Paul McCartney/Wings-song by song thread

"It's a song, you green-blooded Vulcan. You sing it. The words aren't important. What's important is that you have a good time singing it." - Dr. Leonard McCoy, in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

Paul's words fit the melodies perfectly, which is all they need to do. I don't think his lyrics are poor at all.

 

Well, I am a lyrics and music guy and most of Paul's songs work for me in one capacity or another. I think that is probably why his recent stuff works do well for me as the balance between the two is more even.

 

Here is a current McCartney song that I feel is on a similar level to One More Kiss

 

Song matching old to new is a interesting exercise that can be enlightening. For instance none of Paul's recent work is comparable to My Love nor Loop. So the highest highs are gone, but so are the lowest lows in current McCartney.

 

Hey Dr Pepper...
I'm pleased to be able to tell you that I'm off to my son's place soon for dinner and drinks. He's all set up with Spotify and has a decent sound system so I'll be able to give your deluxe Red Rose Speedway compilation a good listen later.
Looking forward to it.

 

Bip Bop

A nonsense joyful song. It's like an addictive sound. The music and lyrics are trying to brainwash the listener. Then a new duo is born and BIP BOP is heard here, there and everywhere...

Lyrics:

[Chorus 1]
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam

[Verse 1]
Take your bottom dollar, hold it in your hand (and you go)
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
Why'd you hide your handbag underneath the stand? (and you go)
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam

[Chorus 2]
Wim wop, wim and wop
Wim wop, wim and wam
Wim wop, wim and wop
Wim wop, wim and wam

[Verse 2]
Why'd you hide your handbag underneath the stand? (and you go)
Wim wop, wim and wop
Wim wop, wim and wam
Put your hair in curlers, we're going to see a band
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
[Chorus 1]
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam

[Verse 3]
Take your bottom dollar, hold it in your hand (and you go)
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
Treat me like a good boy, treat me like a man (and you go)
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam

[Chorus 2]
Wim wop, wim and wop
Wim wop, wim and wam
Wim wop, wim and wop
Wim wop, wim and wam

[Verse 2]
Why'd you hide your handbag underneath the stand?
Wim wop, wim and wop
Wim wop, wim and wam
Put your hair in curlers, we're going to see a band (and you go)
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
[Chorus 1]
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam

[Verse 4]
Take your bottom dollar, hold it in your hand (and you go)
Bip bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam
Take me hair in curlers, but treat me like a man (and you go)
Bip bop, bip bop, bop
Bip bop, bip bop, bam

Credits:

Produced by Paul McCartney
Written by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
Bass, Electric Guitar, Vocals by Paul McCartney
Tambourine (?), Vocals by Linda McCartney
Electric Guitar by Denny Laine
Drums, Tambourine (?) by Denny Seiwell
Label: Apple Records
Release Date: December 7, 1971
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, UK
Length: 4:10 minutes

Paul's own words:

Record Collector, 1997

"I remember saying to Trevor Horn that I really hated the songs from that period. And he asked which ones. “There’s a terrible little thing on Wild Life called Bip Bop”, I said, “It’s just nothing”. And he said “You’re kidding, man, that’s one of my favourites!”. My son’s been playing it recently and I think it’s a cracking little track. I’d gone with the current opinion at the time, that it wasn’t much good."

Source: Bip Bop (song)

2018

"PM.com: You mentioned while you were remastering the track that you were perhaps a little embarrassed by the lyrics?

Paul: Well, definitely ‘Bip Bop’, I was, yeah. I mean, you know, we didn’t get good reviews for this because I think people were expecting something more sort of Beatle-like and I was purposefully digging my heels in saying, ‘We’re not gonna do that’. Just like an imitation of The Beatles. I didn’t feel like that was a good way to go. "

Source: You Gave Me The Answer' - 'Wild Life' Special

 

Gosh I sure hope it doesn't disappoint. Report back what you think either way.

 

To me, "One More Kiss" is where RRS starts verging into bubblegum territory -- teetering right on the brink of the AM radio crap that catered to 12 year olds that as a wise and worldly 16 year old I had come to despise. I hated this song when the album first came out. I don't mind it now, but it'll never be a favorite.

 

"None of Paul's recent work is comparable to My Love" strikes me as a major step forward. I'll take any of his recent love songs over that ode to mediocrity.

 

Love "Bip Bop". 10/10. It's like a nursery rhyme or nonsense poetry by Edward Lear. McCartney's good at playful songs + lyrics. I think it peaked with Wings in the 70s.

 

My Love rests on Paul's vocal to be the monster hit that it was. Unfortunately, Paul's new songs cannot rely on Paul's voice in the same way that his vintage songs used to. Feel free to substitute Maybe I'm Amazed for My Love if that makes the comparison or lack there of work for you with Paul's recent work.

 

Voice or not -- and we all miss those amazing pipes of years past -- Hand in Hand is just 1,00o times better than my love, even with the weaker vocal.

 

Get On The Right Thing - one of my three favorite songs on this album. Is the entire take from the Ram sessions or were there overdubs? Paul's vocal sounds much more Red Rose Speedway-era than Ram-era to me.

One More Kiss - meh, pretty basic. Not one of Paul's stronger songs.

 

There were overdubs, but I'm not sure if the vocal was among them. The Ram-era version of "Get On The Right Thing" released last year has a vocal that sounds pretty similar to the RRS version, albeit with some minor differences.

 

Nexct one
A very big one for me

Little lamb dragonfly

One should notice that in the credits on the archiwe-edition production credits goes to Paul McCartney and George Martin

This wonder of song was recorded during the Ram-sessions but somehow altered with harmony-vocals from Denny Laine. First verse is sang by Denny Seiwell. Orchestral arrangement by George Martin

Without a doubt this song is one of my all-time favorites from Mccarney-I still can get goosebumps and a lumpen throat listening to it. The music is shimmering, the different melodic patterns are top-tier McCartney and the performance is breath-taking. Even though the lyrics are child-like dealing with animals the sense of loss and sadness that the song communicates is heart-breaking-not least because of Pauls tour de force lead-vocals-imo one of his finest and most honest ever.
Little lamd dragonfly is a true masterpiece and it’s a bit of a shame the song is not more widely known. Music professor Robert Rodriguez described the tune of "Little Lamb Dragonfly" as "quietly haunting" with "the power to move people without their quite understanding why”. That s a good description of the song- as any I have seen.

I can t praise this one enough -it s simple one of those songs I always have-and always will love. Actually one of my all-time favorite song from anyone.

Wikipedia

"Little Lamb Dragonfly" is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings, credited to Paul and Linda McCartney and originally released on the 1973 album Red Rose Speedway. The song was originally recorded during the sessions for McCartney's Ram album in early 1971, and thus Hugh McCrackenplays guitar on the recording rather than Wings' guitarist Denny Laine.[1][2][3][4] However, Laine did provide backing vocals during the production work for Red Rose Speedway.[3][4] McCartney originally intended to use the song as part of his Rupert and the Frog Song animated film project.[1][2] Chip Madinger and Mark Easter noted that drummer Denny Seiwell may have assisted in writing the song, although he was not credited.[1]



Music professor Robert Rodriguez described the tune of "Little Lamb Dragonfly" as "quietly haunting" with "the power to move people without their quite understanding why."[4] The song is structured in three sections.[2] The first section is the "Little Lamb" segment, and is in the keys of D major and C major.[2] The middle section contains three verses of the "Dragonfly" part of the song, and is in E major.[2] In between the second and third "Dragonfly" verses, there is a repetition of some of the music from the "Little Lamb" segment, which helps the song maintain unity.[2]Finally, the third section is a short reprise of the "Little Lamb" segment.[2]

There have been several interpretations of what the song is about. One theory is that the song was inspired by the actual death of a sheep on McCartney's farm.[2] McCartney confirmed that this is at least partially correct in an interview in the late 1980s.[5] Another interpretation is that it tells a story of how McCartney became a vegetarian.[4] This interpretation is inspired by lines such as:[4]

My heart is aching for you little lamb

I can help you out but I cannot help you in.
Another interpretation is that the song contains a friendly message to John Lennon, particularly the lines:[4]

Since you've gone I never know

I go on but I miss you so.
However, Rodriguez believes the latter interpretation is unlikely, since other songs McCartney recorded during the Ram sessions seemed to be intended to provoke Lennon's anger.[4] Rather, Rodriguez believes that the lyrics are merely a number of phrases that McCartney strung together because they sounded good together, without intending any particular meaning.[4] Author Vincent Benitez described the lyrics as "childlike" and not as sophisticated as the music, noting that this is excusable given that the song was originally intended to be used in a children's film.[2]

Personnel

· Paul McCartney – vocals, bass

· Linda McCartney – backing vocals

· Hugh McCracken – guitar

· Denny Seiwell – drums vocals

· Denny Laine – backing vocals

· New York Philharmonic – orchestral arrangement George Martin

Critical assessment[edit]

John Blaney suggests that McCartney's decision to include this song on Red Rose Speedway may have been triggered by his realization that the album project was faltering, but suggests that "Little Lamb Dragonfly" is "too cute for its own good," stating that while "it may be marginally better than much of what Wings recorded for Red Rose Speedway, it still "fails to satisfy."[3] However, Chris Ingham considers this song and the hit single "My Love" two of the songs on which the album works, calling this song "underrated."[6] Rolling Stone critic Lenny Kaye also considered "Little Lamb Dragonfly" one of the best songs on Red Rose Speedway, calling it "soft and sensual," although he notes that the song relies too much on "la-la-las."[7] Billboard called the song one of the best cuts on Red Rose Speedway.[8] Author Ron Schaumburg described the song as "a delightful confection."[9] Richard Burgin of The Boston Globe called the song "truly wistful and lovely."[10]


I have no answer for you, little lamb
I can help you out, but I cannot help you in
Sometimes you think that life is hard
And this is only one of them

My heart is breaking for you, little lamb
I can help you out, but we may never meet again

[Chorus 2]
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la

Dragonfly, fly by my window
You and I still have a way to go

Don't know why you hang around my door
I dont live here any more
Since you've gone, I never know (since you've gone)
I go on, but I miss you so (I go on)

Dragonfly, don't keep me waiting
(I'm waiting, can't you see me, I'm waiting)
When we try, we'll have a way to go


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Dragonfly, you've been away too long
How did two rights make a wrong?
Since you've gone I never know (Since you've gone, I never know)
I go on, but I miss you so (I go on... I miss you so)
In my heart, the feel the pain (In my heart / feel of pain)
Keeps coming back again

Dragonfly, fly by my window
(I'm flying, can't you see me, I'm flying)
You and I can find a way to see (You and I... see)

Dragonfly, the years ahead will show
How little we really know
Since you've gone, it's never right
They go on, the lonely nights
Come on home and make it right

My heart is aching for you little lamb
I can help you out, but I cannot help you in

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la

 

Yes, this is a real masterpiece, an amazing song packed with genuine emotion.. It definitely brings tears to my eyes. Gorgeous music. 10/10

 

Little Lamb Dragonfly 15/10... alright, alright 10/10

My favorite on the album. Absolute classic. Beautiful, beautiful fully realized song.

Favorite line: How did two rights make a wrong?

Favorite part:
Since you've gone I never know (Since you've gone, I never know)
I go on, but I miss you so (I go on... I miss you so)
In my heart, the feel the pain (In my heart / feel of pain)
Keeps coming back again

We keep saying how some of the songs go on too long. If anything this one is too short.

This song is a master class on songwriting.

 

Little Lamb Dragonfly 5\5

A true masterpiece, one of my top ten Macca songs. The track is pure magic and can truly lift me up when I'm down.

 

Great
I was not akone in my un-contional love of Little lamb dragonfly
A defitnitive high-point

 

One More Kiss may be mediocre, but those guitar links are very imaginative!

 

Little Lamb Dragonfly is the best song on the record IMO, a stand-out, a classic. It’s moving and goosebump inducing.
10/10

 

Little Lamb Dragonfly - Masterpiece. So much passion in Paul’s vocal.

 

Has anyone heard the theory that the “little lamb” is supposed to be Julian Lennon and “dragonfly” John Lennon?

 

My Love: 5/5 On an album of mostly up tempo songs, Paul wisely gets the soft ballad out of the way early. Not much else to say about this iconic love song. I’m glad that Linda’s answer backs that they did in the live versions weren’t in the studio version. Not because of Linda but because they pretty much ruin the song for me.

Get on the Right Thing: 3/5 A gospel song of sorts. Nothing stellar here but definitely a big production and I like how the melody ascends the scales seemingly forever like your rising up to heaven. Halleluiah!

One More Kiss: 3/5 I always found this song endearing but there is something a bit clunky about it too.

Little Lamb Dragonfly: 4/5 Paul continues his crusade to namecheck every animal on the planet. A sweet song that slowly but effectively builds to a conclusion. Powerful and effective chord progressions abound as well. I also like Paul's power vocals too. I seem to be the odd duck out not giving it a perfect score.

 

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