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Released in 1980

Nobody Knows

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on September 9, 2020

Album This song officially appears on the McCartney II Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1980

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

“Nobody Knows” is a song written and performed by Paul McCartney, released on his second solo album, “McCartney II“, released in 1980. From a Club Sandwich interview:

I believe the next track, “Nobody Know”, was also inspired by Alexis Korner’s TV series.

Yes, that also came about after watching the blues series. I’m a big fan of a lot of the blues players. One of the funny things for me is that in blues you’ll get what is supposed to be a 12-bar blues, then you get odd timings come in. For instance, sometimes they just hold over on one chord — like one bar longer than you should or that most people would do. On many blues records, they’re never very exact so, on this track, I do the same thing. That was the basic inspiration behind it.

“On The Way“, also on the “McCartney II” album, was also inspired by the same TV program.

From Club Sandwich N°78, Summer 1996 – TV billing reproduced by courtesy of Radio Times

A rough mix of “Nobody Knows” is available [A1] and is very similar to the released version on “McCartney II“.

‘Nobody Knows’ is craziness, ‘Summer’s Day Song’ is craziness, ‘Frozen Jap’ is craziness, ‘Bogey Music’ is craziness.

Paul McCartney, from McCartney II Archive Collection, 2011

Lyrics

Which one of you can tell me

What it is I'm looking at

Anyone who can

Has got to be a crazy cat

'Cause I believe that

That nobody knows, no nobody knows

Yeah, nobody knows, no

Lord I cannot tell you

Well that's the way I like it

Yeah now, nobody knows

Nobody knows

Oh, nobody knows

Well Lord you know that nobody knows

Samson and Delilah would have made a crazy pair

If that silly woman hadn't shaven off his hair

I believe that nobody knows, no nobody knows

But that's the way I like it

Yeah now, nobody knows

That's the way I like it, nobody knows

I may go hungry, maybe next week

Well if I do then I'll still find something to eat

And you know, nobody knows, no nobody knows

Well, that's the way I like it, baby, nobody knows

And that includes you, honey (nobody knows)

I'll pay your rent

I'll do you right (nobody knows)

Most every night

But still there's nobody knows

No now, nobody knows

And that's the way I like to keep it

Just so nobody knows

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

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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Mixmeister TnC • 7 years ago

I never knew why "Nobody Knows" was never released on 7" or never played in concert. Its a real funny uptempo song that stays in my head for days.

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