Album This song officially appears on the Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why 7" Single.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1971
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Nov 03, 1970
Feb 05, 1971
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.
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
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
4:19 • Studio version • B
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Clive Goddard : Mixing engineer Freelance Hellraiser : Producer
Session Recording: Circa 2004 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
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
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
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
"Oh Woman, Oh Why" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.
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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edrebber • 6 years ago
Oh Woman, Oh Why was also a bonus track on a reissue of the Wild Life Abum.
The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago
Thanks edrebber ! Indeed I need to add the Wild Life 1993 remaster - thanks !
John Bromley • 5 years ago
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
John Bromley • 5 years ago
Verse 2, line 4 original lyrics: Don't know why the woman's so messed up