- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1995 (Paul McCartney was 53 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue" session
Jan 28, 1995
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Song facts
From Daily News, August 6, 1995:
Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono have officially buried the hatchet they’ve collaborated on a song to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima. “Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue” will be broadcast on Japanese television tomorrow on the 50th anniversary of the atomic bomb explosion, a spokeswoman for Japan’s NHK public television said yesterday. The song ends a three-decade feud between the ex-Beatle and John Lennon’s Japanese-born widow, who has been blamed for breaking up the most famous pop group ever. Adding to the spirit of reconciliation, the song was recorded with both Lennon and McCartney’s children. Though McCartney is one of the world’s most famous songwriters, “Hiroshima Sky” was written by Ono. The song was taped in a secret Jan. 28 recording session when Ono and Sean Lennon her son with John spent a weekend at McCartney’s house outside London. McCartney showed them around his private studio and suggested recording a song together. Ono told him about a song she had written from her memories of World War II Japan, when she saw newspaper photographs of bomb victims suffering from burns and leukemia. Ono sang and Sean played the harpsichord his father used on the song “Julia” on the Beatles’ “White Album.
McCartney’s wife, Linda, played the organ, their son James played guitar and their daughters did the percussion. McCartney played bass not the sort everyone remembers from the Beatles, but an upright model used by one of Elvis Presley’s bassists.
Last updated on August 21, 2020
Bootlegs
Liverpool Sound Collage - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:44 • Studio version
Liverpool Sound Collage - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
5:01 • Studio version • [Broadcast Version]
Give Us That Knowing Wink - Official Rarities - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
7:47 • Studio version
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass
- Linda McCartney :
- Celeste
- James McCartney :
- Guitar
- Heather McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Percussion
- Yoko Ono :
- Vocal
- Mary McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Percussion
- Stella McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Percussion
- Sean Lennon :
- Guitar
- Session Recording:
- Jan 28, 1995
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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Hey legend! Great work you are doing.
Just noticed this:
[Ono sang and Sean played the harpsichord his father used on the song “Julia” on the Beatles’ “White Album]
I’m pretty sure there’s no harpsichord in “Julia”. Have read an other source that says it’s “Because” which makes more sense to me.
Anyway, great job.