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Released in 1971

The Back Seat Of My Car

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on June 6, 2020

Album This song officially appears on the Ram LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1971

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1969, when Paul McCartney was 27 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interviews

Related articles

“The Back Seat Of My Car” is the last track of 1971 “Ram” album, by Paul & Linda McCartney. From Wikipedia:

[…] The song modulates stylistically between a sweeping piano-and-orchestra ballad similar to McCartney’s “The Long and Winding Road” and upbeat rock sections before ending in a raucous and passionate finale.

McCartney first presented this composition for The Beatles’ consideration during the Get Back rehearsals on 14 January 1969 at Twickenham Film Studios in London, but the album was aborted before anything could be done with the song, which eventually did not make it onto Let It Be either.

According to McCartney, this song and other car-based songs in his late-Beatles and early solo career, such as “Two of Us” and “Helen Wheels,” were inspired by the long road trips he and Linda used to take as the Beatles were breaking up. Most of the song is a piano-based ballad. But it is interspersed with orchestral sections and sections inspired by 50s-style rock ‘n’ roll. Allmusic critic Stewart Mason likens the main tune to those of McCartney’s Beatle songs “Two of Us” and “You Never Give Me Your Money.” Mason compares the effect of the various song sections to the medley from the Beatles Abbey Road and to some of the Beach Boys’ post-Pet Sounds work. […]

John Lennon felt that this song, among others on the album, was directed critically towards him; in particular, he perceived the protagonists who sing “We believe that we can’t be wrong” to be himself and Yoko Ono. Allmusic critic Stewart Mason claims that in the context of the criticism McCartney was receiving in the aftermath of the Beatles breakup, this line sounds more like a “statement of personal intent” than the declaration of love it could be in the context of the song’s lyrics themselves.

In a contemporary review for RAM, Jon Landau of Rolling Stone described “The Back Seat of My Car” as one of only two good songs he enjoyed on the album, the other being “Eat at Home“. Landau further described the song as “the album’s production number“.

Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic said the song demonstrated the “imaginative and gorgeous” arrangements on Ram and called the song its “sad, soaring finale.” Mason considers it to be the “true highlight” of Ram.

“Back Seat of My Car” is the ultimate teenage song, and even though it was a long time since I was a teenager and had to go to a girl’s dad and explain myself, it’s that kind of meet-the-parents song. It’s a good old driving song. [Sings] “We can make it to Mexico City.” I’ve never driven to Mexico City, but it’s imagination. And obviously “back seat” is snogging, making love.

Paul McCartney, “Paul McCartney On His Not-So-Silly Love Songs”. Billboard.

From mixing engineering Eirik Wangberg:

We did lots of overdubbing, such as brand new bass and guitar tracks. Plus, I edited the orchestral bit at the end of the song and, following Paul’s taste, mix the drums to the fore. Other cool bits were done, such adding more vocals such as the improvisation and ad-libs that we superimposed almost syllable by syllable.

Engineer Eirik Wangberg, interviewed by Claudio Dirani, 2005

In 2005, “The Back Seat Of My Car” received the remix treatment of DJ Hellraiser, and was released on the “Twin Freaks” album.

Lyrics

Speeding along the highway, honey I want it my way,

But listen to her daddy's song,

Don't stay out too long,

Were just busy hidin', sittin' in the back seat of my car.

Lookin' all around and all about

Lookin' all around and all about

The maze of lights are pretty, we may end up in Mexico City,

But listen to her daddy's song, making love is wrong,

We're just busy ridin', sittin' in the back seat of my car.

For we was only hidin', sitting in the back seat of my car,

And when we've finished drivin' we can say we were late in arrivin',

And listen to her daddy's song,

We believe that we can't be wrong,

Ah we believe that we can't be wrong,

Ah we believe that we can't be wrong.

We can make it to Mexico City, sittin' in the backseat of my car.

Ah we believe that we can't be wrong,

Ah we believe that we can't be wrong,

Ah we believe that we can't be wrong,

No no no,

No we believe that we can't be wrong.

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “The Back Seat Of My Car”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “The Back Seat Of My Car”

Live performances

“The Back Seat Of My Car” has been played in 1 concerts.

Latest concerts where “The Back Seat Of My Car” 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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Angel Reyes Martinez • 7 years ago

Mexico 2017 Live - Azteca Stadium, Short version

The PaulMcCartney Project • 7 years ago

Thank you ! Indeed, Paul has sung a few words after "My Valentine" - "The lazy lights are pretty, we may end up in Mexico City"

Tom Eng • 2 years ago

Who orchestrated the arrangement for this track? It sounds like George Martin's work, as he was credited on another Ram track, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. But no orchestrator or arranger is credited for Backseat of My Car. Thank you for this website, it's a great resource.

The PaulMcCartney Project • 2 years ago

thanks Tom for the kind words. Great question, unf, I don't have the answer for now !

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