- 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 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: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
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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