Album This song officially appears on the Off The Ground Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1993
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
December 1991 - July 1992
Overdubs for "Golden Earth Girl"
May 18, 1992
September - October 1992
"Working Classical" session for string quartet pieces
February 21-25th, 1999
“Golden Earth Girl” is a ballad from 1993 album “Off The Ground“.
Paul was thinking of doing that with an orchestra and I don’t quite know how it became a band number. But it works. All we added was a flute and an oboe playing the melody in the solo section.
Hamish Stuart – From the “New World Tour” tour book
The orchestra part was arranged by Carl Davis, who previously worked with Paul on the Liverpool Oratorio. Gordon Hunt played oboe and Susan Milan flute.
Carl Davis: Paul was able to say, ‘I want to add a flute here and there’, and this is what I want them to play. The score was done by me, but very dictated by Paul.
Gordon Hunt: […] The music was all written down. Carl was in the studio when I got there. Paul came out from the recording box and talked to us, me and Susan Milan on flute. […] He knew exactly where he wanted it to go… He got a very clear idea about the solo: how it should be phrased, how it should be sounding. I was very impressed by that […]
Exclusive interview from Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013)
Golden earth girl, female animal
Sings to the wind, resting at sunset
In a mossy nest
Sensing moonlight in the air
(Moonlight in the air)
Good clear water friend of wilderness
Sees in the pool her own reflection.
In another world
Someone over there is counting.
Fish in a sunbeam,
In eggshell seas.
Fish in a sunbeam.
Eggshell finish.
Natures lover climbs the primrose hill,
Smiles at the sky watching the sunset
From a mossy nest.
As she falls asleep she's counting ...
Fish in a sunbeam,
In eggshell seas.
Fish in a sunbeam.
Eggshell finish.
Off the Ground - The Complete Works
Official album • Released in 1993
3:45 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Keyboards, Percussion Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Gordon Hunt : Oboe Susan Milan : Flute Carl Davis : Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: May 18, 1992 • Studio The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:45 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Keyboards, Percussion Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Gordon Hunt : Oboe Susan Milan : Flute Carl Davis : Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: May 18, 1992 • Studio The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1999
1:57 • Classical version • B
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Eddie Klein : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Recording engineer Steve Rooke : Mastering Krista Bennion Feeney : First violin Anca Nicolau : Second violin Joanna Hood : Viola Myron Lutzke : Cello Loma Mar Quartet : ArrangerPerformed by : Loma Mar Quartet John Fraser : Producer Arne Akselberg : Balance engineer Paul Baily : Editor Caroline Haigh : Editor
Session Recording: February 21-25th, 1999 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Off The Ground - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:45 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Keyboards, Percussion Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Gordon Hunt : Oboe Susan Milan : Flute Carl Davis : Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: May 18, 1992 • Studio The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
3:43 • Studio version • Backing track channel mix
Album Off The Ground
“Golden Earth Girl” has been played in 1 concerts.
London • Royal Albert Hall • UK
Nov 03, 2006 • Part of Ecce Cor Meum
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
"Golden Earth Girl" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012
This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.
The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
Paul • 4 years ago
I would like to know Pauls story behind this song….
