Released in 1988
New Moon Over Jamaica
Written by Paul McCartney • Tom T. Hall • Johnny Cash
Last updated on March 19, 2022
Released in 1988
Written by Paul McCartney • Tom T. Hall • Johnny Cash
Last updated on March 19, 2022
Album This song officially appears on the Water from the Wells of Home Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1988
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1987, when Paul McCartney was 45 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Recording "New Moon Over Jamaica"
May 09, 1988
Unreleased song
Unreleased song
From The Beatles Rarity:
[…] Many Paul McCartney fans are aware of Paul’s fondness for holidays in Jamaica, and that he has taken quite a few vacations there over the years. Another music legend by the name of Johnny Cash liked the place so much that he actually bought a house there. On one of Paul and Linda’s mid-1980′s trips to the island, Johnny invited them over to his house for dinner, and while Paul was there, he penned the song […] while looking at the moon. The song is called “New Moon Over Jamaica.”
In May of 1988, Johnny showed up at Paul’s studio in England wanting to record the song, for inclusion on his upcoming album Water From The Wells Of Home. He had brought along Tom T. Hall, another country singer friend of his and the two of them had made a few modifications to the song. Paul shared a vocal with Johnny on the song and also played bass. Tom and Linda McCartney sang harmony vocals. […]
TO CHANGE:
Unlike Johnny’s country version, Paul’s demo is done with a reggae beat. On June 18, 1995, Paul featured his reggae demo of the song, segued with Johnny’s version, in his Oobu Joobu radio show and that is the version I give you here
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And the new year just got here, you see
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And I’m living with an old memory
So won’t you come back to Jamaica?
You know it isn’t so far
Look up in the sky where you left me that night
I’ll be standing right under that star
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And the new year just got here, you see
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And I’m living with an old memory
I said good evening to Venus
She said good evening too
Out there somewhere, you know I could swear
She sent a message of true love from you
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And the new year just got here, you see
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And I’m living with an old memory
A new moon makes someone feel happy
A new moon makes someone lovesick
I’m thinking of you, but what can I do?
New moons and new years and old loves don’t mix
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And the new year just got here, you see
There’s a new moon over Jamaica
And I’m living with an old memory