CUTE, NICE BEATLE PAUL McCARTNEY GETS HIMSELF BANNED BY THE BBC A FEW TIMES
While the bulk of Paul McCartney’s fine song catalog is made of “silly love” songs he has been known to step off into some deep waters once in a while. The persona of Paul as the likable and cute faced Beatle often contradicts another side to the man. He is a tough business man and leader. It is more or less considered he was running the affairs of the Beatles towards and the end and was the first to officially call it quits and proceed with legal actions to dissolve the Beatles as an entity. He is an outspoken vegetarian and animal rights activist and is known to voice his political opinions on other matters as well, such as when he wrote Give Ireland Back To The Irish in response to events of Bloody Sunday on January 30, 1972. The song was released less than a month later and was the first single released by Paul and Linda’s new band Wings, with Irishman Hugh McCullough on guitar. It was banned by the BBC but Paul persisted in trying to get airtime for the song and it would eventually reach a position of 16 on the U.K. charts with limited airplay. While the song has a definite political message it is also a rousing rock tune and sounds much better than the other material released on Wings first overly stripped down solo album Wildlife. The song was not released on the album but does appear on newer CD versions as a bonus track.
Also banned by the BBC in 1972 was the bouncing party number Hi Hi Hi, which was also a single release only. The song was reported to have the lyrics “get you ready for my body gun” (though Paul says the lyrics are misunderstood) and while the lyrics are not spelled High High High it is generally assumed and never outright denied by McCartney (as far as I, a former super McCartney fan, know) that the chorus infers getting a good buzz on. While the songs are early on in the solo McCartney catalog and possess a roughness that along with the albums McCartney and Ram, would vanish after Band on the Run, I think they are pretty good rock songs and while very tame by today’s standards were banned nonetheless.
Another song I do not have a copy of to make an MP3 is from 1993’s Off the Ground called Big Boys Bickering. Again the song is not on the album but does appear on the Japanese release. Wings had long disbanded and Paul’s sound now is more typical of his professional and polished style. Even when he sings “fucking it up” about six times it sounds sort of nice and inoffensive. But not inoffensive enough to not get the song banned from airways. Paul said he had considered using the lyrics “mucking it up” but the subject matter, environmental destruction of the planet, was something he really felt passionate about and nothing less than “fuck” would express his rage. I did find a video version of the song, uncensored of course.
TRACKS: GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH-HI HI HI
PAUL PERFORMING BANNED SONG BIG BOYS BICKERING
Even his deceased wife Linda has had a song banned by the BBC from her posthumously complied and released solo album (from 1973 material) Wide Prairie called The Light Comes From Within. Paul has campaigned for the song, a response to Linda’s often bitterly hateful critics in Britain and America, to receive airplay, but look, it has the lines:
You say I’m simple
You say I’m a hick
You’re fuckin’ no one
You stupid dick
I dunno, maybe the BBC has something in this case.
I was lucky to see Paul and Linda perform in San Antonio Texas in the Alamo Dome in the early 90’s and it was a great show. And all those people who ragged on Linda all the time were in fact dicks. I thought they were a great rock-n-roll couple and I really liked the early solo material and Wings albums.
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November 7th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I didn’t realize Paul could be such a bad boy. Wow! I do remember hearing of some of these songs. By the time I really heard Paul McCartney, he was doing songs with Jacko. My mom’s a big fan of his. George was actually my favorite Beatle. This was an interesting write-up. It was cool to see what songs he had banned and for what reason.
November 7th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Thanks Keith. Good to hear from you. I liked his early stripped down solo albums and Wings albums. One was called Red Rose Speedway, before Band on the Run. A good album. His sound become pretty lush and thick after that. I liked George too and regretted I never had a chance to see him.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Great post once again. Fascinating information on Sir Paul - the most talented songwriter of the century in my humble opinion. Yeah, I think people’s conceptions of Paul are too muddled by his softer songs like “Yesterday” and “Here, There and Everywhere” because he was almost too melodic for his own good. Plus, in comparison to John, he seemed a lot more “safe” to the critics and public at large. However, he could often be quite “bad”, as you point out so well. Let’s not forget it was Paul who sang/wrote “Helter Skelter” and “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road” and about Jo Jo getting some of that California grass. He put a naked chick on the single sleeve for “Jet” and his “finger pies” in “Penny Lane” wasn’t a culinary reference. Paul also wants a threesome or a foursome in “Lovely Rita” and last but not least - “Helter Skelter” was a Paul creation. Peace out.
November 7th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Well, rereading my comment I realize I reference Helter Skelter twice… I should proofread before I submit. You get my point though - Paul McCartney is a very, very bad man.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
No problem. Commenting should be a relaxed matter, as I seldom proofread and hit the button and feel like a idiot when I see what I sent. The points you made all correct of course, and Paul also faced jail time in Japan for trying sneak in a load of weed. He is still gentlemanly and some of his more recent scandals (Heather Mills) are beneath him. Thanks for the visit.