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Released in 1971

Long Haired Lady

Written by Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney

Last updated on December 31, 2021

Album This song officially appears on the Ram LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1971

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1970, when Paul McCartney was 28 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

“Long Haired Lady” is a track from 1971 “Ram” album, by Paul & Linda McCartney. From “Eight Arms To Hold You” by Chip Madinger & Mark Easter:

[…] ‘Long Haired Lady’ was one of the first in the solo McCartney catalog to feature the element of being “pieced together”. Paul had three segments “Well Well Well”, “Who’s The Lady?” and “Love Is Long” which he fashioned into one epic-length track, the longest on the LP […]

Long Haired Lady is very period piece, [fey Californian accent] ‘My long-haired lady.’ Very ’70s.

Paul McCartney, Mojo magazine, July 2001

From mixing engineering Eirik Wangberg:

Although the main bulk of the track had been done in New York, we did record a lot of background vocals at Sound Recorders.

There is also something about Long Haired Lady I’d like to mention. I remember playing the song back to Paul in the studio. He rested his arms on my shoulders after hearing it and, as I turned and looked at his face, tears were rolling down. Paul is a very, very sensitive person! Listening to his vocal work with Linda really got him into it. It was amazing.

Engineer Eirik Wangberg, interviewed by Claudio Dirani, 2005

In 2005, “Long Haired Lady” received the remix treatment of DJ Hellraiser, and was released on the “Twin Freaks” album.

From Better than looking in the mirror — Some of Paul McCartney’s handwritten RAM lyrics -… (tumblr.com)

Lyrics

Well well well well well

Do you love me like you know you ought to do?

Well well well well well

Or is this the only thing you want me for?

Well, I've been meaning to talk to you about it for sometime,

Sweet little lass you know, my long haired lady.

Who's the lady that makes that brief occasional laughter?

She's the lady who wears those flashing eyes.

Who'll be taking her home when all the dancing is over?

I'm the lucky man she will hypnotize.

Long haired lady.

Bees are buzzing about my sweet delectable lady,

Birds are humming about their big surprise.

Who's your favourite person, dear phenomenal lady?

I belong to the girl with the flashing eyes.

Long haired lady.

My love is long, love is long, my love is long

I'll sing your song, love is long, my love is long

And when you're young, love is long, your love is long

When your lips lead into song, love is long, your love is long.

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Long Haired Lady”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Long Haired Lady”

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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