Favourite Paul McCartney lyrics.

[Philbiker]

Here Today

And if I say I really knew you well
What would your answer be.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.

Well knowing you,
Youd probably laugh and say that we were worlds apart.
If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.

But as for me,
I still remember how it was before.
And I am holding back the tears no more.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- I love you, ooh-

What about the time we met,
Well I suppose that you could say that we were playing hard to get.
Didnt understand a thing.
But we could always sing.

What about the night we cried,
Because there wasnt any reason left to keep it all inside.
Never understood a word.
But you were always there with a smile.

And if I say I really loved you
And was glad you came along.

If you were here today.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- for you were in my song.
Ooh- ooh- ooh- here to - day.

Paul's eulogy for his friend John. One of the few songs that literally brings tears to my eyes. Not his most brilliant or poetic work, but moving. Paul's work as a lyricyst runs tha gamut from great to horrible. Some of his lyrics, particularly some of the Wings stuff, and the song "Freedom" is so painfully bad it makes me cringe, while some of his other stuff is sublime and beautiful.

 

[Mystic Michael]

I'm really reluctant to agree when people say that Lennon is the better wordsmith of the two. Certainly, he's the most eccentric and daring, but he was also very formulaic in his own way...Also, Lennon songs tend to be more personal and emotional, mostly in the first person, while McCartney's tend to be less personal and more conventionally crafted. I think Lennon had the wilder mental imagery, but IMO, McCartney is generally broader in his writing and more elegant in his choice of words, which sometimes makes him seem less creative. I think it's the contrast between the two that made them so interesting. They really complemented each other.

Interesting observations. And certainly in keeping with their respective temperaments & personalities, i.e. Lennon having been more of the passionate, radical, authority-challenging, Bohemian type; McCartney being more conservative & status quo, concerned with proper craft & form.

One could say that Lennon was more the visionary; McCartney more the artisan...

MM