Coming at the end of an intensely creative period, The Beatles’ Abbey Road features some of the most adventurous compositions... more

“Michelle” from 1965’s Rubber Soul started as a kind of light-hearted party piece. But in McCartney’s quest to turn it... more

This episode deals with themes and events surrounding the Northern Ireland conflict. As such, this episode may be traumatic or... more

The breadth of Paul McCartney’s influences is astounding. One of the many surprising places McCartney found inspiration was in the... more

In 1968 the longest song to ever reach number one on the Billboard charts was Paul McCartney’s epic “Hey Jude”—clocking... more

Paul McCartney and John Lennon had a knack for finishing each other's songs. They collaborated by lending ideas for verses,... more

From his earliest days as a songwriter, Paul McCartney was interested in love songs. But by the time of Wing’s... more

“Drink to me, drink to my health” were among the last words spoken by the great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.... more

The Beatles’ songbook became standard repertoire for artists to perform almost as quickly as they kicked off “the British invasion.”... more

One day in the car, Paul McCartney heard a BBC production of the absurdist play “Ubu Cocu” by french writer... more

Paul McCartney found himself in a tricky place after The Beatles’ break up. What did his musical future look like... more

Countless decisions, large and small, aided The Beatles’ ascent to the top of popular culture. The release of their debut... more

Season Two of McCartney: A Life in Lyrics comes out weekly starting February 7th, and features the stories behind songs... more

Season 1 of “McCartney: A Life in Lyrics” concludes with a band in flux. The Beatles had evolved significantly by... more

Many observers have tried to pinpoint the specific events that lead to Lennon-McCartney, the formidable songwriting partnership, transitioning to Lennon... more

“Long Tailed Winter Bird,” “Bluebird,” and “Single Pigeon” are just a few of the many bird-oriented songs Paul McCartney has... more

“Magical Mystery Tour” was inspired by a holiday bus from Liverpool to a mystery destination—often ending up in the carnivalesque... more

James Bond themes were handled by soulful or sultry vocalists in the decade since 1963’s “From Russia With Love.” Shirley... more

Warning: This episode begins with a description of the assassination of John Lennon. John Lennon’s assassination has reverberated across decades, country... more

As Paul McCartney’s life moved further away from the centering force of Liverpool, the distance, both physical and cultural, started... more

As a young boy, Paul McCartney soaked up the radio plays his mother listened to while cleaning around their house.... more

At the dawn of the Beatles’ dissolution, Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, started to spend an increasing amount of... more

Paul McCartney’s mother Mary passed away in 1956, when Paul was only 14 years old. Over a decade later, she... more

What’s Paul McCartney, a Liverpudlian, doing writing about the Soviet Union in 1968? Turns out McCartney was doing a little... more

Face cream, a Bristol liquor business, and a lifelong reverence for the elderly are just a few of the rather... more

Welcome to "McCartney: A Life in Lyrics". This podcast will take you into the mind of one of the greatest songwriters... more