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.
My Brave Face
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been living in style,
Unaccustomed as I am
To the luxury life,
I've been hitting the town
And it didn't hit back
Unaccustomed as I am
To the time on my hands,
Now I don't have to tell anybody
When I'm going to get back
Ever since you went away
I've had this sentimental inclination
Not to change a single thing
As I pull the sheet back on the bed,
I want to go bury my head
In your pillow
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face,
Where I can't find my brave face,
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My brave face
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife,
I've been breaking up
Dirty dishes and throwing them away
Ever since you left I have been trying to
Compose a 'baby will you please come home' note
Meant for you
As I clear away another
Untouched t.v. dinner
From the table, I laid for two
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face,
Where I can't find my brave face,
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My brave face
“My Brave Face” by Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello is a song that speaks about the struggles that come with a broken relationship. The singer introduces the song by mentioning that since the time his partner left, he’s been living a luxurious life hitting the town, where it doesn’t hit back. This indicates that alcohol and materialistic things can never fill the emptiness left by the absence of a loved one. The singer admits that he isn’t used to such privileges but explains that he doesn't have to check in with anyone since he's not in a relationship anymore.
The chorus describes how the smallest things in his life lead him to that place where he can’t find his ’Brave Face.’ This means that even though he tries to put up a strong face and move on with his life, deep inside, he's unable to do so. Even as he pulls the sheet back on the bed, he still can't believe that his partner left him. In the second verse, he talks about trying to adapt to the role of a housewife, doing chores like clearing away another TV dinner from a table that he laid for two. He mentions that he's been trying to compose a ‘baby, will you please come home note,’ implying his desire for things to be as they were before.
Overall, the song is about the singer’s struggle to move on after a heartbreak, even though he seems to be living the life of luxury. It showcases the difficulties people face when trying to adapt to a sudden change in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
My brave, my brave, my brave face
The singer is determined to put on a brave face in the aftermath of a breakup.
I've been living in style,
Despite his heartache, the singer has been enjoying a luxurious lifestyle.
Unaccustomed as I am
The singer is acknowledging that this kind of lifestyle is not typical for him.
To the luxury life,
The singer is enjoying the finer things in life such as expensive clothing, restaurants, and events.
I've been hitting the town
The singer has been going out on the town and enjoying the nightlife.
And it didn't hit back
The singer has been having a good time and has not encountered any problems or negative consequences.
I've been doing the rounds
The singer has been going out and socializing with various people.
To the time on my hands,
The singer has a lot of free time on his hands now that he is not in a relationship.
Now I don't have to tell anybody
The singer is enjoying the freedom of being single and not having to update anyone about his whereabouts or schedule.
When I'm going to get back
The singer is free to come and go as he pleases without having to worry about anyone else's schedule or expectations.
Ever since you went away
The singer has been struggling to deal with the loss of a relationship.
I've had this sentimental inclination
The singer has been feeling sentimental and nostalgic for the relationship he lost.
Not to change a single thing
The singer is reluctant to move on or change anything about his life since the breakup.
As I pull the sheet back on the bed,
The singer is going through the motions of everyday life, such as making the bed, but is finding it difficult to move on.
I want to go bury my head
The singer is feeling overwhelmed by his emotions and wants to escape from the pain he is feeling.
In your pillow
The singer wants to feel close to his ex-partner by burying his head in their pillow.
Now that I'm alone again
The singer is feeling the full weight of his loneliness now that he is no longer in a relationship.
I can't stop breaking down again
The singer is finding it difficult to control his emotions and is breaking down in tears frequently.
The simplest things set me off again
Even small things can trigger the singer's emotions and cause him to break down.
And take me to that place
The singer is taken to a place of emotional pain and heartache when he thinks about the relationship he lost.
Where I can't find my brave face,
The singer is finding it difficult to put on a brave face and deal with his emotions after the relationship ended.
Where I can't find my brave face,
The singer is experiencing a deep sense of sadness and struggle to move on from the relationship.
My brave, my brave, my brave face
The singer is trying to reassure himself that he can put on a brave face and overcome the pain of the breakup, but is struggling to do so.
I've been living a lie
The singer is admitting that he was not being honest with himself or his ex-partner about how he was feeling in the relationship.
To the work of a housewife,
The singer is acknowledging the work that his ex-partner did as a homemaker and feeling a sense of loss due to her absence.
I've been breaking up
The singer has been having trouble dealing with the reality of the breakup and has been struggling to move on.
Dirty dishes and throwing them away
The singer is frustrated and lashing out due to the pain of the breakup, even in small ways like throwing away dirty dishes.
Compose a 'baby will you please come home' note
The singer is hoping to rekindle the lost relationship by writing a note to his ex-partner asking them to come back.
Meant for you
The singer is expressing that the note he is writing is intended for his ex-partner specifically.
As I clear away another
The singer is going through the motions of everyday life, like clearing away dishes after a meal, but is finding it difficult to move on.
Untouched t.v. dinner
The singer is feeling the loss of his ex-partner's presence even in small, mundane ways like an untouched TV dinner.
From the table, I laid for two
The singer is feeling the emptiness and loss in his home since his ex-partner left.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Uéliton Mendes
Escutei essa música em por volta de 1989, 1990, quando eu tinha uns 13 anos ao ir em um McDonald's do centro do Rio.....depois de ouvi-la nesse dia, ficou cauterizada na mente até hoje.
My Brave Face
/
Letras
My brave, My brave, My brave face
I've been living in style
Unaccustomed as I am
To the luxury life
I've been hitting the town
And it didn't hit back.
I've been doing the rounds
Unaccustomed as I am
To the time on my hands
Now I don't have to tell anybody
When I'm going to get back.
Ever since you went away
I've had this sentimental inclination
Not to change a single thing
As I pull the sheet back on the bed
I want to go bury my head
In your pillow.
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face
Where I can't find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face.
My brave face.
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife
I've been breaking up
Dirty dishes and throwing them away.
Ever since you left I have been trying to
Compose a 'baby will you please come home' note
Meant for you.
As I clear away another
Untouched t.v. dinner
From the table I laid for two.
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face
Where I can't find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face.
My brave face.
GASTON SITANUSA
Lyrics :
My brave, My brave, My brave face
I've been living in style
Unaccustomed as I am
To the luxury life
I've been hitting the town
And it didn't hit back.
I've been doing the rounds
Unaccustomed as I am
To the time on my hands
Now I don't have to tell anybody
When I'm going to get back.
Ever since you went away
I've had this sentimental inclination
Not to change a single thing
As I pull the sheet back on the bed
I want to go bury my head
In your pillow.
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face
Where I can't find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face.
My brave face.
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife
I've been breaking up
Dirty dishes and throwing them away.
Ever since you left I have been trying to
Compose a 'baby will you please come home' note
Meant for you.
As I clear away another
Untouched t.v. dinner
From the table I laid for two.
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face
Where I can't find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face.
My brave face.
leokimvideo
Paul always had a great looking mullet. Not many can pull that off in such style.
John Smith
Keith Emerson did it first and better.
LEONIN
leokimvideo best comment around
Rick smith
I had just like him
OlivSneijderEnz_2021
yeah never lost her protruding cheeks, And her way gentalha gentalha
Julius Cepeda
This song was a breathe of fresh air when it was released in ‘89. The mid ‘80’s weren’t kind to Paul. A lot of people thought Paul may have lost his touch. This song and the album Flowers in the Dirt showed that Paul still had his magic.
James Byers
Agreed!!
Flowers In The Dirt is rather hit and miss for me, but this song is sensational!! :-)
Brandon HAYGOOD
Even today with Egypt station he still has the magic.
Lisa Cunningham
It's an awesome album...Elvis Costello gave it the impetus it needed. And I saw Paul and the band live in 1990. Best damn concert I ever saw, I will never forget that night. MAGICAL doesn't begin to describe it. BTW Paul is still looking for that Hofner bass!
Alabar Jhoni
at times it reminds me of much too late for goodbyes