In a recent installment of his widely acclaimed podcast, A Life in Lyrics, the iconic musician Paul McCartney unveiled an intimate and poignant chapter from his past that left an indelible mark on one of The Beatles’ most iconic compositions, ‘Yesterday’. McCartney’s candid revelation not only sheds light on the profound emotional ties that can fuel timeless music but also adds layers of depth to his creative process.
The Genesis of “Yesterday”: McCartney’s Poignant Childhood Anecdote
Delving into the roots of the poignant lyric “I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday” from ‘Yesterday’, McCartney shared an intimate childhood memory where he inadvertently embarrassed his mother.
Recounting the incident from his youth, McCartney reminisced, “Sometimes it’s only in retrospect you can appreciate it. I remember very clearly one day feeling very embarrassed because I embarrassed my mum. We were out in the backyard, and she talked posh.” With Irish roots and a nursing profession, McCartney’s mother carried an air of sophistication, often using what he described as a “little bit Welshy” dialect. The musician vividly recalled the moment when he corrected her pronunciation, a memory that lingered with emotional weight over the years.
McCartney, baring his soul, revealed, “I know that she said something like, ‘Paul, will you ask him if he’s going…’ I went ‘Arsk! Arsk! It’s ask, mum.’ And she got a little bit embarrassed. I remember later thinking, ‘God, I wish I’d never said that.’ And it stuck with me. After she died, I thought, ‘Oh f*ck, I really wish…’” This childhood incident became a pivotal source of inspiration for ‘Yesterday’, released in 1965 on The Beatles’ album ‘Help!’, ultimately becoming one of the most covered songs in music history.
McCartney’s Thoughtful Insights on Songwriting
Expanding on the emotional nuances of his songwriting, McCartney pondered on whether his mother’s passing subconsciously influenced his lyrics, musing, “When she died, I wonder, ‘I said something wrong,’ are we harking back to that crazy little thing. So I don’t know. Does this happen? Do you find yourself unconsciously putting songs into girl lyrics [about a lost lover] that are really your dead mother? I suspect it might be true. It sort of fits if you look at the lyrics.”
Beyond the revelations about his mother, McCartney has unearthed intriguing connections between his songs and pivotal aspects of his life. In a different episode of A Life in Lyrics, he explored the unexpected parallels between ‘Let It Be’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’, discovering that the phrase ‘Let it be’ originated in a dream about his mother, ultimately shaping the core theme of the song. These personal insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the intricate layers of McCartney’s songwriting process.
Paul McCartney’s Unfiltered Expression
McCartney’s openness about the intimate and emotional facets of his music serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact personal experiences can have on artistic expression. The narrative behind ‘Yesterday’ exemplifies the profound connection between an artist’s life and their creative output.
McCartney’s shared regret regarding the incident that embarrassed his mother underscores the emotional bond between personal experiences and music. This singular moment, etched in the lyrics of ‘Yesterday’, magnifies the transformative power of individual experiences throughout an artist’s career. McCartney’s willingness to delve into these deeply personal memories adds an unparalleled layer of meaning to his timeless music, rendering it even more relatable and cherished by fans across the globe.
