Penina

Song facts

“Penina” is a song written by Paul McCartney in December 1968 while on holiday in Portugal, and given away to a local band, Jotta Herre.

What’s the story behind a song called “Penina” which I believe you wrote for a Portugese band leader in 1968? Might you ever record it yourself?

I went to Portugal on holiday and returned to the hotel one night slightly the worse for a few drinks. There was a band playing and I ended up on the drums. The hotel was called Penina, I made up a song with that name, someone made enquiries about it and I gave it to them. And, no, I shouldn’t think I’d ever record it myself!

Paul McCartney, Club Sandwich interview, 1994

I gave this song to a group when I turned up in Portugal, ‘cos I turned up pissed out of my skull one night and wanted to drink in this hotel, you know, about 12 (midnight). I sat in on drums, and they said, ‘Give us a song,’ so I said, ‘Yeah… I’ve been to Alberferra, I had a great time there,’ you know. It was called ‘La Penina’, which was the name of the hotel, and I ended up in La Penina and they were all digging and singing along. It was good, you know. It was one of those that was right, you know. So, William Hickey said that I had given away this £20,000 song. But then, Derek Taylor said, ‘It’s not that he gave away a song, he gave away more of a riff for them to build around.

Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles: Off the Record 2 – The Dream Is Over” by Keith Badman

Last updated on January 4, 2022