Draft:Man We Was Lonely
![]() | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 4 months or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 2,630 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
"Man We Was Lonely" is a song by the English musician and former Beatles bassist and vocalist Paul McCartney from his self titled debut solo album.
"Man We Was Lonely" | |
---|---|
Song by Paul McCartney | |
from the album McCartney | |
Released | 1970 |
Studio | Morgan Studios, London |
Genre | Pop, Rock, Folk |
Label | Apple |
Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney |
Composer(s) | Paul McCartney |
Lyricist(s) | Paul McCartney |
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney |
McCartney track listing | |
13 tracks
|
Background
[edit]McCartney said in a conversation with Du Noyer: "That was the truth. It had been a heavy, difficult period, but meeting Linda and starting a family was the escape. I'd see there was life out there. And little things, like I would get our own Christmas tree, instead of the office ordering it. We rebelled against that: “You know what? There’s a guy on the corner, he’s got dozens of them, let’s just go and we'll carry it home. The whole spirit was that escape. I Said 'How the hell am I ever going to get out of these heavy meetings?’ And it was, ‘Well, don’t go’ Ching! Brilliant plan! Boycott them. That was like The Idea Of The Century. We did that, so they had to ring us up: [moaning voice] ‘Oh, we're going to have a meeting, what’s your decision?’ “No. Or whatever. ‘Yeah, go with that’ We just escaped, got out of Dodge, went and enjoyed life. Because, Christ, I’d worked like a devil with the Beatles for all those years, and it didn’t appear like there was going to be any happiness at the end of it. So, suddenly I found it, and grabbed it. The album was my escape. We made it in the front parlour. Get home, new baby, it was that joy, it transforms your life. I hadn’t had a baby before — we had Heather from Linda’s first marriage — so home was great joy and solace for me."[1] According to Far Out Magazine. Officially written after The Beatles acrimonious split in 1970, but likely composed earlier, the track acts as a sort of diary entry, conveying the bitter mood of McCartney’s bandmates and the simmering tension between them at the time.[2]
Writing
[edit]In the book The Beatles: Off The Record 2 - The Dream is Over, McCartney explained that: “The chorus, "Man We Was Lonely', was written in bed at home shortly before we finished recording the album. The middle, 'I used to ride', was done one lunchtime in a great hurry, as we were due to record the song in half an hour."[3] McCartney had written “Man We Was Lonely” as a goodbye to The Beatles, which he had gained fame as the bassist.[4]
Lyrics
[edit]The lyrics talk about he and Linda's self-exposed exile that was not as idyllic as it outwardly seemed, that their spirits were low, but, under the blanket of domesticity, that their positivity was returning.[5]
Recording
[edit]McCartney envisioned himself as Johnny Cash when he recorded it, as he envisioned himself as Ray Charles when he recorded She's a Woman.[6]
Personnel
[edit]According to the Paul McCartney Project:[7]
- Paul McCartney – acoustic guitar, backing vocals, bass, drums, electric guitar, percussion, vocals
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals, vocals
Producing
- Paul McCartney – producer
- Phil McDonald – recording engineer, mixing engineer
Covers
[edit]The song has been covered by Davy Jones, Design and World Party.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Noyer, Paul Du (2016-10-18). Conversations with McCartney. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-4683-1341-3.
- ^ "The song McCartney wrote about isolation in The Beatles". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ Badman, Keith (2009-12-15). The Beatles: Off The Record 2 - The Dream is Over: Off the Record. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-102-8.
- ^ Wigandt, Hannah (2021-09-08). "Paul McCartney Wrote a Goodbye Song to The Beatles". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
- ^ Doyle, Tom (2014-06-17). Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8041-7915-7.
- ^ Jackson, Andrew Grant (2012). Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of the Beatles' Solo Careers. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-8222-5.
- ^ "Man We Was Lonely (song)". The Paul McCartney project. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ Man We Was Lonely - Paul McCartney | AllMusic, retrieved 2024-06-09