Top 10 Songs You Didnt Know Were Written by Paul McCartney
For this list, we'll be looking at surprising songs that were written or even co-written by the music legend himself.
What's your fave McCartney song? Let us know in the comments!
Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Paul McCartney
Welcome to WatchMojoUK, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Were Written by Paul McCartney.
For this list, we’ll be looking at surprising songs that were written or even co-written by the music legend himself.
What’s your fave McCartney song? Let us know in the comments!
<h4>#10: “Veronica”
Elvis Costello</h4>
This song belongs to Elvis Costello, but it was actually co-written by Paul McCartney. The lyrics explore the story of a woman called Veronica, who lives in a nursing home and suffers from memory loss. Costello and McCartney took inspiration for the lyrics after Costello’s grandmother got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The writing combo raised eyebrows at the time - McCartney was facing bad press due to being an ex-Beatle while Costello was young, upbeat, and ready to rock and roll. However, the two worked their magic together and made a timeless song with incredibly heartfelt lyrics.
<h4>#9: “Six O’Clock”
Ringo Starr</h4>
"Six O'Clock" marked the first collaboration between Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney since the breakup of the Beatles a few years earlier. Released on Starr's 1973 solo album "Ringo," the song was actually co-written by McCartney and his wife Linda. The lyrics focus on the perspective of a man not treating his lover as he should. The collaboration sparked rumors of a Beatles reunion, especially since Starr also collaborated with George Harrison and John Lennon. Unfortunately, no such thing happened. But “Six O’Clock” remains an important song as it marked the start of the McCartney-Starr co-writing collaboration.
<h4>#8: “I Wanna Be Your Man”
The Rolling Stones</h4>
If you're a rock fan you know that The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones debate is a touchy subject that has no actual resolution because both bands are so great. In 1963, Lennon and McCartney wrote "I Wanna Be Your Man" and offered it to The Rolling Stones - they thought the song would be a better fit for them. The Rolling Stones made some changes to the song, including adding a unique R&B beat, and, of course, the iconic guitar part. Released as their second single in November 1963, "I Wanna Be Your Man" was an immediate success, peaking at number 12 on the British charts.
<h4>#7: “Songbird in a Cage”
Charlotte Gainsbourg</h4>
Paul McCartney wrote the song "Songbird in a Cage" around 2011 and gave it to Charlotte Gainsbourg, who released it on her 2017 album "Rest". She met McCartney for lunch approximately six years prior, during which she told him that a song from him would be a dream come true. Sounds like a casual lunch conversation indeed. But sure enough, a few weeks later McCartney sent her a demo of "Songbird in a Cage". Gainsbourg later worked on, in her words, making the song more chaotic. She even got help from McCartney, who dropped by the studio to add guitar, drums, and piano.
<h4>#6: “I'll Keep You Satisfied”
Billy J, Kramer and Dakotas</h4>
McCartney provided assistance to John Lennon in co-writing the song "I Call Your Name.” The two originally gave the song to Billy J. Kramer and Dakotas back in 1963. However, sometimes the original recording just doesn't work out and the writer doesn’t feel it did the lyrics justice. In this case, Lennon allegedly wasn't satisfied with what he had heard - he ended up recording the song with his own band instead. The Beatles released the song in 1964 on two separate albums - in the US on "The Beatles' Second Album" and in the UK on "Long Tall Sally."
<h4>#5: “Woman”
Peter and Gordon</h4>
Sometimes McCartney used pseudonyms when writing a song and this was one of those cases. “Woman” was written by Bernard Webb, aka McCartney himself. The song, recorded in 1966, was a test whether or not it would be successful without the Lennon-McCartney writing partnership. “Woman” was recorded by Peter and Gordon who actually recorded three McCartney-written songs previously. The song reached number 14 on the US charts and number 28 in the UK. At first, McCartney didn’t want to reveal he was the writer, but the secret was out two weeks after the release. Fun fact: in the demo version of the song, McCartney also played the drums.
<h4>#4: “A World Without Love”
Peter and Gordon</h4>
McCartney’s writing talent goes back to his teen years. He wrote “A World Without Love '' when he was just 16 years old. The song was given to Peter and Gordon duo soon after they signed their label contract. “A World Without Love'' was an immediate success, topping the charts in several countries around the world. McCartney did demo this song himself, but he felt it wasn’t the right fit for The Beatles. “A World Without Love'' and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” are the only two Lennon-McCartney non-Beatles songs to reach the top of the American charts.
<h4>#3: “Goodbye”
Mary Hopkin</h4>
"Goodbye" is a McCartney song written for Welsh singer Mary Hopkin. Hopkin was one of the very first artists welcomed to the Beatles' record label. It was released in 1969 and actually, it did pretty well on the charts. So well in fact, the only song blocking it from going number 1 was Beatles' single "Get Back." Now that's an accomplishment! And it doesn't end there. Recording the song in other languages was actually the reason why Hopkin met her husband Tony Visconti. Sounds like Paul McCartney should add ‘cupid’ to his resume of many talents!
<h4>#2: “Like Dreamers Do”
The Beatles</h4>
Written in 1959, "Like Dreamers Do" was one of McCartney's first songs. However, it's a song he didn't personally like. He said the arrangement for it was weak. In 1962, the Beatles auditioned with it for Decca Records, but didn't make the cut. But despite its failure, it was an important step for McCartney. He revealed that playing your own songs at the time was considered "a bit of a joke." But he went on to say that “Like Dreamers Do” was still an important song to play in order to break the icky feeling of self-writing songs and then playing them. What an inspiration!
<h4>#1: “Come and Get It”
Badfinger</h4>
You’re probably thinking of the Selena Gomez song, but no, McCartney didn’t write that one. “Come and Get It” was a song written in 1969 and played during the movie “The Magic Christian.” It was performed by the Welsh rock band called Badfinger and reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also able to reach top 5 in Canada, UK, and Ireland, proving McCartney’s penmanship never fails. Interestingly enough, McCartney demoed the song with a slightly upbeat tempo compared to Badfinger’s version. He even ended up playing it himself at a concert in 2011, surprising fans in Bologna. What a catchy tune.
