Attention (song)

This image is a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the work or the artist(s) which produced the recording or cover artwork in question. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of such covers qualifies as fair use.

Album This song officially appears on the Stop and Smell the Roses Official album.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1981

Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1980 (Paul McCartney was 38 years old)

Song facts

“Attention” is a song written by Paul McCartney, and given to Ringo Starr, for inclusion on his 1981 album “Stop And Smell The Roses“. Paul also produced the song, and played on it, during the recording in the south of France, in 1980.

A MPL-produced promotional film, named “The Cooler”, was made in January 1982 to promote it as well as two other tracks from “Stop And Smell The Roses”. Paul and Linda McCartney have a cameo appearance on it.

In April 2022, a demo with Paul McCartney on piano and vocals was auctioned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X98YeOHSPR0

From Lot 327 – THE BEATLES / PAUL MCCARTNEY – UNRELEASED (omegaauctions.co.uk):

A Maxell C-60 audio cassette with handwritten labels, contents including a demo version of ‘Attention’, which was written by Paul McCartney and recorded by Ringo Starr on the 1981 album ‘Stop and Smell The Roses’. This version here is four minutes and two seconds and is simply Paul McCartney recording with piano and vocal percussion accompaniment – both by McCartney. The audio quality is excellent and it is an incredible listen from start to finish. See below for a Youtube video of the track.
Provenance: the tape was given to Howie Casey, who played saxophone on the Ringo Starr album as a reference for the track in preparation for recording sessions. Howie’s wife Sheila Casey would perform backing vocals on the track along with Linda McCartney.
This item is sold as an artefact only, without copyright. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Last updated on April 17, 2022

Lyrics

Ev'rybody needs attention,
Ev'rybody wants to smile,
Ev'rybody needs a mention,
Attention, attention, for a while.

Come on, baby, give it all you've got,
Get into the power of the plot.
You know we'll only get it if we try,
Give me your attention for a while.

Feel it, feel it when you tell me,
You've got time to give me,
Time can run away.

See it, see it in the children,
People of tomorrow,
Living for today.

Your love is fine,
Your love can be mine.

Come on, baby, give it all you've got,
Get into the power of the plot.
You know we'll only get it if we try,
Give it your attention for a while.

Ev'rybody needs attention, (ev'rybody needs attention)
Ev'rybody wants to smile, (ev'rybody wants to smile)
Ev'rybody needs a mention, (ev'rybody needs a mention)
Attention, (attention)
Attention, (attention)
For a while.

Give me your attention for a while.