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Recorded in 1987

Cut Across Shorty

Written by Marijohn WilkinWayne P. WalkerUnreleased song

Last updated on July 5, 2019


Timeline This song was recorded in 1987

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other unreleased songs from "Choba B CCCP" sessions

Cut Across Shorty” is a song written by Marijohn Wilkin and Wayne P. Walker, made popular by Eddie Cochran. It was the B-side of his number 1 UK hit “Three Steps To Heaven“, in March 1960.

In 1987, Paul McCartney recorded “Cut Across Shorty” as part of the sessions for his Choba B CCCP album ; this performance remains unreleased. However, a fragment appears on a medley of several songs from the “Choba B CCCP” sessions, which leaked online in April 2010, presumably from cassettes from the legacy of former Wings roadie Trevor Jones, auctioned off by Christie’s in 1998.

Paul also played this song during the rehearsals for his 1991 “Unplugged” concert. This rehearsal was officially broadcast as part of the 1995 Oobu Joobu radio show.

If I’ve got an acoustic guitar in my hand, I tend to play certain types of songs. It all comes from playing to my own kids, although there’s a slightly different set of songs that I have for them. They used to ask me to play guitar when they were going to bed and I’d just sit there for five or ten minutes, to send them to sleep, playing things like ‘Cut Across Shorty’, the Eddie Cochran song, which I nearly did for Unplugged. I have a little batch of songs like that, for kids or for when I’m on my own or at a party, and they tend not to be songs I’ve written but from my teenage years, when I used to sit at home and practice. I used to learn ‘Pink Champagne’ so that if anyone asked if I could play a solo, I’d say, ‘Well, do you know “Pink Champagne”?’ They’re little relics from my teenage years, really.

Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich 55/56, Winter 1990/91

Lyrics

Now a country boy called Shorty

And a city boy named Dan

Had to prove who could run the fastest

To win miss Lucy's hand

Now Dan had all the money

And he also had the looks

But Shorty must have had something, boys

That can't be found in books


Well, a-cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across

That's what miss Lucy said

Cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across

It's you I wanna wed


Now Dan had been in training

A week before the race

He made up his mind Ol Shorty

Would end in second place

And Dan with his long legs a-flyin'

Left Shorty far behind

And Shorty heard him holler out

Miss Lucy, you'll soon be mine


But Shorty wasn't worried

There was a smile upon his face

He knew that he was a-goin' to win

'Cause Lucy had fixed the race

And just like that old story

About the turtle and the hare

When Dan crossed over the finish line

He found Shorty waiting there

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Cut Across Shorty

Live performances

Cut Across Shorty” has been played in 1 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Cut Across Shorty” has been played

Paul McCartney writing

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