The Most Direct Song Paul McCartney Ever Wrote

Paul McCartney isn’t a songwriter that deals in direct statements. Like many great poets, McCartney prefers to write in metaphors, letting the listener ascertain their own meaning. However, there is one song of McCartney’s that is straight to the point. And, for that reason, McCartney isn’t the proudest of it. Find out which song that is, below.

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The Most Direct Song Paul McCartney Ever Wrote

Give Ireland back to the Irish

Don’t make them have to take it away

Give Ireland back to the Irish

Make Ireland Irish today

“Give Ireland Back to the Irish” is one of McCartney’s most staunch protest songs. Though Macca is an Englishman, he makes a case for his Irish neighbors to have a unified country. It’s a situation that has been on the hearts and minds of those in the U.K. for decades. McCartney speaks plainly about his stance on the subject.

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Great Britain, you are tremendous

And nobody knows like me

But really, what are you doin’

In the land across the sea?

Though this song is successful in its goal of advocating for Ireland, McCartney wasn’t extremely proud of the end result. According to Macca, his best writing comes when he “veils” his meaning a bit.

“I’m not often specific, because it’s just not my way,” McCartney once said. “I’m much more comfortable talking about it but veiling it somehow. I think that’s stronger. I mean, my biggest protest song was ‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish.’ There’s no metaphors there, that’s just dead straight. But I didn’t think it was a very successful song. I wouldn’t say it was one of my best. So to write overtly about a situation is a little more difficult for me.”

Tell me, how would you like it

If on your way to work

You were stopped by Irish soldiers?

Would you lie down, do nothing

Would you give in or go berserk?

Despite McCartney’s feelings about this song, we have to give him props for taking a stance and not hiding behind any figurative language. Revisit this track, below.

Give Ireland back to the Irish

Don’t make them have to take it away

Give Ireland back to the Irish

Make Ireland Irish today

(Photo by Fiona Adams/Redferns)