McCartney Times

DEAREST Paul, Kind Sir

Please accept our warmest and most sincere thanks for the generous invitation to join you in Brisbane on Saturday for what was surely one of the most pleasing evenings we’ve had the honour of attending in, well, decades.

We must confess, we weren’t feeling very Christmas-y at all until your performance swept us up in its loving embrace and reminded us how fortunate we are to be able to look forward to spending the festive season in the bosom of our nearest and dearest.

We can never overstate what a treasured friend you have been to so many of us for so long.

You have always been and thankfully, remain a charismatic melange of quintessential English gentleman and contemporary rock hero.

It had been way too long since your last visit, so we couldn’t let you leave town without making sure you realise how delighted we were to see you in such fine form and thank you for your masterful long live show and generous inclusion of so many Beatles and Wings favourites.

Age hasn’t wearied you or your cherubic good looks (sadly, it appears some of the 40,000 fans at Saturday’s show haven’t fared as well). Could the infectious, eternal optimism and sunny disposition you have so masterfully infused even your most melancholy songs with (Let It Be, Hey Jude) be the secret to your enduring vim and vigour?

As your marvellous musical group hug/singalong demonstrated (Yesterday, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Mull of Kintrye), the witty, wise and wonderful words you’ve gifted us in so many beautiful songs have proven a great source of comfort and courage to so many of us during some of the darkest and most challenging times of our lives (Maybe I’m Amazed).

We were moved to see so many people wiping tears from their eyes at various moments throughout your performance. Your music’s ability to simultaneously touch so many people in such personally unique and meaningful ways remains one of contemporary art’s most perfect mysteries. Genius.

Lyrics, riffs and melodies aside, we had almost forgotten what a great storyteller you are. We enjoyed hearing the tales behind some of our favourite songs, particularly the one about Jimi Hendrix trying to get Eric Clapton to tune his guitar. Hadn’t heard that one before.

Of course, trips down memory lane are always fascinating when the ‘old mates’ you generously gave a hit song to (I Wanna Be Your Man) were the Mick Jagger and Keith Richards kind.

We weren’t as close to George (we didn’t realise he was a card-carrying, uke-playing member of the George Formby fan club) and John (you are so right — we replayed Love Me Do and can hear your nerves) as you and Ringo were, but we too miss them both dearly and were moved by your thoughtful tributes to them (Something, Here Today).

While summer thunderstorms certainly made Saturday A Hard Day’s Night, we couldn’t help but wonder whether you, like us, felt Linda, George and John smiled over us and kept the rain at bay while you played.

As delicious as yours and guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, drummer Abe Laboriel Jr and keyboard player “Wix” Wickens’ bandstand was, Let Me Roll It, Blackbird, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Back in the U.S.S.R. and Carry That Weight were among our personal favourites.

Including The Beatles’ first (The Quarrymen’s In Spite of All The Danger) and last (The End) songs in the set was also a lovely touch.

It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since our first dance (Love Me Do). You truly have become one of what we like to call our “births, deaths and marriages” friends. The ones forever by our side, whatever life’s thick or thin.

Let’s face it, you really are the man who has had a hand in writing pretty much EVERYTHING!

It was wonderful to see so many people make so much effort with their costumes (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band), although we were worried the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Sisters’ pink suits would melt to their skin when those thumping pyrotechnics raised the temperature (and heart rates) in the premium seats (Live and Let Die).

While Mum and Dad, regrettably, were unable to join us on Saturday, please accept their apologies — they promise to make up for it next time you come over.

Please don’t leave it too long until we meet again dear friend (Get Back). You never know what unexpected twists and turns life will reveal.

In the meantime, rest assured — your music will continue to hold our lives in the palm of its hands.

All Our Loving

Source: Heartfelt letter of thanks to dear friend Paul McCartney | Gold Coast Bulletin