The Lyrics: 1956 To The Present

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Discover the story behind the songs in Paul McCartney's acclaimed collection, spanning from his early days in Liverpool through his legendary time with The Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. This edition includes seven additional songs, offering fresh insights into his musical journey.

An intimate exploration of Paul McCartney’s songwriting across seven decades.

Paul McCartney’s The Lyrics takes you on a captivating journey through 161 of his songs, paired with personal reflections that reveal the stories behind their creation. Arranged alphabetically, each commentary shares the unique moments, people, and places that inspired his music, from the working-class streets of Liverpool to the influences of literary greats like Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll.

The book vividly brings to life McCartney’s early years, describing scenes like delivery boys running parcels on the docks and the elderly women who inspired “Eleanor Rigby.” It also touches on his formative relationships, including his English teacher Alan Durband, and the lasting impact of his mother Mary, who passed away when he was just fourteen.

Central to the narrative are McCartney’s close bonds with his songwriting partner John Lennon and his wife Linda Eastman McCartney. He recounts meeting John in 1957, their adventures with George Harrison and Ringo Starr in the early 1960s, the breakup of The Beatles, and the new chapter of his life focused on family and Linda’s influence.

Edited and introduced by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, this edition is enriched with over a hundred images from McCartney’s personal archives-including handwritten lyrics, keepsakes, and photographs-making it a definitive literary and visual tribute to one of the greatest songwriters in history.

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