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Song facts
“Wild Life” is a song from the eponym album released in 1971, as Wings’s debut album. From paulmccartney.com, October 29, 2018:
‘Wild Life’ was to do with me having gone on safari and actually seeing that sign that I sing about: ‘The animals have the right of way’. Which really impressed me. You just realise the sort of dignity and strength of wild animals because here they’ve got the right of way. Whereas we’re all so full of our own importance. It’s kind of nice, you know. You’re just a guy in a Land Rover. You don’t matter so much! So that was why I wrote that song. Man, you know, we’re the “top species”, and yet we’re the ones who eff it up, which is not right.
“Wild Life” was played live during the 1972 Wings Over Europe Tour and 1973 UK Tour. It was rehearsed for the 1975 / 1976 Wings Over The World Tour, and for the 1989 / 1990 Paul McCartney World Tour. A snippet of it can also be heard on One Hand Clapping.
Last updated on November 2, 2018
Lyrics
The word "Wild" applies to the words "You" and "Me"
While taking a walk
thru an African park one day
I saw a sign say "The animals have the right of way"
Wild life, whatever happened to
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?
You're breathing so hot.
A lot of political nonsense in the air.
You're making it hard for the people who live in there.
You're moving so fast,
But, baby, you know not where.
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to,
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
You'd better stop,
There's animals ev'rywhere,
And man is the top, an animal too,
And, man, you just got to care.
Wild life, (wild life), what's gonna happen to,
Wild life, (wild life), the animals in the zoo?
You're breathing a lot
Of political nonsense in the air.
You're making it hard for the people who live in there.
Wild life, what's gonna happen to
Wild life, the animals in the zoo?
Whatever happened to?
Wildlife.
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1971
6:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell:
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Tony Clark:
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons:
- Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
- Session Recording:
- Jul 26, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
6:42 • Studio version • R1993
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell:
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Tony Clark:
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons:
- Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
- Peter Mew:
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 26, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2018
6:40 • Studio version • R2018 • 2018 Remaster
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell:
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Tony Clark:
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons:
- Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
- Alex Wharton:
- Remastering
- Steve Orchard:
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 26, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 15, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2018
6:36 • Rough mix • B
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell:
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Tony Clark:
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Alan Parsons:
- Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
- Alex Wharton:
- Mastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 26, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 06, 1971
- Studio:
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2018
5:18 • Live • L1
- Performed by:
- Paul McCartney • Linda McCartney • Denny Laine • Henry McCullough • Denny Seiwell
- Paul McCartney:
- Producer
- Alan Parsons:
- Recording engineer
- Alex Wharton:
- Mastering
- Steve Orchard:
- Mixing
- Jeremy Gee:
- Recording engineer assistant
- Graham Fleming:
- Recording engineer assistant
Concert From the concert in The Hague, Netherlands on Aug 21, 1972
Bootlegs
Live performances
“Wild Life” has been played in 40 concerts.
Latest concerts where “Wild Life” has been played
May 28, 2016 • United Kingdom • London • BBC Maida Vale Studios • Radio show
Newcastle upon Tyne • City Hall
Jul 10, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
Jul 04, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
May 27, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
May 26, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour
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