- Album This song officially appears on the Take It Away / I'll Give You A Ring 7" Single.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1974 (Paul McCartney was 32 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
January - February 1974
Home recordings (aka "The Piano Tape")
Circa 1974
Recording "One Hand Clapping" - Day 3
Aug 28, 1974
Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London
March 11, 1981 - March 1982
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Song facts
“I’ll Give You a Ring” is a McCartney song released as the B-side of “Take It Away“, a 1982 single taken from the “Tug Of War” album.
It is believed that the song has been written around 1973 or 1974. A demo has been bootlegged on the so-called “Piano tape“. There is quite some controversy about the recording of this tape – have all songs been taped at the same date or not, mid-1973 or early 1974 ? What is sure is that “I’ll Give You a Ring” has been played by Paul McCartney when recording his TV documentary “One Hand Clapping” in August 1974, in a version quite close to the version on “Tug Of War”.
It is very likely that the backing track of the version released in 1982 has been recorded in 1974, maybe during the sessions for the album “McGear”. One hint of this is the presence of clarinet player Tony Coe on “I’ll Give You A Ring” as well as on “Leave It“, a song from “McGear“.
Early 1980, “I’ll Give You A Ring” was considered to be part of the “Cold Cuts” project.
Last updated on April 24, 2024
Lyrics
You look a little lonely
Maybe I could meet you
Tell me where to reach you
And I'll give you a ring
I'll take you to the pictures
I'll miss the second feature
Lord, I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
You look a little hungry
Maybe I could take you
Tell when to wake you up
And I'll give you a ring
I take you to the restaurant
We're looking at the menu
Lord, I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
Oh man
I know I won't be lonely any more
(Won't be lonely any more)
Me and my phone
I'm gonna call your home
I won't be lonely any more
(Won't be lonely any more)
You look a little lonely
Maybe I could meet you
Tell me where to reach you
And I'll give you a ring
I'll take you to the pictures
Miss the second feature
Lord, I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
Oh man
I know I won't be lonely any more
(Won't be lonely any more)
Me and my phone
I'm gonna call your home
I won't be lonely any more
(Won't be lonely any more)
You look a little sleepy
Wanna go to bed, dear?
Tell me can wed, dear
I'll give you a ring
Take you to the chapel
Listen to the sermon
Lord, I can't believe my ears
I must be dreaming
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring
Officially appears on
Take It Away / I'll Give You A Ring
7" Single • Released in 1982
3:09 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Tony Coe :
- Clarinet
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1974 ?
- Studio :
- Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey ?
- Session Recording:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
12" Single • Released in 1982
3:09 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Tony Coe :
- Clarinet
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1974 ?
- Studio :
- Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey ?
- Session Recording:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Tug Of War - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2015
3:07 • Studio version • A2015 • 2015 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Tony Coe :
- Clarinet
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1974 ?
- Studio :
- Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey ?
- Session Recording:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
7" Single • Released in 2022
3:09 • Studio version • A2022 • 2022 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Tony Coe :
- Clarinet
- Mark Wharton :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1974 ?
- Studio :
- Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey ?
- Session Recording:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Bootlegs
Unofficial live • Released in 2000
9:10 • Studio version • C • From "One Hand Clapping" - Medley with "Suicide","Let's Love","All Of You","Baby Face"
- Session Recording:
- Aug 28, 1974
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Unofficial album
Unofficial album
3:07 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Tony Coe :
- Clarinet
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1974 ?
- Studio :
- Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey ?
- Session Recording:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- March 1981 - March 1982
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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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I've read previously, that this tune dates back to the Venus & Mars sessions in 74 or earlier. That for the most part George Martin's main contributions to this record, Was to write the clarinet score & oversee the overdub session & mixdown .
I'd like to verify this info & similarly, there are quite a few obscure McCartney "B" sides & rarities where info is lacking. Just generally speaking.
I'd always thought of this tune as a charming throwaway with an obvious George Martin influence with Beatley sounding production, like much of TOW & Pipes To Peace. But if it was mostly done before Martin Even heard it, Then Sir George was less involved than I had believed. So which is it ?
Hi Barry,
Thanks for your comment.
"I'll Give You A Ring" has indeed been written early 1974 - it's available in a demo form on The Piano Tape dated this period and was also played during One Hand Clapping.
Overdubs have been done in 1981 before release on the B-Side of "Take It Away"
Hope it clarifies!