Golden Earth Girl

Written by Paul McCartney

Album This song officially appears on the Off The Ground Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1993

Song facts

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)

Last updated on June 15, 2019

Lyrics

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.

Officially appears on


Off the Ground - The Complete Works

Official album • Released in 1993

3:45 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals
Linda 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 • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Off The Ground

Official album • Released in 1993

3:45 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals
Linda 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 • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Working Classical

Official album • Released in 1999

1:57 • Classical versionB

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 :
Arranger
Performed 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

Bootlegs


Off The Ground - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2015

3:45 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals
Linda 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 • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Off The Ground Sessions

Unofficial album • Released in 2016

3:43 • Studio version • Backing track channel mix

Latest concerts where Golden Earth Girl has been played


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