Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942 - Liverpool, England) is a British singer, musician and songwriter, who first came to prominence as a member of The Beatles. Linda McCartney established herself as a professional photographer in the rock and roll scene, and met her second husband, Paul McCartney, while photographing groups for a book titled Rock and Other Four Letter Words in 1967. They met at a night club called the Bag o' Nails in May of 1967 and married in 1969. After the breakup of the The Beatles in 1970, Paul began teaching Linda to play keyboards, and included her in the lineup for his new band, Wings. Although Linda was shunned by music critics for her amateur singing and playing skills, Wings garnered several Grammy Awards for their music, and became one of the most successful bands of the 1970s.
Dear Boy
Paul & Linda McCartney Lyrics
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I guess you never knew, dear boy, that she was just the cutest thing around
I guess you never knew what you had found, dear boy
I guess you never saw, dear boy that love was there
And maybe when you look too hard, dear boy, you never do become aware
I guess you never did become aware, dear boy
But her love came through and brought me 'round
Got me up and about
When I stepped in, my heart was down and out
But her love came through and brought me 'round
Got me up and about
I hope you never know, dear boy, how much you missed
And even when you fall in love, dear boy
It won't be half as good as this
I hope you never know how much you missed
Dear boy, how much you missed, dear boy
In Paul & Linda McCartney's song Dear Boy, Paul addresses someone who has lost or let go of a great love without fully realizing what they had. He sings, "I guess you never knew, dear boy, what you had found" and "I guess you never saw, dear boy that love was there." The chorus repeats that sentiment, emphasizing how the person didn't understand the value of the love they had.
Paul then brings in his own experience, saying that when he first met the woman in question, he was "down and out" but her love helped bring him back up. The implication here is that the person who lost this love missed out on that kind of life-changing connection.
The song ends on a bittersweet note, with Paul expressing hope that the person who missed out on this love will never know what they missed, "how much you missed, dear boy." It's a poignant message about valuing the things and people we have before they're gone.
Overall, Dear Boy is a beautiful love song with a slightly melancholic edge. It speaks to the importance of recognizing and cherishing love, as well as the way one great love can change a person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess you never knew, dear boy, what you had found
You weren't aware of how valuable and special she was
I guess you never knew, dear boy, that she was just the cutest thing around
You were clueless to her charm and attractiveness
I guess you never knew what you had found, dear boy
You didn't realize the treasure you had discovered
I guess you never saw, dear boy that love was there
You were blind to the presence of love in your life
And maybe when you look too hard, dear boy, you never do become aware
Trying too hard to find love may prevent you from recognizing it
I guess you never did become aware, dear boy
You never became conscious of what you were missing
When I stepped in, my heart was down and out
I was emotionally broken when I entered the picture
But her love came through and brought me 'round
Her love lifted me up and gave me hope
Got me up and about
She motivated me to move forward with my life
I hope you never know, dear boy, how much you missed
I hope you never experience the regret of missing out on something special
And even when you fall in love, dear boy
Even if you do find love
It won't be half as good as this
It won't compare to what we had
I hope you never know how much you missed
I hope you never realize the magnitude of what you lost
Dear boy, how much you missed, dear boy
The amount you missed out on is significant, my friend
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LINDA MCCARTNEY, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bryan G
I guess you never knew, dear boy
What you had found
I guess you never knew, dear boy
That she was just the cutest thing around
I guess you never knew
What you had found, dear boy
I guess you never saw, dear boy
That love was there
And maybe when you look too hard, dear boy
You never do become aware
I guess you never did
Become aware, dear boy
When I stepped in
My heart was down and out
But her love came through
And brought me 'round
Got me up and about
Dear boy
Dear boy, dear boy
Dear boy
When I stepped in
My heart was down and out
But her love came through
And brought me 'round
Got me up and about
I hope you never know, dear boy
How much you missed
And even when you fall in love, dear boy
It won't be half as good as this
I hope you never know how much you missed
Dear boy, how much you missed, dear boy
JD Aeon
I guess you never knew, dear boy, what you have found,
I guess you never knew, dear boy,
That she was just the cutest thing around,
I guess you never knew what you have found,
Dear boy.
I guess you never knew, dear boy,
That love was there.
And maybe when you look to hard, dear boy,
You never do become aware,
I guess you never did become aware,
Dear boy.
When i stepped in, my heart was down and out,
But her love came through and brought me 'round,
Got me up and about.
Dear boy,
Dear boy, dear boy,
Dear boy.
When i stepped in, my heart was down and out,
But her love came through and brought me 'round,
Got me up and about.
I hope you never know, dear boy,
How much you missed.
And even when you fall in love, dear boy,
It won't be half as good as this.
I hope you never know how much you missed,
Dear boy, how much you missed
Flaming Pi
You know what? I feel like if this song was on a Beatles album, people would be heralding it as one of the greatest ever written
Rosa
I do anyway!
Anthony O'Donnell
You're right. I mean, is a great Beatles tune like "Hello Goodbye" substantially better?
The Don
It's genius
Jose Antonio Duclaud
“Dear Boy” actually has some of the very best vocal harmonies ever heard in a rock album. In fact, Elton John referred to the RAM album vocal harmonies as amongst the best he’d ever listened. What’s even more amazing is that Linda was truly a novice singer, which goes to show Paul’s tutorship skills.
Martti Suomivuori
I do not think you could call her an empty vessel...
Peter Davis
The song is brilliant compositionally, McCartney's vocals are brilliant but it's really really hard to hear Linda in lieu of John on the harmonies...
Meh’taverse ☭
Let’s be honest I agree with you on some parts yes I agree the vocals on this INDIE album has some of the best despite Linda being better than what you might say I agree with you on almost all the other parts
Mikael Schulin
Awesome composition and the vocal harmonies certainly also impressed Brian Wilson
Mike Mcdonnell
Song about her first hubby