- Album This song officially appears on the Egypt Station Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
"Egypt Station" sessions at Henson Studios
2016-2018 ?
2018 ?
Related interviews
Paul McCartney talks about his new album 'Egypt Station' ahead of Liverpool gig
Nov 01, 2018 • From Wirral Life
Sep 14, 2018 • From NME
Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.
Song facts
“Who Cares” is a track from 2018 album “Egypt Station“. From “Words Between The Tracks” YouTube series:
With “Who Cares”, I was thinking about a song where you actually are talking to the people who may listen to it. And in my case I was imagining young fans, or young people who might hear this, and who are going through some sort of problem where they’re being picked on, being put on.
These days it would be internet bullying, trolls and all that. In my school days, it would have just been bullies and people just generally picking on each other. So I know that has happened all over the world to millions of people.
So my thing was to kind of try and help, try and help, almost kind-of give some sort of advice.
So the song says, you know: “have you ever been fed up with being bullied? Has this ever happened when people have called you names, have done mean things? Has this ever happened to you? Well, who cares. And then in a twist at the end of that chorus is like “Who cares? I do”.
Paul McCartney
I was actually thinking about Taylor Swift and her relationship to her young fans and how it’s sort of a sisterly thing. And I was imagining talking to one of these young fans and saying, ‘Have you ever been bullied? Do you get bullied? Then I say, ‘Who cares about the idiots? Who cares about all this? Who cares about you? Well… I do.’
Paul McCartney, interview with BBC
On a Twitter Q&A in September 2018, Paul explained his goal on making a song about bullying:
You talk about a lot of social issues on the album, such as bullying and global warming. What was your goal or your reasoning for these songs? They’re great.
Oh thanks! They’re subjects that interest me & the nice thing about being a songwriter is you can sometimes make a difference with a song. If you don’t lay it on too thick and become preachy then I think it can influence people’s thoughts in a good way. That’s what I hope anyway!
Paul McCartney
On this album, yeah, there was a few [songs] that I’d written a couple of years ago, ‘Who Cares’ was a couple of years ago, but most of them were kind of recentish, you know.
Paul McCartney interviewed for Sodajerkerpodcast, 2018
In December 2018, a music video for “Who Cares“ was released. The video follows a story of a woman played by Emma Stone visiting a psychiatrist played by Paul McCartney. From paulmccartney.com, December 17, 2018:
‘Who Cares’, the newest single from Paul McCartney’s #1 charting Egypt Station (Capitol Records), has been reimagined as a musical short film starring Paul and Emma Stone. Shot on 65mm Kodak Film with Panavision Cameras, ‘Who Cares’ features a message of universal positivity rendered in vivid colorful detail, an viewable exclusively at Apple Music for 24 hours.
[…] To help the song’s positive message to inspire as many people as possible to stand up to bullying and negativity, Paul has joined forces with Creative Visions, a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of media and the arts to ignite positive social change. Creative Visions has partnered not only with Paul and ‘Who Cares’ producers Subtractive Inc., but also with Facebook, Enso, Artemis Rising Foundation and the Blue Chip Foundation to launch #WhoCaresIDo, a campaign inspired by the song and film. #WhoCaresIDo hopes to reach millions, first raising awareness and engagement regarding the issues addressed by the song and film, then providing them with tools to take action through a network of experts and partners, empowering people to treat others with support and kindness.
The #WhoCaresIDo campaign draws upon the power of the song and film, as well as Creative Visions’ efforts over the last 20 years through its global network of creative activists. Creative Visions is currently building a global coalition of nonprofit partners that will create an umbrella of #WhoCaresIDo organizations and resources to bring compassion to homes, communities and workplaces. “Millions of people around the world feel silenced, subjugated–bullied– and believe that no one cares,” says Creative Visions Founder Kathy Eldon. “Our intention with this campaign is to put the power of the song to work and inspire us to show up and care–and let others know that we do care.”
My hope is that if there are kids being bullied—and there are… Maybe by listening to this song and watching this video, they might just think it’s not as bad… that it’s the kind of thing you can just stand up to and laugh off and get through.
Paul McCartney


Last updated on March 27, 2021
Lyrics
Did you ever get hurt
By the words people say
And the things that they do
When they're picking on you
Did you ever get sad
By the games that they play
When they're making you feel
Like a rusty old wheel
That's been left in the rain
Who cares what the idiots say
Who cares what the idiots do
Who cares about the pain in your heart
Who cares about you, I do
'cos you're worth much more
Of that you can be sure
No need to hide
The love you've got inside
Did you ever get lost
In the heart of a crowd
And the people around
Keep on pushing you down
Is it driving you mad
And you're screaming out loud
Are you wondering who's
Going to recognise you
You're a ghost in the dark
Who cares what the idiots say
Who cares what the idiots do
Who cares about the pain in your heart
Who cares about you
Who cares what the idiots say
Who cares what the idiots do
Who cares about the pain in your heart
Who cares about you, I do
You've been left in the rain
Officially appears on
Egypt Station (Limited Orange & Blue LP)
Official album
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Deluxe edition)
Official album • Released in 2018
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Limited Red LP)
Official album • Released in 2018
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Limited Green Spotify LP)
Official album • Released in 2018
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Orange cassette)
Cassette • Released in 2018
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2018
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition
Official album • Released in 2019
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition
Official album • Released in 2019
5:33 • Studio version • A1 • Full length
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Electric guitar, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition
Official album • Released in 2019
3:02 • Live • L1 • Live At Grand Central Station
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Drums
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Keyboards
- Brian Ray :
- Drums
- Giles Martin :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Steve Orchard :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- John Harris :
- Recording engineer
- Joel Singer :
- Assistant recording engineer
Concert From "Secret New York Concert" in New York, USA on Sep 07, 2018
Egypt Station - Traveller's Edition
Official album • Released in 2019
5:33 • Studio version • A1 • Full length
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Electric guitar, Vocals
- Rusty Anderson :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Abe Laboriel Jr. :
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Paul Wickens :
- Farfisa, Hammond
- Brian Ray :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Billy Bush :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Kyle Stevens :
- Engineering assistant
- Session Recording:
- 2016-2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Bootlegs
Freshen Up Tokyo Dome November 1 2018
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Live
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Nov 01, 2018
Freshen Up Tour QUEBEC City 2018
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Live
Concert From the concert in Quebec City, Canada on Sep 17, 2018
Freshen Up Tokyo Dome October 31 2018
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Live
Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Oct 31, 2018
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Live
Concert From "Secret New York Concert" in New York, USA on Sep 07, 2018
Freshen Up Nagoya Dome November 8 2018
Unofficial live • Released in 2018
Live
Concert From the concert in Nagoya, Japan on Nov 08, 2018
Live performances
“Who Cares” has been played in 39 concerts and 1 soundchecks.
Latest concerts where Who Cares has been played
Los Angeles • Dodgers Stadium • USA
Jul 13, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Jul 10, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Jul 06, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Las Vegas • T Mobile Arena • USA
Jun 29, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
Las Vegas • T Mobile Arena • USA
Jun 28, 2019 • Part of Freshen Up Tour
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For the thousands worldwide that have always felt'less than' this song warms the soul
Who cares should be written as "Who Cares". The 'cares' should be capitalized