Paul McCartney Newly Reveals How Classical Music Has Inspired His Songwriting, Including “Blackbird”

In the latest installment of Paul McCartney’s “You Gave Me the Answer” Q&A feature, the former Beatles legend discusses how classical music has influenced some of his compositions, “Blackbird” in particular.

In the new feature, the team at McCartney’s official website noted that Paul had revealed that “Blackbird” was inspired by the Johann Sebastian Bach piece “Bourrée in E Minor.” They then asked him if any songs he wrote were influenced by Mozart.

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“Not in a specific way, like with ‘Blackbird,’” McCartney responded. “In that instance, it was a piece of Bach’s music that inspired us, and I stole from that.”

He continued, “With Mozart, I often remember something he’s supposed to have said: ‘I use the notes that love each other.’ I’m paraphrasing, but that’s the sentiment. And I agree! In a great chord certain notes love each other. So that’s my main Mozart inspiration.”

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More About the Musical Inspiration of “Blackbird”

In his 2021 book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, McCartney recalled the musical origins of “Blackbird.”

“[The opening guitar part] was something that George Harrison and I would play as a party piece when we were kids, a lute piece by Johann Sebastian Bach,” he explained. “The fingerpicking style was something we admired in Chet Atkins, particularly in a piece called ‘Trambone.’”

McCartney also talked about Bach’s inspiration for “Blackbird” in a 2008 interview with Mojo magazine, as shared by the SongFacts website.

“[Harrison and I] had the first four bars [of ‘Bourrée in E minor’] and that was as far as my imagination went,” he recalled. “I think George had it down for a few more bars and then he crapped out. So I made up the next few bars, and it became the basis of ‘Blackbird.’”

Version of “Blackbird” Included on Archival One Hand Clapping Album

A previously unreleased version of “Blackbird” is featured on the deluxe edition of McCartney’s new archival live album One Hand Clapping. The album was recorded by McCartney and his post-Beatles band Wings at Abbey Road Studios in London over the course of four days in August 1974.

During a break in the sessions, Paul went into the studio’s backyard area and recorded several songs solo on acoustic guitar. One of those tunes was “Blackbird.” The backyard performances are featured on a 7-inch vinyl disc included with the deluxe version of One Hand Clapping, and also are available via digital formats.

More About McCartney’s Interest in Classical Music

The new “You Gave Me the Answer” feature was timed to coincide with the 2024 edition of The BBC Proms, a classical music celebration held annually in the U.K. During the eight-week event, nightly classic performances are held at the famed Royal Albert Hall in London.

PaulMcCartney.com pointed out that McCartney has released five albums of classical and/or orchestral music over the years—Liverpool Oratorio (1991), Standing Stone (1997), Working Classical (1999), Ecce Cor Meum (2006), and Ocean Kingdom (2011).

McCartney’s 2024 Tour Plans

McCartney recently announced plans for a 2024 edition of his Got Back Tour. The trek includes concerts in South America, Mexico, France, Spain, and the U.K.

The outing kicks off with an October 1 show in Montevideo, Uruguay, and is plotted out through a December 18-19 engagement at The O2 arena in London.

Tickets for McCartney’s concerts are available via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.

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