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.
Junk
Paul & Linda McCartney Lyrics
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Bicycles for two
Broken-hearted jubilee
Parachutes, army boots
Sleeping bags for two
Sentimental jamboree
"Why? Why?" Says the in junk the yard
Da-da-ya, da-da-da-da-da-da
Da-da-ya-da, da
Da-da-da-da-da
Da-da
Candlesticks, building bricks
Something old and new
Memories for you and me
"Buy, buy," says the sign in the shop window
"Why? Why?" Says the in junk the yard
Da-ahh, ohh-whoa
The opening line of "Handle bars, bicycles for two" in Paul & Linda McCartney's song Junk, paints a picture of a romantic and nostalgic scene. The line describes two people riding on a bicycle, a symbol of a simple and carefree life. This introduction of the bicycle theme lays the groundwork for the rest of the lyrics which incorporate various symbolic images of everyday objects.
The succeeding lines include "Broken hearted jubilee, parachutes, army boots, sleeping bags for two, sentimental jamboree, candlesticks, building bricks, something old and new, memories for you and me". These objects symbolize different aspects of life – a mix of joy, sadness, and remembrance. This collection of ordinary objects is meant to inspire reflection on the value of memories and the significance of commonplace objects that are often discarded.
The chorus includes the lyrics "Buy buy says the sign in the shop window, Why why says the in junk in the yard" which serve to underscore the fleeting nature of human experience and the hollowness of consumerism. These lines suggest that the objects we accumulate through life can be discarded or devalued easily and do not hold intrinsic value. The melancholic tone of McCartney's singing and the acoustic guitar accompaniment of the song only add to the emotional appeal of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Handle bars
Reminiscing about riding bikes built for two
Bicycles for two
Remembering the times shared with a past lover
Broken hearted jubilee
Feeling bittersweet about the memories that still bring joy despite a broken heart
Parachutes, army boots
Remnants of past adventures, both exciting and frightening
Sleeping bags for two
Recollecting times camping or traveling with a former partner
Sentimental jamboree
A collection of meaningful possessions that bring back memories of a past romance
Buy buy says the sign in the shop window
Consumerism trying to sell more material possessions
Why why says the in junk the yard
Questioning the value of purchasing more things since there is already an abundance of unused things in the world
Candlesticks, building bricks
A mix of decorative and functional objects from the past
Something old and new
A combination of antique and contemporary items
Memories for you and me
These objects may hold significant memories for the singer and his former partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul McCartney
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