Oh Woman, Oh Why (song)

This image is a cover of an audio recording, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the publisher of the work or the artist(s) which produced the recording or cover artwork in question. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of such covers qualifies as fair use.

Album This song officially appears on the Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why 7" Single.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1971

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

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

Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why

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

Ram (1993)

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

Twin Freaks

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

Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why

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

Ram - Archive Collection

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

The 7” Singles Box

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

B-Sides Complete Vol. 1

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

Wings Promo Edit Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2013

4:39 • Studio version • promo mono

Twin Freaks - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2015

4:23 • Studio version

Ram - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2015

4:36 • Studio version

See all bootlegs containing “Oh Woman, Oh Why”

Latest concerts where Oh Woman, Oh Why has been played

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.