The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

This is a book that I've wanted, and i jumped at the opportunity when it was published in paperback. It is an absolute treasure. I'm in the process of making a playlist to coincide with the chapters so that I can enjoy this book to the fullest extent. I highly recommend this for everyone who loves The Beatles. I also think that it offers valuable insights into a musician's creative process, and to the musician as an individual.

This is such a fun book for me. Loving The Beatles music since I was old enough walk, I know most all songs by heart, but to read what they really mean, and why those words were written, is so fascinating to me. I listen to a CD and read what each song is about while it's playing. Paul really reveals some great stories in this book. Completely worth my money $Thank you ~

I'm a huge fan of The Beatles, and a moderate fan of Paul McCartney's solo material. I liked to sit down and listen to each song while reading the notes left by Sir Paul. It made all of the music, especially the solo material, more engaging!

Thank you, Paul, for this incredibly WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME book!! I have loved Paul since the tender age of 5 years, when I received the “LET IT BE” 45 record for my birthday … I played it over and over and over for hours till I think my mother wondered if something was wrong with me … Decades later, I still remember watching the beautiful green apple spin on the turntable like it was YESTERDAY …That day, while I played Let it Be, awaiting the arrival of my birthday party guests, my mother explained that I could not keep playing the record because the kids parents might not approve since the Beatles were “hippies” … I cried and told her that I didn’t want to have a party then, and could we cancel it? She said no, the kids were on their way but I could resume playing my record when they left. I was miserable throughout the party and just could not “Let it Be” and couldn’t wait for all of my friends to go home. In my birthday party photos I look like a very unhappy child … I think Paul and the Beatles’ music saved me on some level … I was very shy and their music gave me joy, hope, love and something to look forward to every day … Now, many years later, I finally understand the meaning of Let it Be and, of course, I was thrilled to learn the story behind the lyrics!!

I have always been a huge fan of Paul McCartney and his music, so I was very excited to get this book as a gift. The book is a collection of 154 of his songs, from his early days with the Beatles to his recent solo albums, with his own commentary on each song. He tells the stories behind the songs, how he came up with the lyrics and melodies, what inspired him, and what they mean to him. The book is edited by a poet, Paul Muldoon, who also interviewed McCartney over five years and added some insights and analysis. The book is full of beautiful photos, paintings, and handwritten notes from McCartney's archives, which make it even more special.The paperback edition of the book has seven more songs than the hardcover edition, which are: "All My Loving", "Blackbird", "Eleanor Rigby", "Hey Jude", "Let It Be", "Penny Lane", and "Yesterday". These are some of my favorite songs, and I loved reading McCartney's commentary on them. He reveals some fascinating facts and anecdotes, such as how "All My Loving" was based on a letter he wrote to his girlfriend, how "Blackbird" was a symbol of the civil rights movement, and how "Yesterday" was originally called "Scrambled Eggs".I really enjoyed reading this book, and I learned a lot about Paul McCartney and his music. It is a rare chance to get into the mind of one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and to appreciate his amazing talent and creativity. The book is also very inspiring, as it shows how McCartney has kept his passion and curiosity for music alive for over 60 years. The book is not just a book of songs, but a book of life and art. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves music, especially Paul McCartney's music.

The media could not be loaded.  An easy read for all Beatles enthusiasts giving an insightful look into Paul McCartney and his life and relationships with the other Beatles and his family. 161 songs are alphabetically listed with the lyrics to the song and a kind of "short story" of Paul's memory revolving around that particular song. I am half way through reading it and can say I have enjoyed reading it more than anything in quite a long time. Well done!

Paul MacCartney writes his autobiography through his song lyrics. Each of the 161 songs in the volume provides the reader with a snapshot of the time, the inspiration, and story behind the lyrics. Paul is shown to be intrigued by wordplay, literary references and, of course, other songwriters. The book serves as almost a master class for budding musicians while remaining firmly tied to his everyday life. Fascinating for readers interested in exploring the minds of artists.

Each chapter in this book is how one of the Beatles songs was written. You don’t have to go in order - just read about the songs you like or know. It was fun and interesting to read - many songs aren’t about what I’ve always thought they were about!

Me encanto y llego a tiempo, excelente compra para fans!

Es ist toll, soviel über die Hintergründe zu den einzelnen Songs zu erfahren. Erstaunt hat mich allerdings, dass der Inhalt der deutschen Ausgabe zum Teil von der englischen Ausgabe abweicht... Die gebunden Ausgabe ist aufgrund der bunten Fotografien und der insgesamt deutlich größeren Anzahl an Abbildungen dem E-Book vorzuziehen.Auf jeden Fall werde ich immer wieder im Buch schmökern... Es ist alles sehr kurzweilig und interessant.Schade, dass es nicht möglich ist, die Sichtweise von John Lemon dazu zu erfahren, das würde natürlich den Blickwinkel noch einmal erweitern. RIP John

Open this book and any page will give you a great story of how great songs came to be.

Si te gustan Los Beatles, regalo ideal. Pero en inglés.

This is the book about The Beatles that I’ve been waiting to read for over fifty years!Comprehensive, entertaining, informative, amusing, honest and beautiful - I am so grateful that Paul created this and made it so available, thank you.