A self-taught musician, McCartney is proficient on bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums. He is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing (mainly playing with a plectrum), his versatile and wide tenor vocal range (spanning over four octaves), and his eclecticism (exploring styles ranging from pre-rock and roll pop to classical and electronica). McCartney began his career as a member of the Quarrymen in 1957, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Starting with the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, he gradually became the Beatles' de facto leader, providing the creative impetus for most of their music and film projects. His Beatles songs "And I Love Her" (1964), "Yesterday" (1965), "Eleanor Rigby" (1966) and "Blackbird" (1968) rank among the most covered songs in history.
In 1970, McCartney debuted as a solo artist with the album McCartney. Throughout the 1970s, he led Wings, one of the most successful bands of the decade, with more than a dozen international top 10 singles and albums. McCartney resumed his solo career in 1980. Since 1989, he has toured consistently as a solo artist. In 1993, he formed the music duo the Fireman with Youth of Killing Joke. Beyond music, he has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights, seal hunting, land mines, vegetarianism, poverty, and music education.
McCartney is one of the most successful composers and performers of all time. He has written or co-written 32 songs that have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2009, had sales of 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States. His honours include two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1999), 18 Grammy Awards, an appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1965, and a knighthood in 1997 for services to music. As of 2020, he is also one of the wealthiest musicians in the world, with an estimated fortune of £800 million.
Best known for primarily using a plectrum or pick, McCartney occasionally plays fingerstyle. He was strongly influenced by Motown artists, in particular James Jamerson, whom McCartney called a hero for his melodic style. He was also influenced by Brian Wilson, as he commented: "because he went to very unusual places". Another favourite bassist of his is Stanley Clarke. McCartney's skill as a bass player has been acknowledged by bassists including Sting, Dr. Dre bassist Mike Elizondo, and Colin Moulding of XTC.
During McCartney's early years with the Beatles, he primarily used a Höfner 500/1 bass, although from 1965, he favoured his Rickenbacker 4001S for recording. While typically using Vox amplifiers, by 1967, he had also begun using a Fender Bassman for amplification. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he used a Wal 5-String, which he said made him play more thick-sounding basslines, in contrast to the much lighter Höfner, which inspired him to play more sensitively, something he considers fundamental to his playing style. He changed back to the Höfner around 1990 for that reason. He uses Mesa Boogie bass amplifiers while performing live.
McCartney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Beatles and again as a solo artist in 1999. In 1979, the Guinness Book of World Records recognised McCartney as the "most honored composer and performer in music", with 60 gold discs (43 with the Beatles, 17 with Wings) and, as a member of the Beatles, sales of over 100 million singles and 100 million albums, and as the "most successful song writer", he wrote jointly or solo 43 songs which sold one million or more records between 1962 and 1978. In 2009, Guinness World Records again recognised McCartney as the "most successful songwriter" having written or co-written 188 charted records in the United Kingdom, of which 91 reached the top 10 and 33 made it to number one.
McCartney has written, or co-written, 32 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: twenty with the Beatles; seven solo or with Wings; one as a co-writer of "A World Without Love", a number-one single for Peter and Gordon; one as a co-writer on Elton John's cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"; one as a co-writer on Stars on 45's "Medley"; one as a co-writer with Michael Jackson on "Say Say Say"; and one as writer on "Ebony and Ivory" performed with Stevie Wonder. As of 2009, he has 15.5 million RIAA certified units in the United States as a solo artist plus another 10 million with Wings.
Credited with more number ones in the UK than any other artist, McCartney has participated in twenty-four chart topping singles: seventeen with the Beatles, one solo, and one each with Wings, Stevie Wonder, Ferry Aid, Band Aid, Band Aid 20 and "The Christians et al." He is the only artist to reach the UK number one as a soloist ("Pipes of Peace"), duo ("Ebony and Ivory" with Wonder), trio ("Mull of Kintyre", Wings), quartet ("She Loves You", the Beatles), quintet ("Get Back", the Beatles with Billy Preston) and as part of a musical ensemble for charity (Ferry Aid).
"Yesterday" is one of the most covered songs in history with more than 2,200 recorded versions, and according to the BBC, "the track is the only one by a UK writer to have been aired more than seven million times on American TV and radio and is third in the all-time list ... [and] is the most played song by a British writer [last] century in the US". His 1968 Beatles composition "Hey Jude" achieved the highest sales in the UK that year and topped the US charts for nine weeks, which is longer than any other Beatles single. It was also the longest single released by the band and, at seven minutes eleven seconds, was at that time the longest number one. "Hey Jude" is the best-selling Beatles single, achieving sales of over five million copies soon after its release.
In July 2005, McCartney's performance of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with U2 at Live 8 became the fastest-released single in history. Available within forty-five minutes of its recording, hours later it had achieved number one on the UK Official Download Chart.
In December 2020, the release of his album McCartney III and its subsequent charting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 earned McCartney the feat of being the first artist to have a new album in the top two chart positions in each of the last six decades.
A Hard Day's Night
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
To get you money to buy you things
And it's worth it just to hear you say
You're gonna give me everything
So why on earth should I moan
Because when I get you alone
You know I feel okay
When I'm home everything seems to be right
When I'm home feeling you
Holding me tight, tight, yeh
It's been a hard day's night
And I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright ah!
So why on Earth should I moan
'Cause when I get you alone
You know I feel okay
When I'm home everything seems to be right
When I'm home feeling you
Holding me tight, tight, yeh
It's been a hard day's night
And I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night
I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
You know I feel alright
You know I feel alright
In "A Hard Day's Night," Paul McCartney captures the exhaustion and weariness of a long day's work, while acknowledging that the love and support from his partner makes it all worthwhile. The lyrics convey the feeling of being completely spent after a day of hard work, comparing it to the fatigue experienced by a dog. McCartney longs for rest and sleep, expecting to "be sleeping like a log." However, when he arrives home, he realizes that the love and affection from his partner is enough to rejuvenate and uplift his spirits. The little things she does for him bring comfort and joy, making him feel alright again.
The second verse reveals McCartney's dedication to providing for his partner. He expresses that he works tirelessly throughout the day to earn money in order to buy her things. The satisfaction he receives is not solely from material possessions but from hearing her affirm that she will give him everything in return. This reinforces the idea that their love and mutual support outweighs any hardships or complaints. McCartney appreciates the simplicity and intimacy of being alone with his partner, where he feels content and at ease.
Overall, "A Hard Day's Night" explores the contrast between the challenges of daily toil and the restorative power of love and connection. McCartney finds solace and happiness in the embrace of his partner, emphasizing that their relationship brings balance and makes him feel alright, even after a hard day's work.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been a hard day's night
Today has been a challenging and exhausting day
And I've been working like a dog
I have been working tirelessly and with great effort
I should be sleeping like a log
I should be getting a good, deep sleep
But when I get home to you
However, when I arrive home and see you
I find the things that you do
I am pleasantly surprised by the actions you take
Will make me feel alright
They bring me comfort and make me feel content
You know I work all day
You are aware that I spend my entire day working
To get you money to buy you things
I work hard to earn money so that I can provide you with material possessions
And it's worth it just to hear you say
The satisfaction I feel when you express gratitude makes it all worthwhile
You're gonna give me everything
You promise to give me your love and support unconditionally
So why on earth should I moan
Therefore, I have no reason to complain or express dissatisfaction
Because when I get you alone
Because when we are alone together
You know I feel okay
I feel content and at ease in your presence
When I'm home everything seems to be right
When I am in the comfort of our shared living space, everything feels in harmony
When I'm home feeling you
When I am home and experiencing your presence
Holding me tight, tight, yeh
Embracing me closely and securely
It's been a hard day's night
Today has indeed been challenging and tiring
And I've been working like a dog
I have been exerting myself like a tired and overworked canine
But when I get home to you
However, as soon as I return to your presence
I find the things that you do
I discover the gestures and actions you perform
Will make me feel alright ah!
They bring me comfort and alleviate my weariness
So why on Earth should I moan
Thus, there is no reason for me to complain
'Cause when I get you alone
Because when we are alone together
You know I feel okay
I feel content and satisfied in your company
You know I feel alright
You are aware that I feel content and at ease
You know I feel alright
You are fully aware that I feel content and at ease
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Weapons Education
A band who wrote 200 plus hits, that is amazing. Plus Pauls solo music, I'm still amazed!
Sun
Baby I'm amazed, too.
Weapons Education
@Justice for James Paul McCartney I'm Elvis
Justice for James Paul McCartney
Paul died on September 11 1966. This is William Shepherd.
Monochrome Yoshi
It’s nice to see Paul have a good time singing old songs.
Justice for James Paul McCartney
Paul died on September 11 1966. This is William Shepherd.
Angela Acton
Stop bashing Sir Paul. He doesn't use auto tune or lip sync. He sings live so deal with it or don't listen. He is older. Big deal. You can thank him for his generosity of sharing his talent with the world and changing music forever. Hats off to you Sir Paul.
Justice for James Paul McCartney
Paul died on September 11 1966. This is William Shepherd.
Angela Acton
@Ultimate Agent
Aren't you rude.
TOM s
I love you Paul McCartney!