song" per se. It would need to be a bit more direct, perhaps blaming whomever "broke the wings" and made the eyes sunken and took away the freedom. But I'm saying that his explanation of what it means to him does fit with the lyrics, at least. As far as I know, he hasn't actually called it a protest song himself. His exact quote, in translating the song's message, was: "Let me encourage you to keep trying, to keep your faith, there is hope."

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                                        • A
                                          admin last edited by

                                          favoritething:

                                          RMartinez:

                                          favoritething:

                                          RMartinez:

                                          SusyLuvsPaul:

                                          "Give Ireland back to the Irish" followed closely by his vigorously pro-animal songs on his album "Off the Ground" and also the beautiful song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering" with its feminist slant. "Mistress and Maid" from OTG also features a stirring pro-feminist message as subtext, was co-written by Elvis Costello, I think. "Blackbird" can be heard as a subtle, poetic peon to racial equality-- he said struggles for equality of the races in the states inspired that song, didn't he?

                                          He said that, but I am not sure I believe him. And if the listener has to strain to hear the message, how much of protest is it, really?

                                          It's strange that he's only been giving that explanation since about the 1990s, if I recall correctly, but it certainly does fit. I've always thought it made sense as a metaphor for anyone who's struggling to overcome something, and not just oppression. But in concert, Paul now drives his point home by repeating the "moment to be free" verse at the end instead of "moment to arise," as it was on the album.

                                          To me it will never fit, because it doesn't sound like a protest song. Give Peace a Chance? Yes. Overt. In your face. Give Ireland Back To The Irish? Yes. The title says it all. Blackbird, to me and my wife, is more about personal healing and freedom. Which makes it a very beautiful and powerful song. Which is what you said and I agree with you on that point. I just don't hear a protest song about civil rights when I listen to it. I think if the listener strains they may hear that!

                                          I agree with you that it seems inaccurate to call it a "protest song" per se. It would need to be a bit more direct, perhaps blaming whomever "broke the wings" and made the eyes sunken and took away the freedom. But I'm saying that his explanation of what it means to him does fit with the lyrics, at least. As far as I know, he hasn't actually called it a protest song himself. His exact quote, in translating the song's message, was: "Let me encourage you to keep trying, to keep your faith, there is hope."

                                          Yeah, true.

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                                          • J
                                            JoeySmith last edited by

                                            The song 'Wild Life' is 1 of Paul's hidden gems & 1 of his best protest songs. Great lyrics. Love the original video of the song.

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