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Released in 1971

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

Written by Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney

Last updated on May 6, 2022

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 1970, when Paul McCartney was 28 years old)

Master album

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This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

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“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” is a song by Paul and Linda McCartney from the album Ram. From Wikipedia:

[…] Released in the United States as a single on 2 August 1971, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 4 September 1971, making it the first of a string of post-Beatles, McCartney-penned singles to top the US pop chart during the 1970s and 1980s. Billboard ranked the song as number 22 on its Top Pop Singles of 1971 year-end chart. It became McCartney’s first gold record as a solo artist.

“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” is composed of several unfinished song fragments that McCartney stitched together similar to the medleys from the Beatles’ album Abbey Road. The song is notable for its sound effects, including the sounds of a thunderstorm, with rain, heard between the first and second verses, the sound of McCartney’s voice with a “telephone” effect heard after the second verse, and the sound of chirping sea birds and wind by the seashore. Linda’s voice is heard in the harmonies as well as the bridge section of the “Admiral Halsey” portion of the song.

McCartney said “Uncle Albert” was based on his uncle. “He’s someone I recall fondly, and when the song was coming it was like a nostalgia thing.” McCartney also said, “As for Admiral Halsey, he’s one of yours, an American admiral“, referring to Fleet Admiral William “Bull” Halsey (1882–1959). McCartney has described the “Uncle Albert” section of the song as an apology from his generation to the older generation, and Admiral Halsey as an authoritarian figure who ought to be ignored.

Despite the disparate elements that make up the song, author Andrew Grant Jackson discerns a coherent narrative to the lyrics, related to McCartney’s emotions in the aftermath of the Beatles’ breakup. In this interpretation, the song begins with McCartney apologizing to his uncle for getting nothing done, and being easily distracted and perhaps depressed in the lethargic “Uncle Albert” section. Then, after some sound effects reminiscent of “Yellow Submarine,” McCartney claims that Admiral Halsey – who had died on 16 August 1959 – notified him that he (Admiral Halsey) needed a “berth” in order to get to “sea” (mixing up Uncle Albert, not an admiral, and who would need a berth to get to sea, with Admiral Halsey, an admiral who would not need a “berth”, but rather a “command” to get to sea), although McCartney remains more interested in “tea and butter pie.” Although McCartney may have been aware of butter pie as a Lancashire dish he makes a literal interpretation of the term as a nonsensical joke, stating that he put the butter in the pie because it would not melt at all. The “hands across the water” section which follows could be taken as evocative of the command “All hands on deck!“, rousing McCartney to action, perhaps to compete with Lennon. The song then ends with the “gypsy” section, in which McCartney resolves to get back on the road and perform his music, now that he was on his own without his former bandmates who no longer wanted to tour.

Paul McCartney won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists in 1971 for the song. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.

According to Allmusic critic Stewart Mason, fans of Paul McCartney’s music are divided in their opinions of this song. Although some fans praise the song as being “one of his most playful and inventive songs” others criticize it for being “exactly the kind of cute self-indulgence that they find so annoying about his post-Beatles career.” Mason himself considers it “churlish” to be annoyed by the song, given that the song isn’t intended to be completely serious, and praises the “Hands across the water” section as being “lovably giddy.”

In a contemporary review for RAM, Jon Landau of Rolling Stone gave “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” a negative review, saying the song is “a piece with so many changes it never seems to come down anywhere, and in the places that it does, sounds like the worst piece of light music Paul has ever done.“

On the US charts, the song set a milestone as the all-time songwriting record (at the time) for McCartney for the most consecutive calendar years to write a #1 song. This gave McCartney eight consecutive years (starting with “I Want to Hold Your Hand“), leaving behind Lennon with only seven years.

Paul McCartney in "Wingspan: Paul McCartney's Band on the Run":

I had an uncle – Albert Kendall – who was a lot of fun, and when I came to write Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey it was loosely about addressing that older generation, half thinking ‘What would they think of the way my generation does things? ‘That’s why I wrote the line ‘We’re so sorry, Uncle Albert’. There’s an imaginary element in many of my songs – to me, Admiral Halsey is symbolic of authority and therefore not to be taken too seriously. We recorded it in New York and George Martin helped me with the orchestral arrangement. I was surprised when it became a big hit.

Wingspan: Paul McCartney's Band on the Run

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This song represented a breakthrough in our musical relationship. Paul is a genius. He sees and hears everything he wants, and would give specific instructions to me and the drummer. But he didn’t know what he wanted the guitar part to be like on this song. I asked him to trust me and he did. After I came up with the parts, he was very pleased. For the rest of the record [RAM], Paul let me try things out before making any suggestions.

Hugh McCracken, from MixOnline, August 1, 2004

When we started hearing the material we were saying “Oh my God, this is not another typical album that we’re going to do, this is going to be very important in the history of music”. So we gave it our best, I must say, and Paul gave us a clean slate to do anything that we wanted – and he hired me for me, he didn’t hire me because he wanted to tell a drummer what to play. He only asked me to change one part that I came up with on Uncle Albert and that was the only time – even in Wings, he never [did].

Denny Seiwell – from Wings drummer Denny Seiwell on Macca’s Ram and the ‘Ram On’ anniversary tribute – SuperDeluxeEdition, June 7, 2021

“Uncle Albert/Admiral Hasley” was an epic thing, a Number 1 in America, surprisingly enough. I like the little bit that breaks in: “Admiral Hasley notified me, da-da-da, had a cup of tea and a butter pie.” It’s a bit surreal, but I was in a very free mood, and looking back I like all of that. It must have freaked a few people, cause it was quite daft.

Paul McCartney – Interview with Mojo magazine, July 2001
From Better than looking in the mirror — Some of Paul McCartney’s handwritten RAM lyrics -… (tumblr.com)

Lyrics

We're so sorry, Uncle Albert,

We're so sorry if we caused you any pain;

We're so sorry, Uncle Albert,

But there's no one left at home

And I believe it's gonna rain.

We're so sorry, but we haven't heard a thing all day;

We're so sorry, Uncle Albert,

But if anything should happen we'll be sure to give a ring.

(Spoken) We're so sorry, Uncle Albert,

But we haven't done a bloody thing all day;

We're so sorry, Uncle Albert,

But the kettle's on the boil

And we're so easily called away.

Hands across the water, (water),

Heads across the sky.

Hands across the water, (water),

Heads across the sky.

Admiral Halsey notified me,

He had to have a berth or he couldn't get to sea,

I had another look and I had a cup of tea and a butter pie.

Hand across the water, (water),

Heads across the sky.

Hand across the water, (water),

Heads across the sky.

Live a little, be a gypsy, get around, (get around),

Get your feet up off the ground,

Live a little, get around.

Live a little, be a gypsy, get around,(get around),

Get your feet up off the ground,

Live a little, get around.

Hands across the water (water),

Heads across the sky,

Hands across the water (water),

Heads across the sky.

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Going further

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.

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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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Robert Szymanski • 7 years ago

I can't find the info I'm looking for. The part where Paul says "wa-ter", what is that effect used on his voice? Land across the water "wa-ter", land across the sky! Land across the water "wa-ter"...... For several years I been trying to find this interesting sound effect! My email address is .. Robert

The PaulMcCartney Project • 7 years ago

Hi Robert,

I can't help you on this one, but promise to do a bit of research

I'll keep you posted!

Thanks !

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