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Released in 1976

Soily

Written by Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney

Last updated on February 9, 2017

Album This song officially appears on the Wings Over America Official live.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1976

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

From Wikipedia:

“Soily” is a song written by Paul McCartney which was performed by his band Wings, usually at the end of concerts as an encore.

Recording

At least seven takes were recorded in 1974 at Abbey Road Studios for inclusion in the unreleased Wings film, One Hand Clapping. These takes featured drummer Geoff Britton, and several can now be found in unofficial bootlegged versions.

Later release

The song appears on the 1976 live album Wings over America and was released as the B-side on the “Maybe I’m Amazed” single in 1977. This version was recorded on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. A performance from One Hand Clapping can be seen on a DVD included with the 2010 remastered special edition of the Wings album Band on the Run., and on the bonus disc of Venus and Mars (Collector’s Edition). […]

Lyrics

People gathered here tonight,

I want you to listen to me!

To your left and to you right

You've got some pretty soily company.

Reader, writer, farmer, priest

Breed controller, born deceased.

Indian, lawyer, doctor, dog

And a plumber with a fattened hog.

Soily, soily

The cat in satin trousers said it's oily

Soily, soily

The cat in satin trousers said it's oily

You know he's right.

Romans, Italians, country men,

I want you to listen to me!

I've said it twice and I'll say it again,

We've got some pretty soily company.

Liar, cheater, jungle chief,

Saint, believer on relief.

Action painter, Hitler's son,

And a commie with a tommy gun.

Soily, soily,

The cat in satin trousers said it's oily.

Soily, soily,

The cat in satin trousers said it's oily,

You know he's right.

Variations

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Soily”

Videos

Album One Hand Clapping (2 LP edition)

Live performances

“Soily” has been played in 88 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Soily” has been played

See all concerts where “Soily” 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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