Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Jun 15, 1971
Jun 16, 1971
Jun 17, 1971
Jun 18, 1971
Related interviews
2016 • From paulmccartney.com
Jan 01, 2005
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Song facts
“Dear Boy” is a song from Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 album “Ram“. From Wikipedia:
[…] Credited to Paul and Linda McCartney, the song was written during the couple’s lengthy holiday on their farm in the Mull of Kintyre. The lyrics were written by Paul about how lucky he was to have Linda. […]
“Dear Boy” was also written as a message to Linda McCartney’s ex-husband, Joseph Melville See, about how See missed out on Linda. In the 2012 RAM Special Edition Documentary, Paul describes the song as written about Linda’s former husband, Joseph Melville See Jr., and the things he hadn’t seen in her. […]
Paul’s former partner John Lennon, however, thought that the song was about him. Certain lines such as “She was just the cutest thing around” could have referred to Paul as being the cute Beatle. Paul may have changed the gender to conceal his identity and John mentioned in subsequent interviews that the Ram album had subtle allusions to himself and Yoko Ono. Since then, however, Paul has said that the song wasn’t about Lennon.
Dear Boy was my attempt at an autobiography about myself and how lucky I was to have Linda. I never realized how lucky I was to have her until I began writing the song.
Paul McCartney, 1971
Dear Boy wasn’t getting at John, Dear Boy was actually a song to Linda’s ex-husband: ‘I guess you never knew what you had missed.’ I never told him that, which was lucky, because he’s since committed suicide. And it was a comment about him, ’cause I did think, ‘Gosh, you know, she’s so amazing, I suppose you didn’t get it.’
Paul McCartney, in MOJO interview, 2001
From The Beatles Bible:
At the memorial service for Linda McCartney, held on 8 June 1998 at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London, a number of songs were performed. The Brodsky Quartet played a series of songs written by Paul for his wife: they were Golden Earth Girl, Dear Boy, Calico Skies and My Love.
From mixing engineering Eirik Wangberg:
How did you achieve the sort of “4 dimensional” Paul and Linda angelical harmonies?
It was quite a challenge for me to do these things. But, when it works it’s really lots of fun – especially if the arranger (Paul) knows his job. As Paul really knew what he was doing (laughs), the harmonies and voice tracks (there were many ones) did not step on each other or kill each other in the mix. As you may already know, Paul is here inspired by the Beach Boys vocal arrangements, whom I also have recorded. Elton John calls these harmonies the best he’s ever heard!
Engineer Eirik Wangberg, interviewed by Claudio Dirani, 2005
Last updated on June 5, 2020
Lyrics
I guess you never knew Dear Boy
What you had found,
I guess you never knew Dear Boy
That she was just the cutest thing around,
I guess you never knew what you had found, Dear Boy.
I guess you never saw Dear Boy
That love was endless,
And leave you when you love too long, Dear Boy
And never give it all away
I guess you never give it all away Dear Boy
I stepped in, my heart was dumb
And now for my love came through, and brought me down,
Can't be on hang about.
Dear Boy, how much you missed,
Dear Boy.
I hope you never know, Dear Boy,
How much you missed;
And even when you fall in love, Dear Boy,
It won't be half as good as this.
Hope you never know how much you missed, Dear boy.
How much you missed Dear Boy.
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1971
2:17 • Studio version • B • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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
2:17 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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
2:51 • 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 :
- Congas, Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- The Swingle Singers :
- Vocals
- The Mike Sammes Singers :
- Vocals (?)
- 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
Official album • Released in 1993
2:17 • Studio version • A1993.1 • 1993 remaster by Steve Hoffman
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, 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:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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
2:17 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, 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:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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
2:51 • 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 :
- Congas, Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- The Swingle Singers :
- Vocals
- The Mike Sammes Singers :
- Vocals (?)
- 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
Official album • Released in 2012
2:15 • Studio version • A2012 • Stereo • 2012 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Simon Gibson :
- Remastering
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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 2012
2:16 • Studio version • B2012 • Mono • 2012 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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 2012
2:51 • 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 :
- Congas, Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- The Swingle Singers :
- Vocals
- The Mike Sammes Singers :
- Vocals (?)
- 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
Official album • Released in 2016
2:15 • Studio version • A2012 • 2012 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Simon Gibson :
- Remastering
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
2:12 • Studio version • B • Mono • Original mono promo LP, especially made for the American AM stations. All the songs have different mixes
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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 - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:16 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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 - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:16 • Studio version • B • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion
- Hugh McCracken :
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Phil Ramone :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Beaver :
- Synthesizer
- Jim Guercio :
- Backing vocals, Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Armin Steiner :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Mar 01, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 09, 10 and 12, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Overdubs:
- Apr 07, 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 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 - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:51 • Studio version • C
- 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 :
- Congas, Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- The Swingle Singers :
- Vocals
- The Mike Sammes Singers :
- Vocals (?)
- 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
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
Going further
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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