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Released in 2012

Only Our Hearts

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on November 30, 2020


Album This song officially appears on the Kisses On the Bottom Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2012

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 2011, when Paul McCartney was 69 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Original songs from the 'Kisses On The Bottom' sessions

Only Our Hearts” is a song written by Paul McCartney. It was one of the two original songs featured on his 2012 album “Kisses On The Bottom” (the other one being “My Valentine“).

The song was recorded with a totally different set of musicians compared to the other songs of “Kisses On The Bottom“. We can therefore only assume it was recorded at the same time as the other songs.

The song features Stevie Wonder on harmonica. This was their first collaboration since the recording of “Tug Of War” in 1981. From paulmccartney.com, January 26, 2012:

This year sees 30 years since Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder first worked together on the classic smash hit Ebony and Ivory (March 1982), which was number 1 in the UK and the US. The release of Paul’s new album “Kisses On The Bottom” sees them reunited on the track, “Only Our Hearts”. “Only Our Hearts” is one of two original McCartney compositions included on the album, which is a collection of standards Paul grew up listening to in his childhood.

On working with Stevie Paul said, “Stevie came along to the studio in LA and he listened to the track for about ten minutes and he totally got it. He just went to the mic and within 20 minutes had nailed this dynamite solo. When you listen you just think, ‘How do you come up with that?’ But it’s just because he is a genius, that’s why“.

Stevie joined Paul at LA’s legendary Capitol Studio’s to record the track.

That track had a space left open for the solo, although we had no one in mind to perform it. When I suggested Stevie, Paul liked the idea. So, being that they’re friends and have worked together in the past, Paul called him, Stevie was into it and he came in just before we started mixing in LA. Well, talk about a giant set of ears — Stevie just listened to the track a couple of times and within 15 to 20 minutes we had the take.

Tommy LiPuma, from an interview with Sound On Sound, May 2012
From NastyLittleMan – Paul McCartney Standards album mixing at the Capitol Studios

A marketing push in collaboration with luxury retailer Tiffany was made to promote “Only Our Hearts“. From paulmccartney.com, January 27, 2012:

Tiffany & Co. are debuting an exclusive preview of Paul’s new love song Only Our Hearts in WhatMakesLoveTrue.com – A site dedicated to the art of true love! […]

In celebration of the new album, WhatMakesLoveTrue.com is offering a limited number of complimentary downloads of the track before the official launch of the album on February 6th (UK) and 7th (US).

To download a complimentary copy of the track and watch the making of Kisses on the Bottom, visit Tiffany’s WhatMakesLoveTrue.com.


Lyrics

If only my love was here

I'd be taking the time to feel it

Washing over my body and soul

If only my love, only my love was here.


I wish that my heart was strong

I'd be letting it beat much faster

At the thought of you holding me near

I wish that my heart, wish that my heart was strong.


Hoping to be where you are

Of longing to be your lover

Don't want to ever be far

Apart from you, my love.


But only our hearts will know

If we're gonna spend it together

Only gone to the dreams that we share

Only our hearts know how much love is there.


Hoping to be where you are

Of longing to be your lover

I don't wanna ever be far

Apart from you, my love.


But only our hearts will know

If were gonna spend it together

Holding on to the love that we share

Only our hearts know how much love is there

Yes, only our hearts know how much love is there.

Variations

  • A Album version
  • A1 Rough mix with alternate end

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Videos

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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Marlon Torres • 4 years ago

Only our hearts is the killer song here..truly loved it!


Jon Karp • 1 year ago

Only Our Hearts can stand with any song -- any of the standards -- Paul recorded on Kisses; it's a little masterpiece and (even) better IMO than My Valentine.


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