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- Album This song officially appears on the New Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 2012 (Paul McCartney was 70 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Recording NEW with Paul Epworth #1
January 2012
Recording NEW with Paul Epworth #2
March 2013
April 2013
Related interviews
Paul McCartney at 71: still here, there and everywhere
Oct 13, 2013 • From The Guardian
Oct 03, 2013 • From Twitter
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Song facts
“Queenie Eye” is a track from the 2013 album “NEW“, co-written by Paul McCartney and producer Paul Epworth, one of the four producers of the album.
From Wikipedia:
“Queenie Eye” is a song performed by English rock musician Paul McCartney, and written by McCartney and producer Paul Epworth. It is the second single from McCartney’s solo album New, released in 2013.
McCartney explained that the song name and chorus lyrics were from a children’s game he would play when he was young called “Queenie, Queenie, who’s got the ball?” (the “Queenie” was alternatively called “Queenie Eye” or “Queenio”), and used the version of the chant he remembered from the game in the song.
McCartney performed “Queenie Eye” on the 56th Annual Grammy Awards telecast in 2014, with fellow former Beatle Ringo Starr on drums.
The music video for the song was directed by Simon Aboud, husband of McCartney’s daughter Mary. The video is notable for the array of famous people that appear in it including: actors Johnny Depp, Jeremy Irons, Chris Pine, Jude Law, Sean Penn, actor-comedian James Corden, Meryl Streep, actress-comedian Tracey Ullman, model Kate Moss, singer Gary Barlow, artist Peter Blake, designer Tom Ford, and many others.
Now this song, Queenie Eye, is based on a game we used to play when I was kids. You got to remember that’s a long time ago and basically in kind of a poor area I was from. What you did you entertain yourself was go out in the street and play street games. There wasn’t that much traffic, so you were pretty safe. And one of the games was called Queenie Eye.
Paul McCartney
‘Queenie Eye, Queenie Eye, who’s got the ball? I haven’t got it, it isn’t in my pocket, O-U-T spells OUT!’ Someone stood with their back to the group and you had to approach gingerly, and if they looked around and saw you moving, you were out.
Paul McCartney – The Observer
I think that something like Queenie Eye developed into something that it wasn’t before. It had a slow genesis but I don’t think we would have been able to get to the result we got in the end without having done it that way. The way Queenie Eye started was very raw: two of us in the room, two amplifiers. It was maybe a little bit Death From Above 1979 in the drums and keyboard sounds.
Paul Epworth – NME, November 2013
Last updated on December 15, 2020
Lyrics
There were rules you never told me
Never came up with a plan
All the stories that you sold me
Didn’t help me understand
But I had to get it worked out
Had nobody who could help
So that in the end it turned out
That I had to do it by myself
Life’s a game
Rags from riches
Dogs and bitches
Hunt for fame
Difficult to know which way to turn
Lay the blame
On the snitches
Wicked witches
Fan the flame
Careful what you touch in case you burn
Queenie Eye, Queenie Eye
Who’s got the ball?
I haven’t got it
It isn’t in my pocket
O.U.T. spells out
Out
That’s out
Out
Without a shadow of a doubt
Cause you been putting it about
Hear the people shout
Hear the people shout
Play the game
Take your chances
Every dance is
Much the same
Doesn’t matter which of them you choose
Never blame
Circumstances
If romances
Seldom came
Never pick a fight you’re going to lose
Queenie Eye, Queenie Eye
Who’s got the ball?
I haven’t got it
It isn’t in my pocket
O.U.T. spells out
Out
That’s out
Out
Without a shadow of a doubt
Cause you been putting it about
Hear the people shout
Hear the people shout
It’s a long way
To the finish
When you’ve never been before
I was nervous but I did it
Now I’m going back for more
Let’s shout
Yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Hear the people shout
Yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Yeah, hey, yeah, hey
Yeah, hey, hey, yeah
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 2013
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2013
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2013
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
CD Single • Released in 2013
3:29 • Studio version • A1 • Radio edit
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
CD Single • Released in 2013
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2014
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2014
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2014
3:43 • Live • L1 • Live At Tokyo Dome 2013
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass guitar, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Background vocals, Guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Background vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Background vocals, Keyboards
- Brian Ray :
- Background vocals, Guitar
- Giles Martin :
- Producer
Official album • Released in 2014
4:14 • Video • V1 • Music video
- Simon Aboud :
- Director
- Hans Alias :
- Producer
Official album • Released in 2016
3:48 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Guitar, Lap steel guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Paul Epworth :
- Drums, Producer
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Kevin Mills :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Jamie Kirkham :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Wiggins :
- Recording engineer
- Geoff Swan :
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Adam Miller :
- Assistant recording engineer
- John Prestage :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Laurence Anslow :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Tom Bailey :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Bill Rahko :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Nicolas Essig :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2012
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- March 2013 ?
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- April 2013 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- April 2013
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Bootlegs
Unofficial live
4:11 • Live
Concert From "Live at BBC Maida Vale" in London, United Kingdom on Oct 16, 2013
Unofficial live
3:58 • Live
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 11, 2013
Unofficial live
4:10 • Live
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 12, 2013
Unofficial live
4:02 • Live
Concert From the concert in Fukuoka, Japan on Nov 15, 2013
Unofficial live
3:59 • Live
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 18, 2013
Live performances
“Queenie Eye” has been played in 187 concerts and 15 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Queenie Eye has been played
Jun 08, 2022 • Part of Got Back Tour
May 08, 2022 • Part of Got Back Tour
Seattle • Seattle Climate Pledge Arena • USA
May 03, 2022 • Part of Got Back Tour
Apr 28, 2022 • Part of Got Back Tour
Los Angeles • Dodgers Stadium • USA
Jul 13, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
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