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Released in 2018

Nothing For Free

Written by Paul McCartney • Ryan Tedder

Last updated on July 6, 2024

Album This song officially appears on the Egypt Station (Deluxe edition) Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2018

Master album

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other songs co-written with Ryan Tedder

“Nothing For Free” is one of the two bonus tracks released on the deluxe edition of “Egypt Station”,  in 2018 (the other bonus track is “Get Started“). As “Fuh You” and “Get Enough“, this song has been co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder.

It was not reported where the track was recorded, but it is likely the work had started at Hog Hill Mill. We also assume some extra work was done when Paul McCartney and Ryan Tedder worked on “Fuh You” in Los Angeles.

I did three tracks with Ryan and [Fuh You] is the one on the album and then there’s two others, they’re nice. We only had a week, because there was a time when Greg was doing something else and my manager rung up and said you could maybe get with another producer, just to switch it up a bit, so he sent me some suggestions and I liked Ryan’s stuff. I rang him, and I think we decided he’d come to my studio for a week and we’d just see how we went. I said, ‘I’ve got a lot of songs we could do,’ but in the end, he just fancied making it up, so we just, you know, we went in with nothing, just got a beat, got a thing, got an idea for some lyrics and just built it up, you know, but he knows what he’s doing.

Paul McCartney – interviewed for Sodajerkerpodcast, 2018

A remix by DJ Chris Holmes was released on Spotify, Vevo and as download on July 1, 2019.

Lyrics

Okay, okay, okay

I wonder why you're coming to me

I think you must want something for free

I try to work out what I could say

But my brain's not working today

I know you need something

You were talking to me

You were talking to me

I know you need something

Well, what can it be?

Well, what can it be?

I know you need something

You're talking to me

But you don't get nothing for free

Okay, okay, okay (Nothing's for free)

You've got a real cool way about you

Is there a lot you want me to do? (Yeah)

I'd love to help out in any way

But my brain stopped working today

I know you need something

You were talking to me

You were talking to me

I know you need something

Well, what can it be?

Well, what can it be?

I know you need something

You're talking to me

But you don't get nothing for free

I want to tell you what it means to me

I love you every way and now, and now

But I can't make up my mi-mi-mind

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah

I wonder why you're coming to me

I think you must want something for free

I'd love to help out in any way

But-but my brain stopped working today

I know you need something

You were talking to me

You were talking to me

I know you need something

Well, what can it be?

Well, what can it be?

I know you need something

You're talking to me

But you don't get nothing for free

Okay, okay, okay

My brain stopped working

My brain stopped working

My brain stopped working today

Variations

  • A Album version
  • B DJ Chris Holmes Remix

Officially appears on

Videos

Album Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition

Album Nothing For Free (DJ Chris Holmes Remix)

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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Vishekh Ramdaas • 6 years ago

Written with Ryan Tedder

The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago

Thanks Vishekh ! Will do the change !

Robert Spinello • 6 years ago

This sounds like it could have been on McCartney II

The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago

Thanks Robert. I have yet to listen to it !!! Haven't listened to the 2 bonus tracks yet !!

Luis Urtaza • 6 years ago

BOTH BONUS SONGS ARE FANTASTIC. SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE ALBUM....

Luis Urtaza • 6 years ago

Is Paul the only one singing on the track Nothing for Free?? Cool voice effect but not sure if both high and low voice is his...

The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago

Hi Luis, unfortunately, I was unable to locate the credits for "Nothing For Free" :( (and I haven't listened to it yet, frustrating ...)

Paul • 6 years ago

Cannot listen to this song. Tried on Spotify without success; any assistance would be appreciated!

Ron • 6 years ago

Nothing for free is a great song; worth to be on the regular Egypt Station. Just as good to be a next single. A brother-song of 'Fuh you'. I hope for more Macca Tedder corporations. It's refreshing.

The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago

@Paul - I haven't listened to it yet ! The only way seems to buy this deluxe CD edition, from some retailers ! See the list here https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/album/egypt-station-target-edition/

Ringo Hendrix • 6 years ago

Both deluxe tracks are on YouTube now.

Max • 5 years ago

Nice.

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