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Released in 1993

Winedark Open Sea

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on December 25, 2020

Album This song officially appears on the Off The Ground Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1993

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1991, when Paul McCartney was 49 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related articles

“Winedark Open Sea” is a track from 1993 album “Off The Ground“. Paul started to write it ( “Sailing On The Winedark Open Sea” was the current name) in August 1991 while on holidays (“Calico Skies” was written at the same period), and recorded a demo a month after.

“Winedark Sea” is likely a reference to Homer, who mentioned this line dozens of time in his epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey:

The wine-dark sea is a traditional English translation of οἶνοψ πόντος (oinops pontos), an epithet in Homer of uncertain meaning. A literal translation is “wine-face sea”. The only other use of oinops in the works of Homer is for oxen, where it seems to describe a reddish color, which has given rise to various speculations about what it could mean about the blue seas.

From Wikipedia

That’s a nice track, simply played and underproduced as well. I know I would have added more to it, but it’s a case of the magic’s in there and you’ve got to leave it alone.

Hamish Stuart – From the “New World Tour” tour book

“Winedark Open Sea” was rehearsed in anticipation of the 1993 New World Tour, but was finally never played live. A rehearsal turned into a jam was aired on McCartney’s Oobu Joobu radio show in 1995.

In 2020, a film clip directed by award-winning surfing filmmaker Jack McCoy used “Winedark Open Sea” as its soundtrack, to gather funds for Surfers For Climate.

Lyrics

Open up your heart

If you want to set me free

Full of love, your love.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Lighten up, my heart

Leave it to the evening breeze.

Give me love, your love.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Oh my, I feel love for you

Spreading through my body,

I remember how

We can be so loving.

I feel love for you now.

I feel love for you right now.

Loosen up, my heart.

Let me have some time to be

With a love, my love.?

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Oh my, I feel love for you

Spreading through my body,

I remember how

We can be so loving.

I feel love for you now.

I feel love for you right now.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Oh, I feel love for you now.

I feel love for you right now.

I feel love for you now.

Baby I feel love for you right now.

We're sailing on a winedark open sea.

Sailing on a winedark open sea.

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Winedark Open Sea”

Related film

Videos

Album Off The Ground

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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.

Jean Birchette • 5 years ago

I think it's about Linda.

The PaulMcCartney Project • 5 years ago

Hi Jean, you are likely right - several songs on "Off The Ground" was inspired / about Linda.

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