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.
Sing The Changes
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the morning
Feel the quiet
Feel the thunder
Oh every ladder
Leads to heaven
Call it ransom
Draw the picture
Sing the changes
Oh as you're sleeping
Feel the quiet
In the thunder
Sing the changes
Calling over
Feel the quiet
In the thunder
Like the sun playing
In the morning
Feel the quiet
Feel the thunder
Oh every ladder
Leads to heaven
Colored pencils
Draw the picture
Sing your praises
As you're sleeping
Sing the changes
Any wonder
Feel the sense of
Childlike wonder
Sing your praises
As you're sleeping
Sing the changes
Oh as you're sleeping
Feel the quiet
In the thunder
Sing the changes
Calling over
Feel the quiet
In the thunder
Sing your praises
As you're sleeping
Feel the quiet
In the thunder
Sing the changes
Calling over
Everybody has a sense of
Childlike wonder
Sense of wonder
Sing your praises
As you're sleeping
Feel the quiet
In the thunder
Sing the changes
Calling over
Everybody has a sense of childlike wonder
The lyrics of Paul McCartney and The Fireman's song 'Sing The Changes' are suggestive of a deep, powerful message that deals with the changes in life. The song begins by describing the sun playing, alluding to the morning sun, and then proceeds to describe the feeling of quiet and thunder, which could represent the peaceful and tumultuous times in life. The mention of every ladder leading to heaven implies that each step one takes leads them closer to their goals, and that there might be a higher power or purpose behind all the changes that one goes through.
The lyrics also talk about drawing a picture, which can be interpreted as creating a visual representation of one's aspirations and dreams. The chorus suggests that one should 'sing the changes', which could mean embracing change positively and singing praises to oneself and the world around them, even in difficult times. There's a childlike wonder associated with the idea of change, which the lyrics mention towards the end, encouraging the listener to keep their sense of wonder alive.
Overall, the song seems to be a powerful reminder to embrace life's changes positively, to keep striving towards one's goals, and to maintain a sense of wonder and appreciation towards the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the sun playing
The feeling of warmth and brightness that comes from the sun is similar to the feeling of excitement and creativity that one experiences when making music.
In the morning
This feeling is strongest in the beginning of a new day, when one is full of energy and potential.
Feel the quiet
Despite the excitement, there is also a sense of stillness and calm that allows one's mind to focus on the task at hand.
Feel the thunder
At the same time, there is a powerful energy driving the creative process forward, like the sound of thunder in the distance.
Oh every ladder
Every step forward in the creative process is like climbing a ladder, moving one closer to reaching their goal.
Leads to heaven
Ultimately, this process of making music is about transcending the everyday world and reaching a higher state of being.
Call it ransom
This process is also a kind of sacrifice, requiring hard work and dedication, but it is worth it in the end.
Draw the picture
In order to achieve this higher state of being, one must be able to use their imagination and creativity to create something new and unique.
Sing the changes
The best way to achieve this is through music, which allows one to express themselves in a way that goes beyond words.
Oh as you're sleeping
Sometimes, the creative process even happens when one is resting, as the mind continues to work on new ideas even while asleep.
Calling over
Through the act of making music, one is reaching out to a higher power or divine force, seeking guidance and inspiration.
Feel the quiet
Despite the noise and chaos of the world, there is a sense of peace and stillness that comes from engaging with the creative process.
In the thunder
This peace and stillness is even more powerful when juxtaposed against the excitement and energy of the music-making process.
Sing your praises
Through music, one is able to celebrate their own unique talents and abilities, as well as the talents and abilities of others.
Any wonder
It is no surprise that music has the power to bring people together and inspire feelings of joy and positivity.
Feel the sense of
Through music, one is able to tap into a deep and profound sense of wonder and awe that extends beyond the ordinary world.
Childlike wonder
This sense of wonder is similar to the kind of innocence and curiosity that children possess, and it is a powerful force for good in the world.
Everybody has a sense of
The desire to create and express oneself through music is universal, and everyone possesses some degree of creative potential.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind