Paul McCartney, the legendary musician and one of the founding members of The Beatles, has opened up about a possible deeper meaning behind one of the band’s most iconic songs, “Yesterday.” In a recent episode of the “A Life In Lyrics” podcast with Irish poet Paul Muldoon, McCartney shared that he believes the inspiration for the song might stem from the loss of his mother to cancer nearly a decade before he penned the famous tune.
Initially, McCartney had always dismissed the idea that “Yesterday” was about the loss of his mother, preferring to think of it as a song about romantic heartbreak. However, upon reflection, he noted the poignant lyrics, particularly the lines, “Why she had to go, I don’t know, she wouldn’t say,” resonated with his experience of losing his mother to cancer when he was just a young man. At the time, he and his family were unaware of the gravity of the illness, a common situation in those days when cancer was less understood.
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McCartney delved into the subconscious influences that may have shaped the song, including moments from his youth that he hadn’t previously considered. He recounted an incident where he corrected his mother’s pronunciation of the word “ask,” which could have inspired the lyric, “I said something wrong.” Reflecting on this, he wondered if he had unwittingly infused elements of his relationship with his mother into the song’s lyrics.
In his discussion with Muldoon, McCartney mused on the complexity of the creative process, suggesting that sometimes artists draw from deeply personal experiences without fully realizing it at the time. Looking back, he acknowledged that elements of his mother’s memory might have found their way into the song, blending with themes of love and loss.
McCartney’s revelation offers fans a new perspective on a beloved classic, showcasing the multifaceted nature of songwriting and the profound impact of personal experiences on artistic expression. As listeners revisit “Yesterday,” they may find themselves hearing the song in a different light, appreciating its emotional depth and the layers of meaning woven into its lyrics.