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.
And I Love Her
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her too
I love her
She gives me everything
And tenderly
She brings to me
And I love her
A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
The lyrics to Paul McCartney's song "And I Love Her" express a deep and unwavering love towards a special someone. McCartney declares that he gives her all of his love and if others were to see her, they would love her as well. He loves her entirely and she returns the same love by giving him everything and bringing tenderness to their relationship. Their love is described as one that will never die as long as they are together. McCartney wants to keep her as close as possible to make sure that their love stays strong.
The lyrics also touch on the notion of beauty in the darkness. The bright stars that shine and the dark sky symbolize the contrasting emotions that can exist in a relationship. But despite the darkness, McCartney knows that his love will never die, and he loves her for who she is, even in dark times.
Overall, "And I Love Her" is a beautiful and heartfelt love song that expresses a deep and powerful love that endures through thick and thin. McCartney's lyrics are a testament to the power of love and the unwavering devotion that can exist between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
I give her all my love
The subject is devoted to the recipient, putting all of their affection towards them.
That's all I do
Actions taken by the subject all revolve around providing the recipient with love.
And if you saw my love
The recipient's qualities are viewed as valuable and lovable to others.
You'd love her too
Others would also be inclined to direct affection towards the recipient due to their endearing attributes.
I love her
The subject holds strong romantic admiration towards the recipient.
She gives me everything
The recipient reciprocates by providing the subject with a source of fulfillment.
And tenderly
The recipient's actions and words are gentle, caring, and affectionate.
The kiss my lover brings
Physical affection, specifically kissing, provided by the recipient is a representation of their love.
She brings to me
The recipient is actively involved in contributing to the subject's well-being and contentment.
A love like ours
The relationship between the subject and recipient is unique and special.
Could never die
The love between the subject and recipient is strong enough to withstand any challenges or changes in circumstances.
As long as I
The relationship can continue as long as the subject is present in the recipient's life.
Have you near me
The subject is committed to being in close proximity to the recipient in order to maintain the relationship.
Bright are the stars that shine
The world is full of beauty and wonder.
Dark is the sky
Even amidst the beauty, there are still elements of darkness and uncertainty.
I know this love of mine
The subject is confident in their feelings towards the recipient and the authenticity of their love.
Will never die
The love between the subject and recipient is timeless and enduring.
And I love her
The subject concludes the song by reaffirming their love for the recipient.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Topazthecat
Here is a very good 1999 E! True Hollywood Story,The Beatles Wives which has interviews with people close to them and explains how truly sexually wild The Beatles were,especially the early Beatles during their touring years with their totally fake cleaned up image wearing the suits and ties many of these were young women groupies, many who were just teen girls who were screaming in their concerts, and in addition to all of the affairs with women they had while John, George and Ringo were married to their first wives and Paul had his girlfriend British actress Jane Asher since April 1963 just 2 weeks after she turned 17 years old and Paul was 2 months away from turning 21 and who became his fiancé on Christmas day 1967.
Then in early July 1968 Jane came home unexpectedly early from touring with her theatre company and she found Paul in their bed with another woman and she ran out of the house and Paul’s life forever devastated.
On July 20,she announced on the popular BBC talk show Dee Time, that her engagement to Paul was off and they had been lovers for 5 years and they were engaged for 7 months by then.
Paul wrote a lot of great songs for and about Jane including And I Love Her and also wrote a lot of great songs about the arguments he had with her which were all his fault because he was sexist and selfish ,he wrongly kept pressuring Jane to give up her acting career that she loved and been doing since she appeared in her first film when she was only 5 years old.
All of this was totally left out of Ron Howard's totally sanitized inaccurate Eight Days A Week: The Touring Years documentary.
Here it is on my youtube channel,
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiyQgp9kn-7OkOkAIrxTezg
Mary Ann Davis
This is one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. I love this version.
Jose Gerardo Corrales
This version is the one a mariachi would play. Very romantic.
Topazthecat
Here is a very good 1999 E! True Hollywood Story,The Beatles Wives which has interviews with people close to them and explains how truly sexually wild The Beatles were,especially the early Beatles during their touring years with their totally fake cleaned up image wearing the suits and ties many of these were young women groupies, many who were just teen girls who were screaming in their concerts, and in addition to all of the affairs with women they had while John, George and Ringo were married to their first wives and Paul had his girlfriend British actress Jane Asher since April 1963 just 2 weeks after she turned 17 years old and Paul was 2 months away from turning 21 and who became his fiancé on Christmas day 1967.
Then in early July 1968 Jane came home unexpectedly early from touring with her theatre company and she found Paul in their bed with another woman and she ran out of the house and Paul’s life forever devastated.
On July 20,she announced on the popular BBC talk show Dee Time, that her engagement to Paul was off and they had been lovers for 5 years and they were engaged for 7 months by then.
Paul wrote a lot of great songs for and about Jane including And I Love Her and also wrote a lot of great songs about the arguments he had with her which were all his fault because he was sexist and selfish ,he wrongly kept pressuring Jane to give up her acting career that she loved and been doing since she appeared in her first film when she was only 5 years old.
All of this was totally left out of Ron Howard's totally sanitized inaccurate Eight Days A Week: The Touring Years documentary.
Here it is on my youtube channel,
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiyQgp9kn-7OkOkAIrxTezg
Adam Walch
Wow. Absolutely agree that this is not only one of the Beatles' greatest songs, but one of the prettiest love songs of all time. BUT, I think this version lacks all of the original's integrity and feeling
Angela Dallimore
Yes it is ❤
L Bell
who is blonde singing with Paul?
Lisa Cunningham
Who else misses the days when MTV played great music like this?
Fredrick Taylor
I miss them so much 😭...
How do you feel when listening to this song dear Lisa ?
Sail129
This is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Ethereal beauty💜
duhneesy
i love how i can hear every instrument being played and i can hear each of the singers voices very clearly, beautiful.