Put It There
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- Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1988 (Paul McCartney was 46 years old)
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
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
Official album • Released in 1989
2:10 • Studio version • A
- 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 version • A
- 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 / Mama's Little Girl
7" Single • Released in 1990
2:10 • Studio version • A
- 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
CD Single • Released in 1990
2:10 • Studio version • A
- 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
Official live • Released in 1990
2:44 • Live • L1
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Robbie McIntosh • Hamish Stuart • Paul Wickens • Chris 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
12" Single • Released in 1990
2:44 • Live • L1
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Robbie McIntosh • Hamish Stuart • Paul Wickens • Chris 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
Official album • Released in 1993
2:10 • Studio version • A
- 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 version • A
- 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 version • A2017 • 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
Unofficial live
3:08 • Live
Concert From the concert in Hamburg, Germany on Oct 03, 1989
Indianapolis IN February 15, 1990
Unofficial live
3:00 • Live
Concert From the concert in Indianapolis, USA on Feb 15, 1990
Live at The Ahoy, Rotterdam, Nov 7, 1989
Unofficial live
2:49 • Live
Concert From the concert in Rotterdam, Netherlands on Nov 07, 1989
Latest concerts where Put It There has been played
Jul 29, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Foxboro • Sullivan Stadium • USA
Jul 26, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Foxboro • Sullivan Stadium • USA
Jul 24, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Raleigh • Carter-Finley Stadium • USA
Jul 22, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour
Cleveland • Cleveland Stadium • USA
Jul 20, 1990 • Part of The Paul McCartney World Tour