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- Album This song officially appears on the Band On The Run (UK version) Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"Band On The Run" sessions in Lagos
September 1-23, 1973
October 1973
Late October / Early November 1973
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Mamunia” is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney that first appeared on Wings’ 1973 album Band on the Run. It was also released as the B-side of the “Jet” single in the US, but was replaced by “Let Me Roll It” when “Mamunia” was being considered as a possible future A-side.
Music and lyrics
“Mamunia” was written in Marrakesh early in 1973. The title was inspired by the hotel Mamounia in which the McCartneys were staying at the time. Mamounia means “safe haven” in Arabic. According to author John Blaney, McCartney used the term as a “metaphor for rebirth.” “Mamunia” is one of several songs on Band on the Run, including the title track and “Bluebird,” which espouse a theme of escape and freedom. The song’s verses use rain as a metaphor for the difficult times people face. The song’s message is to not complain about difficult times because everyone faces tough times and it’s better to focus on your “safe haven” during those times.
“Mamunia” was the first song recorded for Band on the Run in Lagos, Nigeria. Paul McCartney sings the lead vocals and plays guitar and bass, Denny Laine plays guitar and sings backing vocals, and Linda McCartney provides backing vocals as well. One of McCartney’s roadies plays bass drum. Like “Bluebird,” “Mamunia” is primarily acoustic. Music critic Robert Christgau described the song’s intro as “Afro-soul.” The song and the refrain are in the key of A major and the verses are in the key of C major. Authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter describe the song as “so lightweight it’ll float off” but note that it is “relentlessly melodic.” […]
Critics comments
Professor Vincent Benitez described it as a “typical example of McCartney’s style of pop music.” Blaney describes it as “a bright and breezy pop song, celebrating the good things in life and equally as delightful. Mojo Magazine described it as “a pearl of naive wisdom.” Authors Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon described “Mamunia” as a “solid side-two track.” Paul McCartney biographer Peter Carlin claimed that “Mamunia” “takes a more laid-back approach to the sentiment in [The Beatles’ song] ‘Rain.'” Author Tim Riley concurs the song’s relationship to “Rain,” calling it a “pale rewrite of Lennon’s “Rain,” but praises its “smart two-key framework.”
Music video
A music video was made for “Mamunia” in July 1974. Jim Quick was the producer. The video is mostly animated, and Paul McCartney does not appear. It was first shown on The Dave Cash Radio Show.” It appears on the 2007 video set The McCartney Years.
[Mamunia is] The first one we did in Lagos – recorded in the middle of a tropical rainstorm. I don’t know if that had any effect on the final result.
Paul McCartney – From interview with Disc Magazine, 1973
Last updated on March 19, 2022
Lyrics
Mamunia Mamunia Mamunia
Oh Oh Oh
Mamunia Mamunia Oh Oh Oh Oh
The rain comes falling from the sky,
To fill the stream that fills the sea
And that's where life began for you and me
So the next time you see rain it ain't bad,
Don't complain; it rains for you,
The next time you see L.A. rainclouds,
Don't complain it rains for you and me
Mamunia . . .
It might have been a bright blue day
But rainclouds had to come this way
They're watering everything that they can see.
A seed is waiting in the earth
For rain to come and give him birth
It's all he really needs to set him free,
So the next time you see L.A. rainclouds
Don't complain, it rains for you.
So lay down your umbrellas
Strip off your plastic macs.
You've never felt the rain my friend,
Til you've felt it running down your back
So the next time you see rain, it ain't bad
Don't complain, it rains for you.
The next time you see U. C. L. A. rainclouds
Don't complain it rains for you and me.
Mamunia...
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1973
4:50 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Official album • Released in 1973
4:50 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Official album • Released in 1993
4:50 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Official album • Released in 1996
4:50 • Studio version • B • DTS Mix / Quadraphonic version
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Early 1974
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, 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
Band On The Run (25th Anniversary)
Official album • Released in 1999
4:50 • Studio version • A1999 • 1999 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Greg Calbi :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Band On The Run - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2010
4:51 • Studio version • A2010 • 2010 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Band On The Run (Limited White LP)
Official album • Released in 2017
4:51 • Studio version • A2010
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Band On The Run - 50th Anniversary Edition (Half-Speed Master) LP
Official album • Released in 2024
4:50 • Studio version • A2024 • 2024 half-speed mastering
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Bootlegs
Band On The Run - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
4:51 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Percussion, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Moog
- Denny Laine :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Monday :
- Assistant engineer
- Pete Swettenham :
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- September 1-23, 1973
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1973
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Late October / Early November 1973
- Studio :
- Kingsway Studios, London, 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
Band On The Run - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
4:51 • Studio version • A stereo downmix of the DTS-CD 5.1 mix released in May 1996
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.
Contribute!
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What is the meaning of Paul's references to Los Angeles in this song? "LA rainclouds" repeats... and earlier with "and that's where life began for you and me" - possibly referencing their "dirty weekend" in LA in June 1968? This has always intrigued me. Thanks for your input.
Hi Laurie, I haven't found any source that explains the lyrics in details. But your theory, I would say, stands!