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Released in 1989

Figure Of Eight

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on January 4, 2023

Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1989

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1988, when Paul McCartney was 46 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other singles from "Flowers In The Dirt"

Related interviews

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.

Paul McCartney in “Club Sandwich 52, Summer 1989“:

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.

Club Sandwich No 52 Summer 1989

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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.”

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.

Variations

  • A
  • A2017 2017 remaster
  • B 12” Bob Clearmountain Mix
  • L1

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Figure Of Eight”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Figure Of Eight”

Related films

Live performances

“Figure Of Eight” has been played in 107 concerts and 5 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where “Figure Of Eight” has been played

See all concerts where “Figure Of Eight” has been played

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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Paul McCartney writing

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Mika Lintu • 5 months ago

Hi!

There is also a Figure Of Eight (7" Version) which runs 4:05. it is edit of Bob Clearmountain 12"mix

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