Put It There

Written by Paul McCartney

Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1989
Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1988 (Paul McCartney was 46 years old)

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions




Mixing "Put It There"

Jan 20, 1989

Other singles from "Flowers In The Dirt"


My Brave Face

Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt


Figure Of Eight

Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt


This One

Officially appears on Flowers In The Dirt

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Song facts

From Wikipedia:

Put It There” is a 1990 single from Paul McCartney’s 1989 album, Flowers in the Dirt. The song reached number 32 on the UK singles chart. The lyrics were inspired by an expression of friendship that McCartney learned from his father, “Put it there [handshake] if it weighs a ton.

Like other songs from Flowers in the Dirt, despite the song’s chart modest chart success, to date it has not been included on any McCartney compilation album.

The 7″ single also included a Wings song, “Mama’s Little Girl“, that had been originally recorded in 1972 but had been remixed and produced in its current version in 1987 by McCartney and Chris Thomas. The 12” single included a second Wings song, “Same Time Next Year“, which had been recorded on 5 and 6 May 1978 at RAK Studios, as a possible theme for the movie of the same name that had also been remixed and produced in 1987 by McCartney and Thomas.

This song was released as a 7″ single, a 12″ maxi-single, and a CD single.

Paul McCartney in "Conversations With McCartney", by Paul Du Noyer:

“Put It There” is what my dad used to say: “Put it there, if it weights a ton”. He had loads of mad expressions, my dad. He was a great guy, and like a lot of these Liverpool guys, you never think about it until years later, when you’re grown up and it’s ‘What did he mean?’

Paul McCartney in “Club Sandwich 52, Summer 1989“:

“Put it there’…was an expression my Dad used to say when we were kids. He used to hold his hand out and say, ‘Put it there if it weighs a ton’… My Dad died over ten years ago now, but you remember those things with affec-tion, you know. And so I wrote a song about that, which I think will become one of my favourites.

From paulmccartney.com, February 28, 2017:

“Is the song ‘Put It There’ about your father, brother and you, or is it about your relationship with your children?”

Paul said, “[…] The song was originally inspired by my dad who used the expression regularly. ‘Put it there, if it weighs a ton,’ he would say. Growing up I heard this expression a lot when he was shaking hands with anyone! So I have an affection for the phrase. When we were doing the video I explained this to the filmmakers, and so it really is to do with me and my dad. But then the next generation is me and my kids. So it’s to do with family. It’s to do with parents and kids. Or just anyone who wants to shake hands.”

Paul McCartney, in People Music, March 24, 2017:

McCartney once again laid down the rhythm on the track, but with an unusual twist. 

“There’s a little hand-slappy thing. That’s something we first heard on Buddy Holly’s record, a great old favorite of ours when we were growing up. He does a record called ‘Everyday.’ It’s a cute little song, a great little song, and there’s this tapping on it [demonstrates]. The story was that it was him tapping on his jeans. And if you ever do that and want to get that effect, don’t wear sweatpants or regular trousers. Jeans are what you need, they’ve got the right tone. That’s just a hint for you and your readers, should you ever be called on to a thigh-slapping session.”

Last updated on July 31, 2023

The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.

"Put It There" is one of the 154 songs covered.

Lyrics

Give me your hand I'd like to shake it
I want to show you I'm your friend,
You'll understand if I can make it clear
It's all that matters in the end.

Put it there if it weighs a ton,
That's what a father said to his young son
I don't care if it weighs a ton,
As long as you and I are here, put it there.
Long as you and I are here, put it there.

If there's a fight I'd like to fix it,
I hate to see things go so wrong.
The darkest night and all it's mixed emotions
Is getting lighter sing along.

Put it there if it weighs a ton,
That's what a father said to his young son
I don't care if it weighs a ton,
As long as you and I are here, put it there.
Long as you and I are here, put it there.

Officially appears on


Flowers In The Dirt

Official album • Released in 1989

2:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Flowers In The Dirt - Special Package

Official album • Released in 1990

2:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


The Long And Winding Road

12" Single • Released in 1990

2:44 • Studio version


Put It There / Mama's Little Girl

7" Single • Released in 1990

2:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Put It There

CD Single • Released in 1990

2:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Tripping The Live Fantastic

Official live • Released in 1990

2:44 • LiveL1

Performed by :
Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyRobbie McIntoshHamish StuartPaul WickensChris Whitten
Paul McCartney :
Producer
Eddie Klein :
Assistant engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Peter Henderson :
Producer
Bob Clearmountain :
Mixing engineer, Producer
Jeff Cohen :
Recording engineer
Geoff Foster :
Assistant engineer
Scott Hull :
Assistant engineer
George Cowan :
Assistant engineer
Paul Rushbrook :
Assistant engineer

Concert From the concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sep 28, 1989


All My Trials

12" Single • Released in 1990

2:44 • LiveL1

Performed by :
Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyRobbie McIntoshHamish StuartPaul WickensChris Whitten
Paul McCartney :
Producer
Eddie Klein :
Assistant engineer
Matt Butler :
Assistant engineer
Peter Henderson :
Producer
Bob Clearmountain :
Mixing engineer, Producer
Jeff Cohen :
Recording engineer
Geoff Foster :
Assistant engineer
Scott Hull :
Assistant engineer
George Cowan :
Assistant engineer
Paul Rushbrook :
Assistant engineer

Concert From the concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sep 28, 1989


Flowers In The Dirt (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

2:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Never Stop Doing What You Love

Official album • Released in 2005

2:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2017

2:10 • Studio versionA2017 • 2017 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
Hamish Stuart :
Bass, Percussion
George Martin :
Orchestra lead, Orchestration
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Neil Dorfsman :
Additional production
Chris Witten :
Hi hat, Percussion
Peter Henderson :
Computer programming, Recording engineer
Lance Phillips :
Assistant engineer
Sam Okell :
Remastering
Alex Wharton :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Apr 22, 1988
Studio :
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Session Orchestra overdubs:
Nov 28, 1988
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Jan 20, 1989
Studio :
Olympic Sound Studios, London


Bootlegs


MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol.22

Unofficial album

0:42 • Studio version





Lumpy Trousers

Unofficial live

1:43 • Soundcheck • (Mock Versions)


Films


Put it There

1990 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Neil Mackenzie Matthews

Live performances

“Put It There” has been played in 104 concerts and 2 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where Put It There has been played







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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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Put_It_There

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