Released in 1975
Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People
Written by Paul McCartney • Linda Eastman / McCartney
Last updated on May 9, 2010
Released in 1975
Written by Paul McCartney • Linda Eastman / McCartney
Last updated on May 9, 2010
Album This song officially appears on the Venus and Mars Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1975
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Treat her gently
Treat her kind
She doesn’t even know her own mind.
Treat her simply
Take it slow
Make it easy
and let her know
You’ll never find another way
Here we sit
Two lonely old people
Eking our lives away
Bit by bit
Two lonely old people
Keeping the time of day
Here we sit
Out of breath
And nobody asked us to play
Old people’s home for the day
Nobody asked us to play
Treat her gently
Treat her kind
She doesn’t even know her own mind
Treat her simply
Make it slow
Take it easy
and let her know
You’ll never find another way
Here we sit
Two lonely old people
Eking our lives away
Bit by bit
Two lonely old people
Keeping the time of day
Here we sit
Out of breath
And nobody asked us to play
Old people’s home for the day
Nobody asked us to play
Official album • Released in 1975
4:24 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Bass, Celeste, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Joe English : Drums Sid Sharp Strings : Bass, Cello, Violas, Violins Gayle Levant : Harp Tony Dorsey : Strings arrangement Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Biff Dawes : Assistant mixing engineer
SessionRecording : Jan 25, 1975 • Studio : Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 10, 1975 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 12 and Mar 14 and Mar 18, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : Mar 27, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
CD • Released in 1993
4:24 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
Paul McCartney : Bass, Celeste, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Joe English : Drums Sid Sharp Strings : Bass, Cello, Violas, Violins Gayle Levant : Harp Tony Dorsey : Strings arrangement Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Biff Dawes : Assistant mixing engineer Peter Mew : Remastering
SessionRecording : Jan 25, 1975 • Studio : Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 10, 1975 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 12 and Mar 14 and Mar 18, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : Mar 27, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Venus And Mars - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2014
4:24 • Studio version • A2014
Paul McCartney : Bass, Celeste, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Joe English : Drums Sid Sharp Strings : Bass, Cello, Violas, Violins Gayle Levant : Harp Tony Dorsey : Strings arrangement Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Biff Dawes : Assistant mixing engineer
SessionRecording : Jan 25, 1975 • Studio : Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 10, 1975 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 12 and Mar 14 and Mar 18, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : Mar 27, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Venus And Mars (Limited Red & Yellow LP)
Official album • Released in 2017
4:24 • Studio version • A2014
Paul McCartney : Bass, Celeste, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Joe English : Drums Sid Sharp Strings : Bass, Cello, Violas, Violins Gayle Levant : Harp Tony Dorsey : Strings arrangement Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Biff Dawes : Assistant mixing engineer
SessionRecording : Jan 25, 1975 • Studio : Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 10, 1975 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionOverdubs : Mar 12 and Mar 14 and Mar 18, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : Mar 27, 1975 • Studio : Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
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.
The McCartney Legacy: Volume 2: 1974 – 80
The follow-up to The McCartney Legacy, Volume 1, the most complete work on the life and work of Paul McCartney ever published. Volume 2 continues to paint the portrait of one of the world’s greatest musicians, his work post-Beatles, and his life from 1974 to 1980.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
Richard S. • May 07, 2020 • 5 years ago
Beautiful song. Best song on the album in my opinion and as very underrated.
Biff Dawes • Apr 29, 2025 • 7 months ago
All string overdub sessions were done at Wally Heider Recording, Studio Four. Not at Sunset Sound Studios as credited. Biff Dawes and Ken Caillat staff engineers at Heiders’ assisted McCartney engineer Alan O’Duffy with the overdubs.
Dawes was the assistant to Alan for numerous overdubs and all mixing for the album.
The PaulMcCartney Project • May 04, 2025 • 7 months ago
Thanks a lot Biff. I'll fix this !
Kevin L. • May 23, 2025 • 6 months ago
This song is a masterpiece. Almost never referenced. Much care and effort was put into it. Beautifully done.
