Paul McCartney

Released: November 16, 1987

Songwriter: Paul McCartney Elvis Costello

Producer: Phil Ramone

[Verse 1]
How many days will the wet weather last?
I want to know will the clouds when they roll back
Reveal a man in an old mac
Living on a park bench, sitting on his own?
Cut to the rain as it runs down the glass
Eventually through the lightning and thunder, we see a man going under
This is how it happens
This is what he said

[Chorus]
I don't need love, though temptation is sweet
Give me your hand 'til I'm back on me feet
You're always telling me about my misery
I've seen things you'll never see
Don't pity me

[Verse 2]
Focus in on the breath of a man
Who takes a brown paper bag
From his knapsack
Between his whispers and wise cracks
He's looking for permission
Screaming at the sky

[Chorus]
I don't need love, though temptation is sweet
Give me your hand 'til I'm back on me feet
You're always telling me about my misery
I've seen things you'll never see
Don't pity me

[Verse 3]
I'll be right again
Be upright without you
I'll stand up again
Kick up a fuss again too
Cut back again to a girl walking by
Until the feet that are all shoes and no socks
Climb an invisible soap box
Laughing at the traffic
Shouting at the world

[Chorus]
I don't need love, though temptation is sweet
Give me your hand 'til I'm back on me feet
You're always telling me about my misery
I've seen things you'll never see
Don't pity me

[Verse 4]
I'll stand up again
Kick up a fuss again too
I'll be right again
Be upright without you
We see a life through the eyes of a man
As he live and he dies
By a simple tattoo

[Verse 5]
I'll be back again
When I land on my feet
I'll stand up again
Kick up a fuss again, wouldn't you
Well there you go, though we tried hard to know him
It's there on his face
He's a case where there's clearly no hope
Give me your hand again
'Til I land again

[Outro]
His face starts to fade
As we pull down the shade
And the picture we made
Is in glorious cinemascope
I'll be back

Sir James Paul McCartney, born June 18, 1942, is the single most successful music artist of all time. He found worldwide fame as the bass player and vocalist for The Beatles, and has continued to enjoy commercial success long after the band’s breakup.

His post-Beatles projects—the most lucrative of which was the band Wings, alongside then-wife Linda Eastman—have been met with mixed critical reception but he still retains a substantial public following, regularly conducting worldwide arena tours well into his later years.

His album sales with The Beatles, Wings and solo endeavours combined come to over 100 million, and his net worth was estimated to be approximately $1.2 billion circa 2018. He was knighted in 1997 and is known for his activism.

more tracks from the album

Once Upon a Long Ago (EP)

From the album

Once Upon a Long Ago (EP) (1987)

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