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Released in 1980

On The Way

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:

“On The Way” 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 put down a drum track and some bass and that was that. It sat around for a month or so. The day before going back to it I had seen Alexis Korner on a TV programme about the blues, and I thought ‘ ‘Oh, I’ve got to do something like that because it’s the kind of music I like … the blues.” So that’s how that one came about. I just made it up into a bluesy type thing.

Paul McCartney

“Nobody Knows“, 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

‘On the Way’ I listened to, that’s a nice little blues song. I really hadn’t heard that since I recorded it.

Paul McCartney, from McCartney II Archive Collection, 2011

There’s a rough mix available [A1] which has a slighter shorter running time than the released version on “McCartney II“.

Lyrics

Well you know I'll always love you

But it would have been a lie

If I said that I could please you

Every moment that I try

Wouldn't want to see you crying

So I hope you don't mind

The things I say

On the way

Well we've been travelling for a long time

And we finally finished here

Though I said some things to hurt you

Well it was only out of fear

Wouldn't want to see you crying

So I hope you don't mind

The things I say

On the way

Well you know I'll always love you

Everything will be alright

If I know you don't mind

The things I say

On the way

Well you know I'll always love you

Everything will be ok

If I know you don't mind

The things I say

On the way

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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Claudio Ríos • 4 years ago

B.B.KING hizo una excelente versión de este tema en el arte de McCartney

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