For Paul, turning 64 is a song sung blue

The Washington Times ^ | 18 June 2006 | Dan Campbell

[SkyPilot]

And not just any birthday: Mr. McCartney celebrates his long-anticipated 64th today, an occasion he immortalized 39 years before the actual event when he wrote "When I'm Sixty-Four" for the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.

The song is, of course, a wry preview -- from the perspective of youth -- of the cozy domestic bliss of an imagined old age. But domestic meltdown is more like the situation at the McCartney household, as Paul and Heather Mills McCartney recently filed for divorce after six years -- four of them as man and wife -- and one baby (2-year-old Beatrice) together. Oh, Paul will get by with a little help from his attorneys, but it won't be cheap.

[SkyPilot]

If I recall, Paul's former wife (Linda Eastman) had lots of money on her own and didn't need his.

It really is a tragedy. They seemed to love each other deeply.

[SkyPilot]

Surely it could have been -- at least between globetrotting tours -- had the true love of his life, the former Linda Eastman, not died of cancer at age 56 in 1998. But for that untimely loss, it is unlikely things would have degenerated so badly on the domestic front. Paul and Linda apparently enjoyed the type of well-worn companionship and matrimonial harmony that "When I'm Sixty-Four" envisioned. She wasn't much of a singer, but Linda was apparently a heck of a wife and mother.

[Northern Yankee]

Today I'll be he's singing "In my Life" rather than "When I'm 64".

In My Life

There are places I remember All my life, though some have changed,
Some forever, not for better, Some have gone and some remain.
All these places had their moments, With lovers and friends I still can recall,
Some are dead and some are living, In my life I’ve loved them all.
But of all these friends and lovers, There is no one compared with you,
And these mem’ries lose their meaning When I think of love as something new.
Though I know I’ll never lose affection For people and things that went before,
I know I’ll often stop and think about them In my life I love you more.
Though I know I’ll never lose affection For people and things that went before,
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more.
In my life I love you more.

[Northern Yankee]

Whoops...

Today I'll bet he's singing "In my Life" rather than "When I'm 64".

[at bay]

One heart o' gold, one gold-digging grifter. One out o' 2 ain't bad!

[HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath]

Abbey Road, if you want to hear the Beatles at their pinnacle.

You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper
and in the middle of negotiations
you break down
I never give you my number
I only give you my situation
and in the middle of investigation
I break down

Boy, you gotta carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you gotta carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.

[GBA]

Perhaps "three's a charm"

[Sam Hill]

"an occasion he immortalized 39 years before the actual event when he wrote "When I'm Sixty-Four" for the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album."

Actually, McCartney wrote the song as a teenager for when his father turned 64.

"If I recall, Paul's former wife (Linda Eastman) had lots of money on her own and didn't need his."

Not really "lots." Her father was an entertainment lawyer. (Not the photography Eastmans, as many think.)

[flaglady47]

You know, those are really beautiful lyrics. I think most people can read this and relate it to their own lives. I can.

[JCEccles]

If he does, he'll be singing John Lennon's lyrics.

It is very clear that he adored Linda. She, not fame, was the center of his universe. I didn't agree with Paul and Linda McCartney's politics, but they made a marriage and family work the old-fashioned way. And I admire that.

[Northern Yankee]

It's always been one of my favorite songs.

I thought it was John's.

If he does, he'll be singing John Lennon's lyrics.

Might do him some good to sing John's songs every now and then. ; )

[JCEccles]

Many years ago by his own admission, perhaps Paul McCartney's favorite song (and written not by a Beatle, but a Beach Boy):

God Only Knows

I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
Ill make you so sure about it

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you

God only knows what I'd be without you

If you should ever leave me
Well life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows

[newzjunkey]

Err "song sung blue" is a line from a Neil Diamond tune. How did that end up in a story about Paul McCartney?

[SkyPilot]

Thans Sam - I was curious about that.

[SkyPilot]

Almost sacrilegious to include an Neil Diamond song in an article about McCartney.

[Tribune7]

Paul is going to sing Neil Diamond?

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Abbey Road, if you want to hear the Beatles at their pinnacle.

For me, their pinnacle was more like 1963.

[LRS]

Since this thread seems to be hopping in all directions with diverse song writers, I'll suggest Paul sing this recent addition to the Ray Davies library:

Is There Life After Breakfast?


Lift yourself out of the doldrums
Make yourself a cuppa tea
Drag your emotions out of the gutter
Don't wallow in self pity

When you wake up, all of a fluster
Thinking life has passed you by
Give yourself a kick up the backside
Jump out of bed and punch the sky

Is there life after breakfast
Full of possibilities
Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast
So don't live in agony
Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast

Cheer up son, put on the kettle
There's no point in being glum
Make your mind up, try to forget her
Boil the tea and I'll be mum

Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast
So don't live in agony
Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast

After breakfast
Life after breakfast
After breakfast

Just because all of the plumbing
Isn't all it used to be
Turn the tap, see, a little bit's coming
That must make you feel relieved

Don't turn into a total embarrassment
To your friends and family
Get out of bed, the whole day's ahead
So take the pills and drink your tea

Is there life after breakfast
Full of possibilities
Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast
So don't be so depressive
Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast

Is there life after breakfast
Full of possibilities
Is there life after breakfast?
Yes there is, after breakfast
Is there life after breakfast?
Is there life after breakfast?

Put the kettle on, mate

[Lancey Howard]

Not really "lots." Her father was an entertainment lawyer. (Not the photography Eastmans, as many think.)

But Linda Eastman was, ironically, a photographer.

[Sam Hill]

Yep. Some even suggest she let the mistake (of an Eastman relation) go unchallenged because he helped get her access. Which could be, especially early on in her photographing rock stars career.

But in fact her father's name was Epstein (like Brian), and he changed it to Eastman.

Among her father's clients were Hoagy Carmichael and Harold Arlan, which would probably have impressed McCartney more than her being an Eastman of photography member.