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Paul McCartney Puts 'Memory' in His Own Words

Paul McCartney isn't afraid to try new things. The music icon, who has been recording for 45 years, has teamed up with Starbucks for the first global release on the coffee giant's new record label -- his 21st solo album, 'Memory Almost Full.'

The 13-track LP is full of surprises, both musically and lyrically: From spontaneously learning to play mandolin for one track to using one fan's advice to celebrate death as the inspiration for another, McCartney delivers a project that's daring and extremely personal.

In this track-by-track commentary, he shares the intimate details behind each song.

'Dance Tonight'

This was the last track I recorded for the album. I was on my way into a meeting, but before I actually got there, I had a bit of a walk to experience life for a minute. There's a guitar shop that I always drop in on, and I was chatting to the guy in there. He mentioned that he had a left-handed mandolin that he wanted to show me. I ended up getting it. The great thing about it was that I didn't know how to play.It's tuned like a violin, so I had no idea what the chords were. It took me back to when I was a teenager being presented with an instrument.I had to figure out how to play it.I found one chord, then another, then a real strange chord.I still don't know what it is, but it sounded great.With this little instrument at home over the holiday, I started stomping in the kitchen, just enjoying myself, trying to find chords.I start singing, "Everybody gonna dance tonight." Every time, my little girl would come running in and start dancing, so I fell in love with this song and with the mandolin.The song kind of wrote itself. I thought I'm just gonna keep it simple. I liked it so much I ran into the studio to record it and stuck it on the album. It seemed like a good atmospheric opening.

'Ever Present Past'

Sometimes I just sit down and try and write a pop song. I've done it throughout my life and it's an interesting thing to do, to make something kind of catchy that might be attractive.It starts off, "I've got too much on my plate."The way I write I just follow that thought and think, "What did I mean by that? Explain yourself." So I think, "Well what I meant was ..."After I'd got the verse, this idea of my past, my 'Ever Present Past,' came about. No deep meaning in it. I think what happens with me is I just write a thing and people read into it.I like that because I think often you do things in a subliminal way you don't actually realize what you are doing. So something that I might think is a simple statement, somebody might go, "Yeah, but it means that."I like multiple meanings to these things even though I often start it off as a phrase that's really to help me write the song, to get me to the next bit.


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Miguel Espinosa

I don´t know, why somebody said that the lirycs are so superfitial, I think that the major of them have a deep knowledge of life and more. Pls Don´t be so stupid.
And pls, forgive my english if you found a mistake!! :(

February 06 2010 at 4:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gabriele

I like to think that every good song is from a spiritual wellness path & that we as human beings are enjoying songs that inspire us to be happy & glad for our time here is so very special. The best for joy to come to us from the songs that reveal the dreams for a happy reality. With esteem Gabriele

July 28 2007 at 9:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gabriele

Stars like Antre Rieu or Ringo Starr have happy mariages & they seem to have a very healthy relationship. I think that Sir Paul McCartney is perhaps a beautiful human being, whom I would very much like to get to know. I am certain that he & I have much in common. He has music in his vains & he is a star, whose audiences adore & admire. Please sent this message to Sir Paul McCartney.

July 28 2007 at 9:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cherie

paul,

i have loved you since i was ten years old. my first dog was an old english sheepdog named martha and i have always had an old english sheepdog by my side ever since. i have seen you in concert five times, but the last two were the best. you are a part of my soul.

June 20 2007 at 12:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ron

I think every single song on the CD (and one from the bonus CD) are great. I believe there are a few that will be classics. I played it in my car every day for 3 weeks. It is hard accepting anything new from the guy who gave us "Let it be", but when you play the new CD for a few weeks, it gets into your soul and becomes just as close a friend as Lady Madonna.

June 11 2007 at 9:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jo

It's really great to be able to express my
thoughts about Paul.I am so glad that I found this page. It makes me glad to know that there are so many other people out there that are still great Paul fans.
Jo

June 05 2007 at 11:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jo

I am glad that I have found this page. It's good to be able to talk about Paul & say what I think.I am glad that there are a lot of other people whu feel the same way. He os really a great person.

Jo

June 05 2007 at 11:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
peter

None of the Beatles alone were as good as the sum. New, "Memory" is ok at best. But oh, how good it could have been! Oh, how good it could have been!

Peter. Hamptonshire South Province, England

June 05 2007 at 7:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Terry Matlen

Way to go, Paul! I LOVE this album. No one's got anything on you!

Terry

June 05 2007 at 6:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ES

You have to be kidding me. They were playing this on local Chicago radio. Everyone calling in and the DJ's agreed---IT STINKS! If Paul McCartney tried out for American Idol, Simon would get rid of him in a second.

June 05 2007 at 6:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply