Celebration
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- Album This song officially appears on the Standing Stone Official album.
Song facts
Above all, I wanted Standing Stone to end with a celebratory passage. Besides the original sketches that I made for the work, I also had a tune that I wrote years ago but never found a use for. My children had grown up with it, my father-in-law liked it, and I always felt it was part of the family. I want everyone to leave happy after a performance of Standing Stone, since I write for people.
Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich N°83, Autumn 1997
Last updated on July 8, 2020
Lyrics
High above this overcrowded place
A little blackbird flies through space
and all he does
is search for love
Love is all that matters in the end
Whatever time I have to spend
will be with you
Forever true
Love is the oldest
secret of the universe
Warm as the sun
on two iridescent lovers
when they discover
that now
is all we ever really know
the past and future come and go
Because they do
I'll stay with you.
(Choir brings to rest:)
the past and future come and go
Because they do
I'll stay with you
Officially appears on
Standing Stone - Q & A With Paul McCartney
Official album • Released in 1997
6:15 • Classical version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Executive producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Technical engineer
- Performed by :
- London Symphony Orchestra • London Symphony Chorus
- Keith Smith :
- Technical engineer
- John Kurlander :
- Balance engineer
- John Fraser :
- Producer
- Lawrence Foster :
- Conductor
- Richard Rodney Bennett :
- Musical associate
- Janice Graham :
- Orchestra leader
- Stephen Westrop :
- Chorusmaster
- Simon Kiln :
- Editor
- David Matthews :
- Musical associate
- John Harle :
- Musical associate
- Steve Lodder :
- Musical associate
CD Single • Released in 1997
6:15 • Classical version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Executive producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Technical engineer
- Performed by :
- London Symphony Orchestra • London Symphony Chorus
- Keith Smith :
- Technical engineer
- John Kurlander :
- Balance engineer
- John Fraser :
- Producer
- Lawrence Foster :
- Conductor
- Richard Rodney Bennett :
- Musical associate
- Janice Graham :
- Orchestra leader
- Stephen Westrop :
- Chorusmaster
- Simon Kiln :
- Editor
- David Matthews :
- Musical associate
- John Harle :
- Musical associate
- Steve Lodder :
- Musical associate
CD Single • Released in 1997
6:15 • Classical version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Executive producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Technical engineer
- Performed by :
- London Symphony Orchestra • London Symphony Chorus
- Keith Smith :
- Technical engineer
- John Kurlander :
- Balance engineer
- John Fraser :
- Producer
- Lawrence Foster :
- Conductor
- Richard Rodney Bennett :
- Musical associate
- Janice Graham :
- Orchestra leader
- Stephen Westrop :
- Chorusmaster
- Simon Kiln :
- Editor
- David Matthews :
- Musical associate
- John Harle :
- Musical associate
- Steve Lodder :
- Musical associate
Official album • Released in 1997
6:16 • Classical version • A • Andante
- Paul McCartney :
- Executive producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Technical engineer
- Performed by :
- London Symphony Orchestra • London Symphony Chorus
- Keith Smith :
- Technical engineer
- John Kurlander :
- Balance engineer
- John Fraser :
- Producer
- Lawrence Foster :
- Conductor
- Richard Rodney Bennett :
- Musical associate
- Janice Graham :
- Orchestra leader
- Stephen Westrop :
- Chorusmaster
- Simon Kiln :
- Editor
- David Matthews :
- Musical associate
- John Harle :
- Musical associate
- Steve Lodder :
- Musical associate
- Session Recording:
- Mar 03 & 04, 1997
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Apr 30, May 01 & May 02, 1997
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Unofficial live
3:01 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Denver, USA on Nov 01, 2005
Oh Sao Paulo! The Complete Soundcheck
Unofficial live
3:01 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Nov 21, 2010
Unofficial live
3:22 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on Jun 12, 2004
Unofficial live
4:49 • Soundcheck
Concert From the concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on Jun 12, 2004
Latest concerts where Celebration has been played
Berlin • Philharmonie • Germany
Jun 28, 2008 • Part of Standing Stone
Beechworth • Mayday Hills Oval • Australia
Jan 19, 2008 • Part of Standing Stone
Beechworth • La Trobe at Beechworth • Australia
Jan 19, 2008 • Part of Standing Stone
New York • Carnegie Hall • United States
Nov 14, 2006 • Part of Ecce Cor Meum
London • Royal Albert Hall • United Kingdom
Nov 03, 2006 • Part of Ecce Cor Meum