Paul McCartney is known for having a curious and creative mind. He had extensive knowledge in a lot of aspects. His Beatles songs were highly avant-garde and inventive since he was continuously experimenting with various sounds and instruments.
Outside of music, McCartney has worked on numerous projects in fields like fashion design, painting, photography, and video art which makes him a genius. He has always pushed his boundaries when it comes to creativity. Once, he even used his creativity and knowledge of literature, to be precise William Shakespeare to write the last lyrics of ‘The End’.
Paul has credited many literary people from the past as his heroes. He has spoken about Dylan Thomas, Oscar Wilde, Allen Ginsberg, French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry, Eugene O’Neill, and Henrik Ibsen. Paul’s book ‘In The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present’ was the one to document it. Even the editor of the book has said Paul’s ability comes from having a curious and creative mind. According to Penguin Book, “A young McCartney would go to the Royal Court theatre in Liverpool and eavesdrop on other people’s conversations to pick up opinions, criticisms, and turns of phrase.”
It is also revealed that Paul’s appreciation was sparked by his English teacher whose name was Alan Durband. He was a teacher at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys. Muldoon wrote in the book, “Alan Durband had a very good education himself, He was educated at Cambridge and that was extended to his own classroom. What Paul was exposed to there was really quite phenomenal.”
Paul even wrote, “He inspired my love of reading and opened things up for me so much that I came to live for a while in a fantasy world drawn from books.”
Paul was into literature more than anyone can think. He even believed he would have pursued a career in literature if he hadn’t been in a band. According to him, John didn’t have much interest in literature like he did. He wrote John, “never had anything like my interest in literature, though he was very keen on Lewis Carroll and, in particular, Winston Churchill. His Aunt Mimi had lots of books by Churchill in the front parlour. Not a bad basis for an education.”
About pursuing literature he disclosed, “I often muse upon what might have happened, had I not ended up in a band that rather took over my life. I wonder about the path I thought I was on with my A level in English literature and where that might have led me.”
And now, how Shakespeare inspired the final lyric in the song “The End”. He explained, “When you think about it, it’s been the workhorse of poetry in English right the way through. Chaucer, Pope, Wilfred Owen. I was particularly fascinated by how Shakespeare used the couplet to close out a scene, or an entire play.”
“Just taking a swing through Macbeth, for example, you’ll find a few humdingers, like: ‘Receive what cheer you may: The night is long that never finds the day.’ Or ‘I go, and it is done; the bell invites me/ Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell/ That summons thee to heaven or to hell.'”
Paul has given an explanation of how this was Shakespeare’s way of saying, “That’s it, folks.” He added, “And in the end, the love you take/ Is equal to the love you make.” The Beatles expressed the same sentiment in their song “The End.”
McCartney held a strong belief in the ability of literature to move and inspire, and he thought that it was an essential component of any person’s education who aspired to true enlightenment. We’re glad he got to pursue both of his passions in one life.
