Wild Life
Wings Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The world "wild" applies to the words "you" and "me".

While take a walk through an African park one day,
I saw a sign say, "The animals have the right of way".

Wild life, whatever happened to,
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

We're breathing a lot,
a lot of political nonsense in the air.

You're making it hard for the people who live in there.
You're moving so fast, but, baby, you know not where.
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?

You'd better stop, there's animals ev'rywhere,
And man is the top, an animal too,
And, man, you just got to care.

Wild life, what's gonna happen to,
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

You're breathing a lot of political nonsense in the air.

Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)

Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?

Overall Meaning

The song "Wild Life" by Wings is a commentary on the disregard for natural world and the threat to the survival of animals in their natural habitat. The opening line of the song, "The word 'wild' applies to the words 'you' and 'me'" suggests that humans are also part of the wild life and need to coexist with the wild. The lyrics then describe a visit to an African park where the singer encounters a sign that says "The animals have the right of way," indicating that humans should not interfere with the animals' habitat, but rather respect it.

The chorus of the song asks "whatever happened to" the animals in the zoo, highlighting the fact that animals are increasingly being confined to cages, and their natural habitats are being destroyed by human activity. The lines "you're breathing a lot of political nonsense in the air" and "you're moving so fast, but, baby, you know not where" point to the lack of awareness about the consequences of human actions on the environment.

The song concludes with a message of hope, urging humans to stop and care for the animals in the wild. The line "man is the top, an animal too, and, man, you just got to care" emphasizes the fact that humans are not superior to other animals, but rather part of the same ecosystem.

Line by Line Meaning

The world "wild" applies to the words "you" and "me".
Both "you" and "me" are part of the wildness of the world.

While take a walk through an African park one day, I saw a sign say, "The animals have the right of way".
While walking through an African park, the songwriter saw a sign indicating that animals have the right of way.

Wild life, whatever happened to, Wild life, the animals in the zoo?
What happened to the wildness of the world, and what's happening to the animals in captivity?

We're breathing a lot, a lot of political nonsense in the air.
There's an abundance of political nonsense polluting the world.

You're making it hard for the people who live in there.
You're making it difficult for people who inhabit this environment.

You're moving so fast, but, baby, you know not where.
You're moving quickly, but you don't really know where you're going.

Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
What's going to happen to the world's wildness, and what's happening to the animals that are confined in zoos?

You'd better stop, there's animals ev'rywhere, And man is the top, an animal too, And, man, you just got to care.
You must stop because animals are all around, and humans are at the top of the animal kingdom. You need to care for them.

Wild life, what's gonna happen to, Wild life, the animals in the zoo?
What's going to happen to the world's wildness, and what's happening to the animals that are confined in zoos?

You're breathing a lot of political nonsense in the air.
There's an abundance of political nonsense polluting the world.

Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to (what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to) Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo? (what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
What's going to happen to the world's wildness, and what's happening to the animals that are confined in zoos?

Wild life, what ever happened to? What ever happened to?
What happened to the world's wildness?

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Linda McCartney, Paul James McCartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Mumbo3:56

02Bip Bop4:10

03Love Is Strange3:33

04Wild Life6:40

PT6M40S

Wings

05Some People Never Know6:37

06I Am Your Singer2:30

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@victorramirez8199

40w↑16

While taken a walk thru an african park one day
I saw a sign say, "the animals have the right of way"
Wild life, whatever happened to
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?
We're breathing so hard
A lot of political nonsense in the air
You're making it hard
For the people who live in there
You're moving so fast, but, baby
You know not where
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
You'd better stop, there's animals everywhere
And man is the top, an animal too
And, man, you just got to care
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
You're breathing a lot of
Polical nonsense in the air
You're making it hard
For the people who live in there
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
(What's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
(What's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
(What ever happened to?)
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?

@eduardvilageliuprats6000

2y↑35

Si George Martin tuvo la tentación de que en los Beatles el cantante solista fuera solo él por algo sería.

Es un cantante extraordinario. Y no lo digo yo. Lo dice la historia de la música.
¿Sabéis lo difícil que es cantar así mientras tocas un instrumento?

Aquí hace una exhibición de sus múltiples registros y rangos de voz.

Llevaba décadas detrás de esta interpretación entera.
Tiene una versión en Bélgica bestial también.
Su último grito "wild Life" estremece.

El día que traspase la gente se dará cuenta de que no solo es un gran compositor y músico sino que, además, es uno de los mejores cantantes de música pop de todos los tiempos.

@homelessmeatball

1y↑1

Lyrics:
The world "wild" applies to the words "you" and "me".

While take a walk thru an African park one day,
I saw a sign say, "The animals have the right of way".

Wild life, whatever happened to,
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

We're breathing a lot,
a lot of political nonsense in the air.

You're making it hard for the people who live in there.
You're moving so fast, but, baby, you know not where.
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?

You'd better stop, there's animals ev'rywhere,
And man is the top, an animal too,
And, man, you just got to care.

Wild life, what's gonna happen to,
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

You're breathing a lot of polical nonsense in the air.

Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?

@ivanescobar3593

2y↑4

While take a walk thru an African park one day
I saw a sign say: The animals have the right of way

Wild life, whatever happened to
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

We're breathing a lot
a lot of political nonsense in the air

You're making it hard for the people who live in there
You're moving so fast, but, baby, you know not where
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?

You'd better stop, there's animals ev'rywhere
And man is the top, an animal too
And, man, you just got to care

Wild life, what's gonna happen to
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?

You're breathing a lot of polical nonsense in the air

Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
(what's gonna happen to) (what's gonna happen to)
Wild life, what ever happened to?
What ever happened to?

All comments from YouTube:

@victorramirez8199

40w↑16

@user-ur6ht8dn3b

31w↑1

Спасибо большое. Привет из Санкт-Петербурга.

@rossetti2612

1y↑30

this version is a masterpiece. paul’s voice is perfect, i’m crying

@eliot327

2y↑152

2:07
This is a prime example of why Paul is so impressive. He has an ability to not only write an amazing melody(counter melodies, harmonies, etc) but to vary that melody on a whim in a way that is at once completely unexpected and utterly perfect. He does it with his basslines constantly. Here he is doing it with his voice. He is a true musical genius. Arguably the best to ever do it.

@siroswaldfortitude5346

2y↑11

I used to view Macca as a Genius...these days I see him more as a God!

@eliot327

2y↑3

@@siroswaldfortitude5346 I mean yeah he's on the Mount Rushmore of musical greats in my opinion musical legend. So glad I was able to see him live even though he was about 50 years before my time.

@metoo9360

1y↑2

@@eliot327 I saw him about 50 years ago when I was 11... his musical genius is timeless!

@patrickwalsh2869

21w

His vocal abilities are really so impressive

@isaacheeks6264

3y↑272

This version is far superior to the album version in my opinion. Paul's vocals are so much more raw, and the keyboard part is much more pleasing to listen to.

@thamnosma

2y↑6

I will respectfully disagree as this one is missing that long outro of the studio version which is so celestial. I Want You on Abbey Lane has that same extended hypnotic ending.

@RockinAllDay

52w↑5

@@thamnosma Abbey Lane? It's "Abbey ROAD".

@thamnosma

52w↑2

Lol. Auto correct. Didn’t notice that

@jellybIood

42w↑2

Well, the album version was recorded in one take, so any other live performance he did of the song has the chance to be better than the studio version

@brywool

2y↑290

Jesus, his voice KILLS here. SO freaking amazingly good.

@sunking2001

2y↑3

Unfortunately...Paul's voice has thousands of miles on it. I've seen him 7 times...beginning in 1976..."Wings Over America" tour...last time 2010 SF Giants baseball stadium. He needs to stop singing...All Things Must Pass.

@brywool

2y↑3

@@sunking2001 Yeah.... I actually skipped his last show in Seattle (and I've been to all of em since 76). Love the guy, but his voice has definitely taken a hit over about the last 10 years and I just don't want to remember him like that. Somewhere after the US tour, something changed vocally for him. Probably just age, but it really was a drastic change. That being said, the last time I saw him in Seattle, at Safeco Field, he was really great live. So surprised that he doesn't use IEMs. I think it'd help him.

@sunking2001

2y↑4

@@brywool Some voices last longer than others...some singers are more "gifted" with their voice than others. Paul has "ran the course" with the thousands of concerts he has sang over the years. I'm sure he has performed around 3,500 concerts by now. As we get older...myself included...I'm 68...and your body and all it's parts...age...including Paul's voice. I do not want to see him "live" because of those reasons.

@brywool

2y↑1

@@sunking2001 Agreed. I'm 59, and have been a rock singer since I was a kid. It DOES catch up with you- I am also 'there'. There ARE, however, things you can do to help. I remember a few years ago, he was seeing a vocal coach. He mentioned he was late to see them in one of his interviews, but at the same time, I got the feeling that he wasn't taking it very seriously, which... I mean- somebody is gonna tell A BEATLE how to sing?? Unfortunately, as we age, we manipulate our voices in the wrong ways 'just to get it out' and then it becomes habit. I think, with the right teacher, he could be helped- and I think IEMs would help for sure. But, boy, he had some glorious years with those pipes.

@Allan-et5ig

2y↑3

@@sunking2001 '76 show was killer.

5 More Replies...

@jods1

2y↑167

Easily one of the best live vocal performances of all time!

@siroswaldfortitude5346

2y↑8

agreed

@bryanwilson8652

1y↑43

Crazy how he was just 29 here. What a powerhouse he was through his 20s and beyond. This guy had the talent and wisdom of someone 50 years older.

@Good9tTo9t

3y↑150

The music is a calm background, and Paul's vocals are like a punch to the face. Just like the nature when humans came along.

@onecello9577

2y↑4

dead on! He rocks over the ostinato the way humans have rocked the foundations of the natural world

@Wenyi108

👏

@welltoucansamatthatgame

Like the Beatles song Don't Let Me Down

@user-uj4bj6qm8s

2y↑33

В мире никогда больше не будет такого талантливого композитора и певца .

@franciscocardozo2117

Damon Albarn

@alfredonavarrete2058

2y↑3

@@franciscocardozo2117 🤣

@danteespinosa5670

27w↑2

@@franciscocardozo2117😂😂😂

1 More Replies...

@randomgamers2914

2y↑55

In my opinion one of the best or maybe even Paul's best live preformence, this was amazing, and such a underrated album/song

@israelpaez8052

2y↑45

Dios que voz!! Para mí el mejor artista de la música.

@robocoptrolazo1530

2y↑2

Es increíble como se adaptaba a cualquier cosa esta canción es tipo reggae y suena como si fuera su género inicial

@alfredonavarrete2058

2y↑7

@@robocoptrolazo1530 Qué esperabas? Es Paul McCartney, el Dios de la música del siglo 20

@DylThaGamer

35w↑9

Paul is so amazing. Hands down has one of the best voices of all time. The rasp in his voice gives me goosebumps every time without fail. I personally think the talent he has with all the instruments he plays, his song writing, his voice and how he combines it all to always seem to put something out there that's fresh, enjoyable and unique, won't ever be replicated again. I hope 100 years from now he's remembered as much as Beethoven and Mozart are now, he is certainly a legend in our time.

@arcticfoxinsox

1y↑10

God his voice is so insanely good here. I wish he did more songs where he sounded like this, stuff like monkberry moon delight

@MoreCovers

2y↑82

Bro, this song is so severely underrated omg.

@RCMather1980

43w↑5

More of this stuff from 1972/73 needs to be properly released. Wings were a great live rock band, a fact that gets overlooked.

@jeffersonjuradotorre7840

1y↑14

Paul McCartney is a amazing bass player, singer, composer and person. 1 in a Billion

@eduardvilageliuprats6000

2y↑35

@alfredonavarrete2058

2y↑2

La versión en Bélgica no la puedo encontrar en ningún lado):

@LeonGameRoom

2y↑36

Nuthin but a masterpiece. See that’s what I like about music in the past - every live sounds WAAAAY better than an original, and every live is somehow different from the last one. Love it! Thanks for posting it, it means a lot for people like me

@bassesatta9235

2y↑2

This wasnt 100% live. It was one of the many 70s fake concerts (which is why its filmed on 35mm film and has impeccable quality). Theyd usually film a few takes and even sometimes overdub their performances with better takes. So it was live but not fully live and they usually invite a small handful of fake audiences. Another example was the eagles capitol records performance in 1977. They filmed it across 2 days before their actual live performance.

@mariaalejandra2913

3y↑27

Excelente material! La voz de Paul increíble! Gracias!

@heliopolis

20w

What a voice. No one has ever screamed so melodically.

@GibbyBoy2831

2y↑18

Just watched his Glastonbury set at 80 - so thought it would be apt to come back to this. Scary the power he once had on his voice.

@THEJ0KER0815

1y↑1

why is it scary ? u cannot compare the voices after so a long time he is singing

@GibbyBoy2831

1y↑5

@@THEJ0KER0815 scary in the sense of how good he was not as in frightening.

@THEJ0KER0815

@@GibbyBoy2831 the i missunderstood your comment, sry <3

@sunking2001

2y↑18

I have loved this song from the first time I heard it. It is a classic statement...even today 12/13/2021.

@Allan-et5ig

2y↑1

When I first heard it I thought it was stupid and simplistic while admiring his singing. But it's grown on me to the point I think - why, he's right.

@ThePurpleSheep

2y↑29

I think it’s one of Paul’s performance ever here. And that’s saying a lot.

@arneemilbredland2339

2y↑3

It says it all.

@javieraugusto67

1y↑3

This is one of the best performance´s ever!!

@cfcantagallo

2y↑6

Such a cool song sung with such a powerful, cool voice, the one and only Paul!

@dupont135

2y↑11

I don't like rockstars behaving as rolemodels, but I like this song. There's a message, I hear it. The band, actually pretty good!

@alfredonavarrete2058

2y↑2

Paul nunca se comportó como un modelo a seguir, que dices!

@TRSMGSTO

2y↑9

Hermosa canción ❤️ me inspira amor a la tierra

@finw6844

2y↑27

fucking wished he sang more like this on his albums man he could belt it out just as much as John

@Jadair215

2y↑17

Paul's deep voice makes me crazy.

@plasticgazzaband

2y↑23

Paul expressed the view after Hey Jude his singing was even more effective when he combined contrasting vocals of rage and soft vocals

@dranelemakol

2y↑3

It's true! Do you have the source for that quote? Or where he said it

@diegogarcia2868

1y↑3

Increible , la descubro hasta ahora, que voz

@marcusmalone

51w↑5

Really underrated song. Partly cos the live versions were superior to the original imo.

@uziel9814

2y↑17

Paul Is the Best singer !

@carolynnaayem6251

2y↑6

Wonderful! BEATLES RULE FOREVER.

@TheDestefanofilms

2y↑28

Better than the original

@iloveyouserjjx

2y↑18

masterpiece

@serjxsecundaria8494

mt mano

@mrJimCharles

41w

Paul sounding very souled out LOVE IT!!!

@helenehamon1237

1y↑3

Masterpiece 😍

@iisai9109

39w

I keep, returning to this over and over and over again… it has something, something special

@estebangabinocortesvergara7913

3y↑6

Mucho tiempo esperando esto, simplemente gracias 💚💛❤️

@juansanti98

38w↑1

El mejor músico.

@felppo

2y↑2

o que o paul mccartney faz nesse video é SACANAGEM
QUE VOZERÃO

@deives5

2y↑15

So light... so calm... like a train crash

@jeanclaudejaffry94

2y↑4

Amazing song ! Paul and wings

@cesarmendez6367

Otra joya de Paul esa pieza

@andrenogueira924

Brabo demais essa fase do Paul!!!

@justinfletcher9732

22w

mccartney had that raw voice, unbelievable

@rafayell

3y↑12

wow, the image quality is on another level, great

@joag6974

3y↑37

Wow, amazing quality, Where can i see the full show??

@KitsuBeatles

3y↑10

It was released on Blu-Ray

@robotcitizen101

2y↑1

Just Magnificent! Thanks for uploading :)

@junca77

3y↑3

Maravilhoso...

@ryanrusso2954

51w↑2

Damn so much better than the album version...

@benp.5698

20w

Wow, what a voice! Also, he was somewhat ahead of the time rocking a mullet in 1972 😂

@brantleyg81

2y↑4

Such a great version. I feel like Paolo Nutini was inspired by this song when he wrote IRON SKY

@AdrianaCappai

2y↑2

Wauwww yeesss spot on!!

@ramonsanchez7961

2y↑2

One the great presentations to play this wild life song where it invites us to preserve animal wildlife 🎸🎹🥁

@RyanAlbuquerque

1y↑1

his voice is fucking amazing here. his best vocal performance

@steventunes1145

25w

Truely amazing 👏

@ameliabvv

2y↑3

Te amo Paul McCartney.

@mikemitchell1485

35w↑1

Loved the Beatles. But I've always said his voice peaked later with Wings. He's unreal and doesn't get the recognition that he should for his vocals.

@Claudio-ud3rp

3y↑8

amazing quality!!

@JeddorianJalapeno

love this song and always heard the roots from Almost Cut My Hair..just as the bridge fm band on The Run more or less came out of JC Superstore.. See My Eyes I can hardly see.. a master of drawing on inspsirations for fresh music

@cristobalnunezgonzalez741

2y↑2

Guau, que versión

@patkeeg1

29w

Wow! Can Paul belt it out.

@MrThedonhead

45w↑1

Greatest songwriter ever!! If Lennon wrote this we would never hear yhe end of it! McCartney kicked the shit out bowie the band pink Floyd Zeppelin

@UnclBerry

2y↑5

Beautiful

@reynolpersgarcia628

Excelente ,juega en otra liga ...lo triste es que mucho no se han enterado...los críticos claro.!

@theflamingfatman

32w

It's interesting--the critical response to this type of McCartney song is usually to call it 'trite' or something along those lines. That's what he's criticized for, when he is criticized, for being just a little too shallow. And yet in Brian Wilson the more child-like the better, that's the whole genius of Brian. "In My Room" is, rightly I think, a masterpiece. Something like this from Paul? He wasn't really trying.

@thiagon16

2y↑4

Best than album version, great

@josecastilhorodriguesjunio9088

👏👏👏👏👏👏❤

@Jeans11234567

1y↑1

2:25 Cool effect he made on the scream there!

@ps9773

2y↑3

So cool to see this, thank you

@arturecords

2y↑3

Damn! Amazing!

@jeanvaljean202

41w

Toda mí vida esperé que Paul incluya en un ser list: wild life, some people never know, tomorrow, dear boy, single Pigeon, Little lamb dragonfly, cafe no the left bank, daytime nightime, old Siam sir, Wanderlust, no More lonely nights, pipes , etc, etc, etc

@misha6278

2y↑1

Paul sounds like a dang songbird here!

@lucasneon

3y↑14

Wooo we time travelers got it good

@kn1091

3y↑3

Perfection

@fabienniezgoda5512

49w↑2

2:32 There is always in this song a moment when Macca sings "the aMINals in the zoo". Here it is again...

@Piggy-Oink-Oink

wow a complete Wildlife amazing

@shuddupeyaface

2y↑10

"A whole lot of political nonsense in the air" couldn't sound more topical than ever.

@javiervillalabrada7699

3y↑9

Please remix Beatles songs:
Magical mistery tour
Rain ( increase vocals)
For no one ( increase piano)
Old brown shoe ( better vocals sound)

@KitsuBeatles

3y↑1

I’m not good enough with audio, sorry

@steveshattah339

2y↑1

And please improve the drums on the Decca session tapes.

@Bella-nt7ec

2y↑1

Mind-blowing Macca

@kam0eb

1y↑1

McCartney forever

@alepellista8661

3y↑7

Yo kitsu wtf this is amazing

@moralesjulian6015

2y↑1

Amazing, Big paul

@RealTimeTravelLive

30w

Солнечный остров скрылся в туман! :)

@homelessmeatball

1y↑1

@CARLWISE2008

2y↑2

Fabulous

@204776439

2y↑2

His mullet period was clearly the only time he really sucked, briefly, though he was about to come out with his volley of an incredible string of mesmerizing solo major hits on and on throughout the 70's. He did suck again later in the 90's but at the end of the day, we're all only human and he is possibly the greatest song writer of all time, thank you Paul for everything.

@alfredonavarrete2058

2y↑1

Calla

@alejandronebotpalomero9689

36w

❤❤❤❤❤❤

@victorkennedy8887

45w↑1

Paul was so much better than John and George live. Compare this video to the concerts John and George were doing in 1972. McCartney was in another level.

@markydh83

29w↑1

You only have to watch Beatles gigs to see that Paul was the best live. The others did it because they had to and it showed. Paul is just a natural entertainer.

@LoDr13456

Oh man he from 70 80 90 so changed so fast i mean the style of music i mean in beatles is yes

@imlookingthroughyou1501

3y↑3

Wild life from wild life

@SilkRouteRui

Ahead of their time. 2023 revisits 1972

@ivanescobar3593

2y↑4

@sebastianbrenner476

2y↑2

his fucking voice...

@bluusong

1y↑1

❤️

@lukasiguess

3y↑1

I feel like you already uploaded this but I’ll roll with it

@6CWA

I don't think it has been uploaded

@KitsuBeatles

I didn’t

@GiulianoDiButi

Grandiose

@desoxido

3y↑13

2:50 polluted oranges. That's wild.

@de1738

Wow Wave

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