- Album This song officially appears on the McCartney II Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
June - July 1979
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Song facts
“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.
‘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“.
Last updated on September 9, 2020
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
Official album • Released in 1980
3:40 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:40 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
McCartney II - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2011
3:41 • Studio version • A2011 • 2011 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
McCartney II (Limited Clear LP)
LP • Released in 2017
3:41 • Studio version • A2011 • 2011 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
McCartney I II III Limited Edition Colour 3LP Box Set
LP • Released in 2022
3:41 • Studio version • A2011 • 2011 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2022
3:41 • Studio version • A2011 • 2011 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2000
3:35 • Rough mix • A1
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
McCartney II - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
3:41 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
3:30 • Rough mix • A1
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Mixing engineer, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals
- Eddie Klein :
- Mixing assistant
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- June - July 1979
- Studio :
- Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
- Session Mixing:
- September 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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