- Album This song officially appears on the Tug Of War Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1980 (Paul McCartney was 38 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
August 1980
Oct 18, 1980
Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London
December 1980
Recording "Take It Away", "Average Person"
February 16-18, 1981
Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London
March 11, 1981 - March 1982
March 2-30, 2015
Related interviews
Nov 22, 2007 • From Billboard
May 05, 2001 • From TV Guide
Tug Of War - Paul McCartney talks to Andy Mackay
Aug 01, 1982 • From Club Sandwich
Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.
Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Take It Away” is a single by Paul McCartney from his 1982 album Tug of War. The single spent sixteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, reaching #10 It reached #15 in the UK. The music video, directed by John Makenzie, features former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and long-time producer George Martin, both of whom played on the track, as well as actor John Hurt.
Although there is a segue from “Tug of War” into this song on the album, the single version instead starts cleanly but fades out earlier at the end.
From Something Else Reviews:
Celebrated at the time as a partial Beatles reunion, Paul McCartney’s “Take it Away” certainly starts that way, with an off-kilter rhythm courtesy of Ringo Starr and all of the tasteful hallmarks of a George Martin production — right down to the stoic piano accompaniment. But there was more to this standout track from Tug of War,released in April 1982.
The song’s most interesting new element, really, comes from 10cc alum Eric Stewart, whose presence clearly sparked Paul McCartney to dabble in some of that group’s now-famous layering of background vocals. “Take It Away” ends with a soaring loop of wordless sighs from a thousand Pauls, Erics and Lindas. A darker undertone surrounds the album, too, no matter how high that coda rises. That had more to do with the Beatle who wasn’t there, rather than the ones who were. […]
From an interview with Club Sandwich, 1982:
Andy Mackay – “Take It Away” seems a fairly straight forward, a very straight McCartneyish track, very cheerful, but that is one of the songs that sounds very British, funnily enough.
Paul – Well, there were a couple of songs that we ended up recording which Ringo asked me to write at a certain period. I was writing some songs for Ringo and “Take It Away” was in amongst those songs. I thought it would suit me better the way it went into the chorus and stuff; I didn’t think it was very Ringo.
Andy – I like it.
Paul – I mean, the chorus I think, was Ringo, the other bits… but that’s how that comes to be that kind of track I think, I was right in that sort of direction with Ringo in mind actually.
Last updated on May 9, 2020
Lyrics
Take it away
Want to hear you play
Till the lights go down
Take it away
Don't you want to stay
Till there's no one else around!
Take it away
Want to hear you play
Till the lights go down
Take it away
Don't you want to stay
Till there's no one else around?
Lonely driver
Out on the road
With a hundred miles to go
Sole survivor
Carrying the load,
Switches on his radio
Take it away
Want to hear you play
Till the lights go down (down down)
Take it away
Don't you want to stay
Till there's no one else around?
REPEAT
In the audience,
Watching the show
With a paper in his hand
(In his hand, in his hand)
Some important impresario
Has a message for the band
Take it away
Want to hear you play
Till the lights go down (down down)
Take it away
Don't you want to stay
Till there's no one else around?
You never know who may be
Listening to you
You never know who may be
Listening to you
Take it away - take it away
After hours
Late in the bar
By a darkened corner seat
Faded flowers wait in the jar
Till the evening is complete
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1982
4:16 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Take It Away / I'll Give You A Ring
7" Single • Released in 1982
4:05 • Studio version • A1 • Single edit
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
12" Single • Released in 1982
4:05 • Studio version • A1 • Single edit
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Official album • Released in 1993
4:16 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Wingspan Hits And History (US version)
Official album • Released in 2001
4:05 • Studio version • A1.2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Wingspan Hits And History (Japanese version)
Official album • Released in 2001
4:05 • Studio version • A1.2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Official album • Released in 2001
4:05 • Studio version • A1.2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Never Stop Doing What You Love
Official album • Released in 2005
4:05 • Studio version • A1 • Single edit
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Download • Released in 2015
4:07 • Studio version • A1.2015 • Single edit (2015 remaster)
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Tug Of War - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2015
4:16 • Studio version • B • 2015 remix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Remixing, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Alex Wharton :
- Mastering
- Steve Orchard :
- Remixing
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Recording:
- March 2-30, 2015
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Bootlegs
Unofficial album
Unofficial album
4:03 • Studio version • A1 • Single version
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Drums
- Eric Stewart :
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin :
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Gadd :
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Mike Stavrou :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Unknown musician(s) :
- Horns
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Unofficial album
Live performances
“Take It Away” has been played in 1 concerts.
Latest concerts where Take It Away has been played
'Take It Away' promotional video filming
Jun 23, 1982 • United Kingdom • Borehamwood • Elstree Studios
Contribute!
Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!