- Album This song officially appears on the Off The Ground Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Demo Sessions with Elvis Costello
September - October 1987
December 1991 - July 1992
September - October 1992
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Song facts
“Mistress And Maid” is a track from 1993 album “Off The Ground“, co-written with Elvis Costello. A fifteen-piece orchestra was used to enhance the song, conducted by Carl Davis, who previously collaborated with Paul McCartney on the Liverpool Oratorio.
That one’s a little complicated. Paul and Carl Davis took tapes of my guitar and Robbie’s guitar and wrote horn arrangements around the lines we were playing — and it really works because it’s a matter of embellishing what’s already there.
Hamish Stuart – From the “New World Tour” tour book
This was really reversing our relationship, because Paul had a very clear idea of what he wanted, the song was already written and recorded. For me, it was simply a job. He said to me, ‘I would like to have this brass ensemble and I’ll tell you exactly what I want it to be’. He came not to me as a composer.
Carl Davis – Exclusive interview from Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013)
“Mistress And Maid” was performed live only once in March 1995, by Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello, both on acoustic guitars.
Last updated on September 10, 2020
Lyrics
She said
Come in my dear,
You're looking tired tonight.
Your bath is drawn, let me loosen your tie
And fix you your usual drink.
He settles back,
Takes a magazine,
Kicks off his shoes, as he studies the form
Of every appealing soubrette.
But where are the flowers that he used to bring?
Every endearing remark
Reminds her of passionate promises,
That he only made in the dark.
In her bed,
She wants to shout at the back of his head
Look at me, look at me, look at me I'm afraid
See what it's come to,
I'm just your mistress and maid.
The wine is warm
But the dinner is cold.
The look in his eye tells her it won't be long
'Till the girls on the page come to life.
And they'll get the flowers that he used to bring
With every endearing remark,
And all of the passionate promises
He'll never fulfill in the dark.
In their bed,
She wants to shout at the back of his head
Look at me, look at me, now that I'm not afraid.
See what it's come to,
I'm not your mistress and maid.
See what it's come to,
I'm not your mistress and maid.
Officially appears on
Off the Ground - The Complete Works
Official album • Released in 1993
3:01 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine
- Robbie McIntosh :
- Acoustic guitar
- Hamish Stuart :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Paul Wickens :
- Keyboards
- Blair Cunningham :
- Drums
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Producer
- Bob Kraushaar :
- Recording engineer
- Gordon Hunt :
- Oboe
- Susan Milan :
- Flute
- Frank Lloyd :
- Horn
- Colin Sheen :
- Trombone
- Paul Stringsbald :
- Trumpet
- Richard Martin :
- Trumpet
- Stephen Wick :
- Tuba
- Belinda Bunt :
- Violin
- Jonathan Evans-Jones :
- Violin
- Roger Garland :
- Violin
- Roy Gillard :
- Violin
- David Juritz :
- Violin
- Pauline Lowbury :
- Violin
- Brendan O'Reilly :
- Violin
- Maciej Rakowski :
- Violin
- Carl Davis :
- Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
- Session Recording:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- September - October 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, 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
2:59 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Tambourine
- Robbie McIntosh :
- Acoustic guitar
- Hamish Stuart :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Paul Wickens :
- Keyboards
- Blair Cunningham :
- Drums
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Producer
- Bob Kraushaar :
- Recording engineer
- Gordon Hunt :
- Oboe
- Susan Milan :
- Flute
- Frank Lloyd :
- Horn
- Colin Sheen :
- Trombone
- Paul Stringsbald :
- Trumpet
- Richard Martin :
- Trumpet
- Stephen Wick :
- Tuba
- Belinda Bunt :
- Violin
- Jonathan Evans-Jones :
- Violin
- Roger Garland :
- Violin
- Roy Gillard :
- Violin
- David Juritz :
- Violin
- Pauline Lowbury :
- Violin
- Brendan O'Reilly :
- Violin
- Maciej Rakowski :
- Violin
- Carl Davis :
- Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
- Session Recording:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- December 1991 - July 1992
- Studio :
- The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- September - October 1992
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, 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
Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2017
2:28 • Demo • B • Taken from a cassette demo recorded at Hog Hill Mill, East Sussex
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Elvis Costello
- Session Recording:
- September - October 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Flowers In The Dirt - The cassette demos
Cassette • Released in 2017
2:28 • Demo • B
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Elvis Costello
- Session Recording:
- September - October 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Bootlegs
Unofficial live • Released in 1995
3:04 • Live
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Elvis Costello • The Brodsky Quartet
Concert From "An Evening With Paul McCartney & Friends - Royal College Of Music Benefit" in London, United Kingdom on Mar 23, 1995
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
3:02 • Live • Paul & Elvis
Concert From "An Evening With Paul McCartney & Friends - Royal College Of Music Benefit" in London, United Kingdom on Mar 23, 1995
Live performances
“Mistress And Maid” has been played in 1 concerts.
Latest concerts where Mistress And Maid has been played
An Evening With Paul McCartney & Friends - Royal College Of Music Benefit
Mar 23, 1995 • United Kingdom • London • St. James' Palace
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