I'm Carrying
| "I'm Carrying" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Wings | |
| from the album London Town | |
| A-side | "London Town" |
| Released | 26 August 1978 |
| Recorded | 5 May 1977[1] |
| Genre | Soft rock |
| Length | 2:44 |
| Label | Parlophone/EMI (UK) Capitol (US) |
| Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney |
| Producer(s) | Paul McCartney |
"I'm Carrying" is a song written by Paul McCartney that was first released on Wings' 1978 album London Town. It was also released as the B-side of the "London Town" single.[2] In 2003 it was later released on the soundtrack to the film The In-Laws.[2]
Lyrics and music[edit]
"I'm Carrying" is a gentle love song.[2][3] Although Linda McCartney, Paul's wife, was a member of Wings, the song was not inspired by her but rather by a former girlfriend of Paul McCartney's.[3][4][5] The song has a simple structure, with two verses and a refrain.[3] In the first verse, McCartney sings that he will come to his lover's room after an absence bringing gifts and a carnation.[3] In the second verse, he sings that he has been away for a long time and wonders if his return will lack style.[3] The refrain simply notes that he is carrying something for his lover.[3]
"I'm Carrying" is in the key of E major and based on four chords.[3] McCartney originally recorded the song accompanied by just his acoustic guitar during the London Town sessions aboard the stern of the yacht Fair Carol in the Virgin Islands on 5 May 1977.[2][4] The song was recorded in one take and according to engineer Tom Anderson, McCartney was "enclosed in a wooden ‘isolation’ area we built out of plywood."[6] In December 1977, he overdubbed orchestral strings and he also overdubbed his own playing of an electric guitar using a Gizmo.[2][3][4] The Gizmo is a device invented by 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, which allows a guitar to be played by vibrating the strings rather than plucking them.[2][3]
Critical reception[edit]
Author John Blaney notes that "I'm Carrying" expresses sentiments similar to those McCartney sang on the Beatles' "Yesterday," noting that "I'm Carrying" is "less adventurous melodically but no less welcoming."[2] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls it "nice" and "understated."[7] George Harrison chose "I'm Carrying" as his favorite song from London Town, describing it as "sensational".[4][8] CD Review described the song as a "silly love song that's sweet, simple, and tuneful."[9] Billboard Magazine's Timothy White considers the song one of McCartney's post-Beatle peaks.[10] Jim Beviglia of Culture Sonar described the melody as being "as romantic as a moonlit slow dance."[11]
Other appearances[edit]
Wings' version of "I'm Carrying" was used in the soundtrack for the film The In-Laws in 2003.[2][7][12][13] The song is also incorporated in the soundtrack to the Greg MacGillivray film To the Arctic 3D, including for a scene in which a mother polar bear plays with her cubs.[14][15]
Sham Rock covered "I'm Carrying" on their 2004 album The Album.[16] Guitarist Phil Keaggy played the song with Paul McCartney at the wedding of Linda McCartney's sister Laura Eastman.[17]
References[edit]
- ^ "I'm Carrying (song)". The Paul McCartney Project.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 123–125, 264. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Benitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
- ^ a b c d Madiger, C.; Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 232. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ Harry, B. (2003). The Paul McCartney encyclopedia. Virgin. p. 442. ISBN 9780753507162.
- ^ Perasi, Luca (2023). Paul McCartney Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 (1st ed.). Milan, Italy: L.I.L.Y. Publishing. p. 268. ISBN 978-88-909-122-9-0.
- ^ a b Erlewine, S.T. "The In-Laws". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Potter, Jordan (24 September 2022). "The Paul McCartney song George Harrison described as "sensational"". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
- ^ CD Review. Vol. 7. 1990.
- ^ White, T. (14 June 1997). Rediscussion. Billboard Magazine. p. 87. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Beviglia, Jim (October 14, 2017). "The 10 Best Paul McCartney Songs You May Never Have Heard". Culture Sonar. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
- ^ "For The Record: Quick News On Eminem And Nas, Jack Black, Winona Ryder, Wayne Wonder, Tony Hawk & More". MTV. 24 April 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Hay, C. (10 May 2003). "Soundtracks". Billboard Magazine. p. 19. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ "Take a Journey To The Arctic in IMAX® Theatres Starting Friday". PR Newswire. April 18, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ "To the Arctic" (PDF). imax.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2013-01-11.
- ^ "The Album". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Maissey, J. (3 April 2008). "Guitar Phil Keaggy brings his album to life". hamptonroads.com. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
