She was also best known as the first wife of English musician Paul McCartney and for her photographs of celebrities and contemporary musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Rolling Stones. She photographed British musician Eric Clapton for Rolling Stone magazine and became the first woman to have a photograph on the cover (May 11, 1968). After she married McCartney, her photo of the two of them appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone on January 31, 1974, making her the only person to appear on the magazine's cover who was also the photographer. Her photographs were later exhibited in more than 50 galleries internationally, and at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
After the 1970 breakup of The Beatles, Paul and Linda recorded the album Ram and formed the band Wings in 1971. They garnered several Grammy Awards, becoming one of the most successful British bands of the 1970s. The McCartneys also shared an Oscar nomination for the song "Live and Let Die" for the James Bond film of the same name. She continued to be part of her husband's touring band following Wings' breakup in 1981 up until The New World Tour in 1993.
McCartney became an animal rights activist and wrote and published several vegetarian cookbooks. She also founded the vegetarian Linda McCartney Foods company with her husband. In 1995, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and died from the disease three years later at the age of 56 in her home of Tucson, Arizona.
Linda's album Wide Prairie, which included "Seaside Woman", a song recorded by Wings in 1972. Written in response to allegations from Paul's publisher that Linda's co-writing credits were inauthentic and that she was not a real songwriter, it was released posthumously in 1998 by the McCartney family.
The White Coated Man
Linda McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What is this feeling?
Why can't I move?
Sometime today they'll set me free
I'll hear a voice and it will be my friend,
The white coated man
Where's the wind? Where are the leaves?
Sometime today they'll set me free
I'll hear a voice and it will be my friend,
The white coated man
If man wants life and eternity
Then men must pay and men must see
That we are theirs to mind
But man is the voice, man is the law
If man gets sick he will find a cure
Our friend, the white coated man
In the distance people are laughing
Do they know about me?
Why can't I see?
And they will pay, the silent ones
And they will pay, the silent ones will pay
The silent ones will pay
The silent ones will pay
The silent ones will pay
The lyrics of Linda McCartney's song The White Coated Man are haunting and mysterious. The opening lines, "Through the bars and morning light, What is this feeling? Why can't I move?" suggest a feeling of imprisonment and powerlessness. The second verse continues in this vein, as the singer wonders what has caused her pain and why she can't see. The theme of being trapped and isolated continues until the bridge, where the lyrics take a philosophical turn. "If man wants life and eternity, Then men must pay and men must see, That we are theirs to mind" implies that there is a cost to the pursuit of knowledge and success. The chorus comes back in with its refrain of "our friend, the white coated man," implying that those who created the singer's pain are also the ones who are going to set her free.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the bars and morning light
The singer is trapped behind bars and it is morning outside
What is this feeling?
The singer is experiencing an emotion they cannot describe
Why can't I move?
The singer is physically restrained and unable to move
Sometime today they'll set me free
The singer believes they will be released from captivity later on that day
I'll hear a voice and it will be my friend,
The white coated man
The singer is anticipating hearing the reassuring voice of their doctor, whom they consider a friend
Where's the wind? Where are the leaves?
The singer is wondering about the state of the outside world, which they cannot see
What happened? Why this pain?
The singer is in pain and is questioning why it has happened to them
If man wants life and eternity
Then men must pay and men must see
That we are theirs to mind
Humanity must take care of and be responsible for other living creatures if they want to live a fulfilling life
But man is the voice, man is the law
If man gets sick he will find a cure
Our friend, the white coated man
Humanity has the power to make and enforce rules, including ones to find cures for diseases. The singer views doctors as allies
In the distance people are laughing
Do they know about me?
Why can't I see?
The singer can hear people laughing, but cannot see them, and wonders if they know about their situation
And they will pay, the silent ones
And they will pay, the silent ones will pay
The silent ones will pay
The silent ones will pay
Those who are not taking action to help or speak up for the singer will eventually face consequences for their inaction
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stevegamez2825
I agree so many animals in this world are mistreated and harmed for no reason I trust animals more than humans thanks Mrs.McCartney for a great video I will always remember you for what you stood for against animals cruelty.
@fabgearfaverave
Another great RARE video! Thanks so much Paul! Love this song - lyrics especially!
@umalunatica
For me, this song is her top notch.
I think her voice is good, the instruments are strong but also fits and the production is high
@MxCartney
I love you so much Linda, miss you everyday also can we talk about this this song tackles lab tested animals! How risky and badass especially from the 1990s
@fibrofrecuencia
love so much this song....love you Linda
@jaynepowderhill1932
I share my home with rescued cats. I wouldn't be here without them. All we have to do is be kind
@kittyhunter3595
yes same here I foster bottle baby kittens for my local shelter and get them adopted
@pedromaldonado112
such a great message ! great song thank Linda Angel
@xbrandi12345x
I really like this song ❤️
@jesse2d
There's a picture related to this song, I think it's in the album pullout. It shows and pig cowered down with a human face on it and standing over it is a human with the pigs face about to slaughter it. It gave me chills looking at it. Even the song is so deep and emotional in it's meaning especially considering how animals rely on us for so much and are truly innocent. When the song states that the animal's friend is a white coated man it's enough to make you cry.