Paul McCartney’s ‘most personal’ release is underrated track: ‘Pretty simple song’

A Paul McCartney song has been hailed as his “most personal” to date despite it being a “pretty simple” release. The Beatles and Wings member is no stranger to classic tracks but one has made the best impression on listeners wanting to know McCartney that little bit more. A post to the Paul McCartney subreddit had fans share their thoughts on what is to be believed the popular choice for an “underrated” heartbreaker.

A fan asked: “What songs do you think are Paul’s most personal or autobiographical? Unlike the other Beatles, I always felt like Paul McCartney did his best to hide any perception of his real life behind abstract characters and images. Paperback Writer, for example, seems like a clear case of him being frustrated by the limitations of being a trashy, pop songwriter, but he hides it behind a goofy metaphor of a shitty pulp writer.

“Which songs do you think expose the most vulnerable truths about him? Songs that are obviously reflective and personal. Some I’ve got in mind include Here Today, Maybe I’m Amazed, Early Days, Two of Us, Let It Be, Confidante, Friends to Go and really the better part of The Boys of Dungeon Lane. Any more suggestions? Can be from any part of his career.”

Despite strong suggestions from the original poster, the best of McCartney’s music can be found on his 1999 release, Run Devil Run. One fan with the top comment replied: “I think an underrated one is Try Not To Cry.

“I could be wrong because Paul’s own words go against what I’m saying (he says his mind was more on the music and it’s a pretty simple song), but it was one of three original songs on Run Devil Run. But it has to be personal, right? It’s literally a song about him trying to stay strong and not cry, released on the first album he did since Linda died. It might not be too deep but there has to be some personal side to it. I could just be delusional though. Another vote from an album often disliked is Magic about the night he met Linda.”

Another fan added: “Magic is my favourite song on that CD. It was very personal, and I get shivers over the line, ‘She reached out her fingers / To point at the sky’…’Leaving me helpless / not knowing why.’ I mean how much more personal could that be?”

Others suggested Wings cuts were among some of the most personal McCartney tracks. One person wrote: “On Dear Life from Wild Life he was tenderly asking John to be honest with him, and was vulnerable in doing so. Also, I love the bridge of The Days We Left Behind. Has any journalist asked him about ‘the promise that I made’ that ‘will never be broken?'”

Another added: “My Love seems to me to be one of the most personal and genuine love songs ever written.” A third shared what they felt was the progression McCartney made as a songwriter who was quick to hide his real feelings. They theorised: “I think his earlier songs were less obfuscated, like I’m Looking Through You and We Can Work it Out. Although early songs were clearly trying to write hits and they talked about doing things they thought would grab the audience, like using the word ‘you’ a lot.

“I think Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is where the shift really happens, but there are always more personal things sprinkled in. It’s just about what he’s willing to be open and personal about. He’ll do a love song without obfuscating it. But stops with the explicit personal relationship argument songs. And he’s not always hiding his own vulnerabilities behind characters, of course, sometimes he’s just exploring different facets of human character.”