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.
Good Times Coming/Feel the Sun
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pack up your bags and yell "Geronimo".
That was a golden summer, laught a lot.
Laughing at the good times coming,
Laughing at the good times coming in.
Good times coming, laughing at the good times coming in.
There was something about the weather, what can I say?
That was a silly season, was it the best?
We didn't need the reason, just a rest.
Happy at the good times coming,
Happy at the good times coming in.
Good times coming, happy at the good times coming in.
I'm loving you, I'm loving you, I'm loving you now.
I'm loving you, I'm loving you, I'm loving you now.
There was a golden summer before the war
They laughed a lot that summer, lah de dah
Laughing at the good times coming,
Laughing at the good times coming in.
Good times coming, laughing at the good times coming in.
Good times coming... good, good. good times coming in... good, good.
Feel the sun shine in, shine in, shine in. feel the sun
Shining in on you.
Feel the sun shine in, shine in, shine in. feel the sun
Shining in on you.
All the beauty, all the pain. will it ever be the same again?
If you love me, show me now. it's the only way that we know how.
Feel the sun shine in, shine in, shine in. feel the sun
Shining in on you.
Feel the sun shine in, shine in, shine in. feel the sun
Shining in on you.
In "Good Times Coming/Feel the Sun Shine," Paul McCartney reminisces about a summer long ago, describing it as a "golden summer," where he laughed a lot and didn't need any reason to just rest. He then reflects on the present and sings about how he is currently loving someone. He then returns to describing the carefree days of the past, laughing at the good times that were coming in, where the weather was unlike any other holiday.
The song carries themes of nostalgia, love, and the importance of enjoying the present moment. McCartney nostalgically recalls a summer during a simpler time, where he and his friends were able to relax and laugh carelessly. The present, however, is not denied, as McCartney sings about the present moment, loving someone deeply. Overall, the song is about the preciousness of memories and the inevitability of changes in life, and the need to cherish the present while it lasts.
Line by Line Meaning
I was thinking about that summer so long ago
Remembering a past summer and reflecting on the memories associated with it.
Pack up your bags and yell "Geronimo"
Get ready for an adventure and jump into it with excitement.
That was a golden summer, laught a lot.
Describing the past summer as a special and happy time with a lot of laughter.
Laughing at the good times coming,
Looking forward to and anticipating more good times in the future.
Laughing at the good times coming in.
Anticipating future good times with joy and positivity.
There was something about the weather, what can I say?
Recalling a specific atmosphere and mood associated with the past summer.
Nothing like any other holiday.
Emphasizing the uniqueness and specialness of the past summer compared to other vacations or holidays in the past.
That was a silly season, was it the best?
Reflecting on the fun and carefree nature of the past summer and questioning if it was the best time ever.
We didn't need the reason, just a rest.
Highlighting the importance of taking breaks and relaxing during vacations or holidays regardless of the reason behind it.
Happy at the good times coming,
Feeling joyful and content at the prospect of more good times in the future.
Happy at the good times coming in.
Excited and optimistic about future good times ahead that will bring happiness and positivity.
I'm loving you, I'm loving you, I'm loving you now.
Expressing love and affection towards someone in the present moment.
There was a golden summer before the war
Recalling a past summer that was filled with happiness and positivity before a period of conflict or hardship.
They laughed a lot that summer, lah de dah
Describing how the people in the past summer were carefree, happy, and laughed a lot.
Good times coming, laughing at the good times coming in.
Anticipating and enjoying the thought of more good times to come in the future with happiness and positivity.
Good times coming... good, good. good times coming in... good, good.
Reiterating the excitement for future good times with a repeated phrase in a positive and joyful tone.
Feel the sun shine in, shine in, shine in. feel the sun Shining in on you.
Encouraging the listener to embrace the warmth and positivity of the moment, and feel the happiness and joy within.
All the beauty, all the pain. will it ever be the same again?
Questioning whether life will bring experiences that are as beautiful or as painful as those in the past, and wondering if the present and future can match up to those moments.
If you love me, show me now. it's the only way that we know how.
Urging the importance of expressing love and affection towards someone in the present moment rather than waiting for the future as it's the only time that we are certain of.
Contributed by Adrian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.