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- Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1988 (Paul McCartney was 46 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"Flowers In The Dirt" session #1 with Trevor Horn & Steve Lipson
October - November 1987
Nov 09, 1987
Jan 08, 1989
Sep 14, 1989
Other singles from "Flowers In The Dirt"
Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt
Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt
Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt
Related interviews
Behind the Songs: Paul McCartney Shares Intimate Memories of Recording Flowers in the Dirt
Mar 24, 2017 • From People Music
When Paul McCartney teamed up with Elvis Costello, the Beatle got back on track
Mar 16, 2017 • From The Washington Post
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Figure of Eight” is a song from Paul McCartney’s 1989 album, Flowers in the Dirt. After the completion of the album, McCartney recorded a new version for single release, using his newly formed touring band. The single version is unusual in running nearly two minutes longer than the album version, rather than following the typical radio edit pattern of shortening the track for single release. Despite this quirk, the single reached number 42 on the UK singles chart and number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Like other songs from Flowers in the Dirt, despite the song’s modest chart success, to date it has not been included on any McCartney compilation album.
“Figure of Eight” was the opening song throughout McCartney’s 1989–1990 world concert tour. A version recorded in Rotterdam on 10 November 1989 appeared on the live album from the tour, Tripping the Live Fantastic.
This song was released as a 7″ single, a 12″ maxi-single, and a CD single.
Very spontaneous, very rough; another two-day effort with Trevor…The vocal is live, which I like with all that rough-ness… There were certain con-ditions… that I put on them (Trevor and Steve Lipson). And… they made me do stuff that they hadn’t heard me do recently… it was great, I really enjoyed it.
Paul McCartney, in People Music, March 24, 2017:
“I liked the philosophy behind the lyrics of this song. I like the idea of not being caught in a figure of eight. Better to love than give in to hate, which now sounds to me like the U.S. elections.”
Last updated on January 4, 2023
Lyrics
(Well) you've got me dancing
In a figure of eight,
Don't know if I'm coming or going,
I'm early or late.
Round and round the ring I go,
I want to know, I want to know,
Why can't we travel a continuous line?
Make love reliable covenant all the time,
Up and down the hills I go.
I got to know, I got to know.
Is it better to love one another
Than to go for a walk in the dark?
Is it better to love than to give in to hate?
Yeah we'd better take good care of each other
Avoid slipping back off the straight and narrow,
It's better by far than getting stuck
In a figure of eight.
(Well) figure it out for yourself little girl,
It don't go nowhere at all,
It's nothing more than a tape loop
In a big dance hall.
You've got me running in a figure of eight,
Don't know if I'm coming or going,
I'm early or late,
(Well) round and round that little ring I go,
I want to know, I want to know
Is it better to love one another
Than to go for a walk in the dark?
Is it better to love than to give in to hate?
Yeah we'd better take good care of each other
Avoid slipping back off the straight and narrow,
It's better by far than getting stuck
In a figure of eight.
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1989
3:25 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Neil Dorfsman :
- Mixing engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Noel Harris :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- January 8, 1989
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
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 Single • Released in 1989
5:16 • Studio version • B • 12” Bob Clearmountain Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Bob Clearmountain :
- Remixing
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 14, 1989
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory, New York, 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
Figure Of Eight / This One (Club Lovejoys Mix)
12" Single • Released in 1989
5:16 • Studio version • B • 12” Bob Clearmountain Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Bob Clearmountain :
- Remixing
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 14, 1989
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory, New York, 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
Figure Of Eight / Ou Est Le Soleil?
12" Single • Released in 1989
5:16 • Studio version • B • 12” Bob Clearmountain Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Bob Clearmountain :
- Remixing
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 14, 1989
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory, New York, 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 Single • Released in 1989
5:16 • Studio version • B • 12” Bob Clearmountain Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Bob Clearmountain :
- Remixing
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 14, 1989
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory, New York, 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 1990
5:16 • Studio version • B • 12” Bob Clearmountain Mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Bob Clearmountain :
- Remixing
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 14, 1989
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory, New York, 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
Flowers In The Dirt - Special Package
Official album • Released in 1990
3:25 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Neil Dorfsman :
- Mixing engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Noel Harris :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- January 8, 1989
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
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 live • Released in 1990
5:33 • Live • L1
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Robbie McIntosh • Hamish Stuart • Paul Wickens • Chris Whitten
- Paul McCartney :
- Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer
- Peter Henderson :
- Producer
- Bob Clearmountain :
- Mixing engineer, Producer
- Jeff Cohen :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Foster :
- Assistant engineer
- Scott Hull :
- Assistant engineer
- George Cowan :
- Assistant engineer
- Paul Rushbrook :
- Assistant engineer
Concert From the concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands on Nov 10, 1989
Official album • Released in 1993
3:25 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Neil Dorfsman :
- Mixing engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Noel Harris :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- January 8, 1989
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2017
3:25 • Studio version • A2017 • 2017 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten :
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Neil Dorfsman :
- Mixing engineer
- Steve Lipson :
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer
- Trevor Horn :
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Noel Harris :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Sam Okell :
- Remastering
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 09, 1987
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- November 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- January 8, 1989
- Studio :
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
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 live
5:48 • Live
Concert From the concert in Hamburg, Germany on Oct 03, 1989
Indianapolis IN February 15, 1990
Unofficial live
5:18 • Live
Concert From the concert in Indianapolis, USA on Feb 15, 1990
Live at The Ahoy, Rotterdam, Nov 7, 1989
Unofficial live
5:59 • Live
Concert From the concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands on Nov 07, 1989
Films
1989 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Andy Morahan
1989 • For Paul McCartney
1989 • For Paul McCartney
Live performances
“Figure Of Eight” has been played in 107 concerts and 5 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Figure Of Eight has been played
Jul 29, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Foxboro • Sullivan Stadium • USA
Jul 26, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Foxboro • Sullivan Stadium • USA
Jul 24, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Raleigh • Carter-Finley Stadium • USA
Jul 22, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Cleveland • Cleveland Stadium • USA
Jul 20, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
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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