Wild Life

Song facts

“Wild Life” is a track of Wings’ debut and eponym album, “Wild Life“, released in December 1971. It was inspired by a safari Paul McCartney did in Kenya in November 1966, with Mal Evans and Jane Asher.

“Wild Life”, you know, you have to think about that!  The first song we’ve done which is us, you know, saying something as you say, is “Wild Life” and that just say you know that um, nature’s alright!  you know, that um, the wild state is a good state!  So why are we getting rid of it?  And animals are in zoos instead of just actually sort of running, you know like they’re supposed to.  We tend as animals, human animals, to be in a bit of a zoo, too.  We sit here, nine floors up!  Once I was in a game park in Africa just doing the tours through it, taking a drive through it and there’s a big sign at the entrance that just says remember, you know, all you people in motorcars, the animals have the right of way, and I liked that, you know, I liked the thought that somewhere they have the right of way over you.

Paul McCartney – From a Wings interview, late 1971 ?

‘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. 

Paul McCartney – From paulmccartney.com, October 29, 2018

We didn’t stand up for millions of causes and stuff, like conservation, but the first song we did saying something was ‘Wild Life’ and that just said that nature was all right. The wild state is a good state so why are we getting rid of it? Let’s not. The animals are in zoos, instead of just running, like they are supposed to. Once I was in a game park in Africa, just doing the tour through and there was a big sign at the entrance and it said, ‘All you people in motor cars, remember the animals have the right of way.’ I liked that. I like that somewhere the animals have a right of way over you.

Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles: Off The Record 2 – The Dream is Over: Dream Is Over Vol 2” by Keith Badman

[Wild Life] is “the McCartneys making a statement about something which is important to them”

Paul McCartney’s spokesman – From Disc And Music Echo – November 13, 1971

“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 May 3, 2022

Lyrics

Variations

Videos