Medicine Jar (song)

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Album This song officially appears on the Venus and Mars Official album.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1975

Meat Free Monday

Mellow Yellow

Master release

Venus and Mars

By Wings

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions

Recording "Medicine Jar"

Nov 11, 1974

Recording "Medicine Jar"

Nov 13, 1974

Recording "Medicine Jar", "Call Me Back Again"

Feb 03, 1975

Recording "Letting Go", "Venus And Mars (Reprise)", "Medicine Jar"

Feb 06, 1975

Overdubs for "Medicine Jar"

Mar 02, 1975

Mixing "Medicine Jar"

Mar 22, 1975

Other Wings songs composed by Jimmy McCulloch

Wino Junko

Officially appears on Wings At The Speed Of Sound

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Song facts

From Jimmy McCulloch – Facebook:

Medicine Jar was originally called ‘Itchy Fingers’ and dated back to the Stone the Crows era. Written by Colin Allen and Jimmy McCulloch, the first advanced version of the song was recorded in 1973 at a community center in London with Jimmy, Jack, Ronnie Leahy and Andy Fraser.
Read all about the origins of Medicine Jar in Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story.

Medicine Jar was born out of my frustration, caused by Jeanette’s constant use of Mandies. The song’s line I know how you feel now your friends are dead, related to friends who had died because of drugs.
Colin Allen – From “Little Wing : The Jimmy McCulloch Story“

From Jimmy McCulloch – Facebook – Colin Allen’s handwritten lyrics with notes/chords written in by Jimmy. Courtesy of the McCulloch Family and these lyrics appear in Little Wing.

From Facebook – McCarthy/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Last updated on January 28, 2022

Lyrics

What's wrong with you?
I wish I knew
You say time will tell
I hope that’s true

There's more to life
Than blues and reds
I say, I know how you feel
now your friends are dead.
Dead on your feet
you won't get far
If you keep on sticking your hand
In the medicine jar.

Now don't give up
Whatever you do
You say time will tell
I hope that's true
If you go down and lose your head
I say, I know how you feel
now your friends are dead….
Dead on your feet
you won't get far
If you keep on sticking your hand
In the medicine jar.
Dead on your feet
you won't get far
If you keep on sticking your hand
In the medicine jar.

What can I do?
I can't let go
You say time will heal
but very slow
So don't forget the things you said
I say I know how you feel
Now your friends are dead.

Dead on your feet,
you won't go far
If you keep on sticking your hand
in the medicine jar.
Dead on your feet
you won't get far
If you keep on sticking your hand
In the medicine jar…[Repeat]

Officially appears on

Venus and Mars

Official album • Released in 1975

3:38 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Congas

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums

Joe English :: Backing vocals

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Nov 13, 1974

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Feb 03, 1975 and Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 02, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 22, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Wings Over America

Official live • Released in 1976

4:06 • Live • L1

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Keyboard, Vocals

Denny Laine :: Keyboard, Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Joe English :: Drums, Vocals

Mark Vigars :: Assistant mixing engineer

Phil McDonald :: Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording

Jack Maxson :: Recording engineer

Tom Walsh :: Assistant recording engineer

Concert From the concert in Cincinnati, USA on May 27, 1976

Venus And Mars (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

3:38 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Congas

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums

Joe English :: Backing vocals

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Peter Mew :: Remastering

Session Recording:: Nov 13, 1974

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Feb 03, 1975 and Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 02, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 22, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Wings Over America - Archive Collection

Official live • Released in 2013

4:07 • Live • L1.2013 • 2013 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Keyboard, Vocals

Denny Laine :: Keyboard, Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Joe English :: Drums, Vocals

Mark Vigars :: Assistant mixing engineer

Phil McDonald :: Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording

Jack Maxson :: Recording engineer

Tom Walsh :: Assistant recording engineer

Guy Massey :: Remastering

Steve Rooke :: Remastering

Simon Gibson :: Remastering

Concert From the concert in Cincinnati, USA on May 27, 1976

Venus And Mars - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2014

3:38 • Studio version • A2014

Paul McCartney :: Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Congas

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums

Joe English :: Backing vocals

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Nov 13, 1974

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Feb 03, 1975 and Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 02, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 22, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Venus And Mars (Limited Red & Yellow LP)

Official album • Released in 2017

3:38 • Studio version • A2014

Paul McCartney :: Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Congas

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums

Joe English :: Backing vocals

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Nov 13, 1974

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Feb 03, 1975 and Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 02, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 22, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Bootlegs

MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol. 8

Unofficial album

3:19 • Studio version

MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol. 8

Unofficial album

3:28 • Studio version

Rrrrooock Show

Unofficial live

4:18 • Live

Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976

Welcome To Washington

Unofficial live

3:16 • Live

Concert From the concert in Seattle, USA on Jun 10, 1976

Venus And Mars Outtakes Are Alright Tonight

Unofficial album

3:27 • Outtake

See all bootlegs containing “Medicine Jar”

Live performances

“Medicine Jar” has been played in 60 concerts.

Year	Soundchecks	Concerts
1960	0	0
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1975	0	17
1976	0	43
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