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Released in 1989

The First Stone

Written by Paul McCartney • Hamish Stuart

Last updated on March 29, 2017

Album This song officially appears on the This One / The First Stone 7" Single.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1989

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other songs written by Paul McCartney & Hamish Stuart

“The First Stone” is the first song co-written by Paul McCartney & Hamish Stuart, released in 1989 as the B-Side of the “This One” single.

Lyrics

Hey, you sinners, open all the doors,

Have I got news for you

About that money loving preach of yours.

Friday night you'll find him taking pictures

Of a model in a cheap hotel.

Sunday morning he's raving from the pulpit,

Threatening to send us all to hell, well, well.

Don't throw, don't throw, don't throw,

Don't throw any stones.

If you can't live by what you teach,

You better leave alone.

Don't throw, don't throw, don't throw,

Don't throw any stones.

Unless you practice what you preach,

You'll never find love.

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

Can't find love.

Don't throw, don't throw, don't throw,

Don't throw any stones.

If you can't live by what you teach,

You better leave alone.

Don't throw, don't throw, don't throw,

Don't throw any stones.

Unless you practice what you preach,

You'll never find love.

Hey, you sinners, well, you never can tell,

The glory train is leaving in the morning

But the preacher's there to say farewell, well, well.

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

Can't find love.

Yet be you who is without sins, cast the first stone.

(the first stone, the first stone, the first stone)

Can't find love,

Can't find love,

You can't find love,

You can't find love.

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

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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