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Released in 1998

The White Coated Man

Written by Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyCarla Lane

Last updated on November 10, 2020


Album This song officially appears on the Wide Prairie Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1998

Master album

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

From Wide Prairie liner notes:

Linda’s and my involvement with animal rights caused her and our friend Carla Lane to come up with The White Coated Man. Carla’s poignant lyric explores the vivisection issue.

Linda felt deeply about the suffering of innocent animals for mankind’s gain, which still continues to this day and will until we can as a society show compassion towards the creatures we share our planet with.

Paul McCartney

Lyrics

Through the bars and morning light

What is this feeling?

Why can't I move?

Sometime today they'll set me free

I'll hear a voice and it will be my friend,

The white coated man


Where's the wind? Where are the leaves?

What happened? Why this pain?

Sometime today they'll set me free

I'll hear a voice and it will be my friend,

The white coated man


If man wants life and eternity

Then men must pay and men must see

That we are theirs to mind

But man is the voice, man is the law

If man gets sick he will find a cure

Our friend, the white coated man


In the distance people are laughing

Do they know about me?

Why can't I see?

And they will pay, the silent ones

And they will pay, the silent ones will pay

The silent ones will pay

The silent ones will pay

The silent ones will pay

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “The White Coated Man

Videos

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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