McCartney Times

One of the finest songwriters to have ever walked this earth, Paul McCartney is not famed for his vocal performance. But with his first solo album after The Beatles, Macca offered one particularly poignant moment in celebration of the love of his life, Linda. We’re listening back to the isolated vocals of Paul McCartney’s ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, on the anniversary of the first night they met.

McCartney met American photographer Linda Eastman for the first time in London on this day some 53 years ago. They became quickly infatuated with one another and soon enough began dating. McCartney was utterly besotted with Linda and the pair married on March 12th, 1969.

‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ stands out as one of the most poignant pieces of poetry McCartney wrote for Linda. It was penned in 1969 shortly after The Beatles acrimonious break-up and sees McCartney herald the love and warmth that his wife (and then-keyboardist) offered him throughout trying times. It acts as a lasting love letter to his late wife.

The song was formally dedicated to Linda upon its release in 1970 within his first solo album, McCartney. The studio version of the track was never officially released as a single but a live version recorded with Wings did appear on the live album Wings over America. Released in 1977, this live version became a top ten hit in the US and reached number 28 in the United Kingdom.

It’s no wonder then that the song was so successful considering it’s veracious and heartfelt core. Lyrically, it is some of McCartney’s best work, managing to toe the line between poetic mystery and connective content, Macca expertly avoids any sense of Hallmark sentimentality. In our opinion, it’s as close to completely describing the all-encompassing feeling of ‘love’ that pop music has offered since its invention.

Following the break up of one of the most solid relationships Paul had in his life, with the loss of The Beatles and in particular John Lennon, Linda offered the musician a place of respite as well as the freedom to express himself explicitly. McCartney chose this song to let it all hang out and champion Linda as his new partner in crime and everything else. This feeling is only enhanced when you remove the backing tracks and focus on his isolated vocal.

Though McCartney played all the instruments on the song: guitars, bass, piano, organ and drums these don’t really bring the emotion. However well Macca used the instruments, it is on his vocal where we see the gooey centre of this track.

Standing face to face with his situation in the booth, McCartney must’ve found the recording of this song very difficult but with backing vocals from Linda, he was always in safe hands.

Listen below to Paul McCartney’s isolated vocal on ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ from 1970, his undying love letter to Linda.

Paul McCartney – ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ lyrics:

Maybe I’m amazed at the way you love me all the time
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you pull me out of time
You hung me on the line
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you

Maybe I’m a man
Maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something
That he doesn’t really understand

Maybe I’m a man
And maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me
Baby, won’t you help me to understand?
Ooh

Maybe I’m a man
Maybe I’m a lonely man who’s in the middle of something
That he doesn’t really understand

Maybe I’m a man
And maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me
Baby, won’t you help me to understand?
Ooh

Maybe I’m amazed at the way you’re with me all the time
Maybe I’m afraid of the way I leave you
Maybe I’m amazed at the way you help me sing my song
Right me when I’m wrong
Maybe I’m amazed at the way I really need you

Source: Paul McCartney’s isolated vocals on ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’