As You Lie There

“As You Lie There” is the opening track from the album “The Boys Of Dungeon Lane“, released in 2026. It was also the first song Paul McCartney worked on with producer Andrew Watt, back in April 2021.

The Boys of Dungeon Lane was first brought into existence five years ago when Paul met producer Andrew Watt for a cup of tea and an exchange of ideas. While playing around on the guitar during the meeting, Paul happened upon a chord that even he didn’t recognise. Undeterred and driven by his experimental nature, Paul carried on changing one note, then another, until he had a three-chord sequence, which Watt suggested they should record. 

This session yielded the album’s opening track, As You Lie There. Encouraged by his new producer, Paul would flesh out the new track, playing the majority of instruments – much in the spirit of his 1970 solo debut album, McCartney.  So began the journey of what became Paul’s 18th studio album credited solely to Paul.   

From Paul McCartney | News | Paul Announces New Album – ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’, March 26, 2026

The song that came from that first tea meeting was inspired by McCartney’s childhood in Liverpool, England and a neighbor girl. “I really fancied named Jasmine,” McCartney said, looking at his wife and adding, “Sorry, Nancy.” The tune starts as a spoken word track, before going into a sweet, then rocking melody, that changes tempo and shape shift throughout. “Do I ever cross your mind as you lie there?” he asks. “As you lie across the bed, am I there inside your head?”

From Billboard, April 17, 2026

Up in one of the windows, there was a girl I fancied called Jasmine. But I didn’t know how to approach her, I never spoke to her. That’s what the song is about: imagining Jasmine lying there. The joke was, she did show up later that year and knocked on the door. I was indisposed – I was on the toilet – so I missed Jasmine! How romantic is that?

Paul McCartney – From The Times and The Guardian, May 5, 2026 – From the “Boys of Dungeon Lane” listening session in London, May 5, 2026

The ‘Jasmine’ mentioned by Paul is almost certainly Jasmine Dobbs,born Liverpool South Q1 1943. From Paul McCartney new 2026 album “The Boys Of Dungeon Lane”* | Page 336 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums :

From a family history site that I use (familysearch.org). Jasmine wasn’t a particularly common name here in the UK in the 1940’s so I just searched for a Jasmine born in Liverpool between 1940 and 1944 (Paul being born in 1942).

There was just the one,Jasmine H M Dobbs, who just happened to be born in the south of Liverpool,no more than nine months after Paul was born There were other Jasmine’s born not too far away around this time, in Blackpool and Manchester, and maybe it one of those girls who’s parents then moved to Liverpool? Also,it may have been an older or much younger Jasmine born outside those years,but I didn’t widen my search after I saw Jasmine Dobbs birth registration entry.

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