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- Album This song officially appears on the Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why 7" Single.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Nov 03, 1970
Feb 05, 1971
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Oh Woman, Oh Why” is a song written by English musician Paul McCartney, first released on the Apple Records label in February 1971 as the B-side to McCartney’s debut single as a solo artist, “Another Day“.
Release
Upon release, “Another Day/Oh Woman, Oh Why” achieved a top-5 status in both the United Kingdom and the United States, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in the United Kingdom in April 1971. On the Cash Box Top 100 chart, which listed sides separately, the song peaked at number 55. The song has also been praised for McCartney’s impressive range of vocal pitch.
Style
The overall style of “Oh Woman, Oh Why” is that of a tense, blues rock song complimented by a fierce vocal delivery. In addition, the song is paced by drum rhythm which establishes a solid foundation upon which tight guitar lines interweave. McCartney’s gritty vocal upon this track has been described by one author as being as one of his most solid and authentic performances.
Later release
Although “Another Day” and “Oh Woman, Oh Why” were not originally released upon any solo or Wings album, both songs would be released as bonus tracks upon later editions of Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 solo album, Ram. “Oh Woman, Oh Why” has also been included upon the Special and Deluxe editions of the 2012 remasters of Ram.
Last updated on November 11, 2018
The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.
"Oh Woman, Oh Why" is one of the 154 songs covered.
Lyrics
Woman, oh why, why, why, why, why
What have I done
Oh woman, oh where, where, where, where, where
Did you get that gun
Oh what have I done
What have I done
Well I met her at the bottom of a well
Well I told her I was tryin' to break a spell
But I can't get by, my hands are tied
Don't know why I ever got her to try myself
Cause I can't get by, my hands are tied
Woman, oh why, why, why, why
What have I done
Oh woman, oh where, where, where, where, where
Did you get that gun
Oh what have you done
Woman what have you done
Well I am fed up with your lying cheating ways
But I get up every morning and every day
But I can't get by, my hands are tied
Don't know why I want her to try myself
Cause I can't get by, my hands are tied
Oh woman, oh why, why, why, why, why
What have I done
Oh woman, oh where, where, where, where, where
Did you get that gun
Woman, what have I done
What have you done
Officially appears on
7" Single • Released in 1971
4:36 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why (Promo)
7" Single • Released in 1971
4:36 • Studio version • A1 • Mono • Promotional version
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
Official album • Released in 1993
4:36 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
Official album • Released in 2005
7" Single • Released in 2012
4:45 • Studio version • A2012
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
Official album • Released in 2012
4:36 • Studio version • A2012 • 2012 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
7" Single • Released in 2022
4:36 • Studio version • A2012
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2000
4:34 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
UK Singles Collection - Volume 01
Unofficial album • Released in 2007
4:36 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Gun shots, Percussion, Producer, Shaker, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Seiwell :
- Drums, Percussion, Shaker
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Dixon Van Winkle :
- Mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 03, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- Feb 05, 1971
- Studio :
- A&R Studios, New York City
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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Oh Woman, Oh Why was also a bonus track on a reissue of the Wild Life Abum.
Thanks edrebber ! Indeed I need to add the Wild Life 1993 remaster - thanks !
In the second stanza - 4th verse the correct words (in this song) are:
Don't know why the woman is so messed up -
I'd like to see someone get this right someday
Verse 2, line 4 original lyrics: Don't know why the woman's so messed up