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Album This song officially appears on the Ram LP.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1971

Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1970 (Paul McCartney was 28 years old)

Song facts

“3 Legs” is the second song of Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 album “Ram“. From Beatles Bible:

[…] While John Lennon and, to a lesser extent, George Harrison, were happy to write openly about The Beatles, Apple and their associated troubles, Paul McCartney preferred to couch his objections in metaphors and ambiguities. So, while it is tempting to see 3 Legs simply as an allegory for his transition from Beatle to solo artist and family man, it is far from certain.
Studio engineer Eirik Wangberg said the song was inspired by a picture drawn by the young Heather McCartney. Her father originally titled the song A Dog Is Here, according to his handwritten lyric sheet.
Regardless of his intentions, McCartney would have known that lines such as “When I thought you was my friend/But you let me down/Put my heart around the bend” and “My dog he got three legs/But he can’t run” would be analysed by legions of Beatles-watchers the world over. And he cannot have failed to recognise that the lines would be interpreted as a commentary on his former band.
Perhaps ironically, Lennon professed a liking for the song, listing it as one of the better recordings on Ram. […]
“3 Legs” was one of the last songs in the Ram sessions on which guitarist David Spinozza played. Soon after he was replaced with Hugh McCracken. […]
Two promotional films for Ram songs – 3 Legs and Heart Of The Country – were made in support of Ram. They were produced by McCartney and edited by Ray Benson, who had previously worked on the Magical Mystery Tour film.
The film for 3 Legs consisted of the McCartneys riding horses on their land in the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland. Both clips were screened on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops on 24 June 1971.

I thought it [Ram] was awful! McCartney was better because at least there were some tunes on it, like Junk. I liked the beginning of Ram On, the beginning of Uncle Albert and I liked some of My Dog’s Got Three Legs. I liked the little bit about ‘Hands across the water’, but it just tripped off all the time. I didn’t like that a bit!“
John Lennon

There’s one track, which a cute thing, a blues tune, which I had fun doing. 3 Legs, it’s called. We both played acoustic and sometimes Paul played piano but never played bass while we were there. He overdubbed the bass later. It was a bit weird, because bass, drums, and guitar would have been more comfortable.
Dave Spinoza

In 2001, during the “Wingspan Memorial Day Special“, Paul improvised the song on guitar.

Still images from promotional videos for “3 Legs”

From (136) Paul McCartney – McCartney III (Dec 18, 2020)* | Page 1112 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums – This is one of the CBS 16-track sheets shown in the books of “Ram” and “Red Rose Speedway”. This one shows the contents of the multitracks of “Three Legs” (top), “I Lie Around” and “When The Wind Is Blowing” (bottom).

From (136) Paul McCartney – McCartney III (Dec 18, 2020)* | Page 1112 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums – This is one of the CBS 16-track sheets shown in the books of “Ram” and “Red Rose Speedway”. This one shows the contents of the multitracks of “Three Legs” (top), “I Lie Around” and “When The Wind Is Blowing” (bottom).

Last updated on April 30, 2022

Lyrics

Well, when I walk when I walk,
Park my horse upon the hill (when I walk the horse upon a hill)

When I walk, walk, walk, walk,
Park my horse upon the hill (when I walk the horse upon a hill)
And I lay me down,
Will my lover love me still?

A doggie is here, (a doggie is here), a doggie is there (a doggie is there)
My dog he got three legs, well he can't run

Well, when I thought, when I thought, when I thought
You was my friend
Well, when I thought, when I thought, when I thought
You was my friend

My dog he got three legs but he can't walk
Your dog he got none.
Your dog he got none.

When I thought,
When I thought you was my friend (when I thought that I could call you my friend)
When I thought, when I thought, when I thought you was my friend
(When I thought I could call you my friend)
But you let me down put my heart around the bend

A fly flies in (a fly flies in), a fly flies out (a fly flies out)
Most flies they got three legs, but mine got one.
Well, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly upon the crowd
(When I fly upon the maddening crowd)
When I fly, when I fly, when I fly, when I fly upon the crowd
(When I fly upon the maddening crowd)

You can knock me down - with a feather, but you know it's not allowed
(but you know it's not allowed)

A dog is here, (a dog is here) A dog is there, (a dog is there)
My dog he got three legs but he can't run.

Officially appears on

Ram (Mono - promotional)

Official album • Released in 1971

2:52 • Studio version • B • Mono

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

LP • Released in 1971

2:52 • Studio version • A • Stereo

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

LP • Released in 1977

3:42 • Studio version • C • Stereo • Instrumental version

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :: Producer

Richard Hewson :: Arrangements, Orchestration

Tony Clark :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Vic Flick :: Guitar

Clem Cattini :: Drums

Herbie Flowers :: Bass

Steve Gray :: Piano

Jim Lawless :: Percussion

Alan Parsons :: Second engineer

Session Recording:: Jun 15, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 16, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 17, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:: Jun 18, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

RAM (by DCC Compact Classics)

Official album • Released in 1993

2:52 • Studio version • A1993.1 • Stereo • 1993 remaster by Steve Hoffman

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Steve Hoffman :: Remastering

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

Official album • Released in 1993

2:52 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Peter Mew :: Remastering

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

CD • Released in 1995

3:42 • Studio version • C1995 • Stereo • Instrumental version. 1995 remaster

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :: Producer

Richard Hewson :: Arrangements, Orchestration

Tony Clark :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Vic Flick :: Guitar

Clem Cattini :: Drums

Herbie Flowers :: Bass

Steve Gray :: Piano

Jim Lawless :: Percussion

Alan Parsons :: Second engineer

Session Recording:: Jun 15, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 16, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 17, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:: Jun 18, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Ram - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2012

2:48 • Studio version • A2012 • Stereo • 2012 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

Ram - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2012

2:50 • Studio version • B2012 • Mono • 2012 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

Ram - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2012

3:42 • Studio version • C2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :: Producer

Richard Hewson :: Arrangements, Orchestration

Tony Clark :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Vic Flick :: Guitar

Clem Cattini :: Drums

Herbie Flowers :: Bass

Steve Gray :: Piano

Jim Lawless :: Percussion

Alan Parsons :: Second engineer

Session Recording:: Jun 15, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 16, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 17, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:: Jun 18, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Thrillington (Limited Edition - Marbled Black & Red LP)

Official album • Released in 2018

3:42 • Studio version • C2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster

Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :: Producer

Richard Hewson :: Arrangements, Orchestration

Tony Clark :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Vic Flick :: Guitar

Clem Cattini :: Drums

Herbie Flowers :: Bass

Steve Gray :: Piano

Jim Lawless :: Percussion

Alan Parsons :: Second engineer

Session Recording:: Jun 15, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 16, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Jun 17, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:: Jun 18, 1971

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

See all official recordings containing “3 Legs”

Bootlegs

The Alternate Ram

Unofficial album • Released in 2004

2:44 • Studio version • B • Mono • Original mono promo LP, especially made for the American AM stations. All the songs have different mixes

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

Together On Stage: "Adopt-A-Minefield"

Unofficial live • Released in 2001

1:19 • Radio show • D • Acoustic version from 'Wingspan Memorial Day Special' in February 2001

MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol.25

Unofficial album • Released in 2004

1:15 • Live • D • From "Wingspan Memorial Day Special" radio show

Concert From "Wingspan: Memorial Day Weekend Special" in , USA on May 25, 2001

The Alternate Ram

Unofficial album • Released in 2004

1:17 • Radio show • D • Acoustic version from 'Wingspan Memorial Day Special' in February 2001

Ram - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2015

2:48 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Producer

Denny Seiwell :: Drums, Tambourine (?)

David Spinozza :: Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar

Eirik Wangberg :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ramone :: Recording engineer

Jim Guercio :: Recording engineer

Tim Geelan :: Recording engineer

Ted Brosnan :: Assistant recording engineer

Dixon Van Winkle :: Assistant recording engineer

Armin Steiner :: Recording engineer

Session Recording:: Oct 16, 1970

Studio :: CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: March-April 1971

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

See all bootlegs containing “3 Legs”

Latest concerts where 3 Legs has been played

Wingspan: Memorial Day Weekend Special

May 25, 2001 • USA • Radio show

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