Paul McCartney Talks Songwriting with Mary McCartney - Rare Wingspan Extra 2001

In 2001 the TV documentary 'Wingspan' was released, which gave an overview of Paul's early solo career and his adventures with Wings.
Paul's daughter Mary conducts the interview. This clip was included as an extra on the DVD release and shows Paul revealing the writing process behind three songs from the 'Band on the Run' album.
00:29 Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)
03:07 Let Me Roll It
04:37 Mrs Vandebilt
Enjoy!

[@emrodsky4379]

His daughter is so beautiful. I see Linda when I look at her. I'm sure she'd be so proud. Paul is an icon to all of us but I'm sure Mary just sees him as dad.

[@willpfister]

It must be strange for her. On one hand he's just her old dad. On the other hand she's watching the greatest to have ever done it.

[@dobythedog]

Somehow, she probably doesn't realise the astonishing achievement as she's simply grown up thinking that her Dad is human.

[@sup9542]

I imagine it’s not possible for her to feel the magic in his music as much as we do because that’s her dad’s voice, she’d be thinking more about the context of him singing it than being absorbed into the actual music as this otherworldly thing.

[@willpfister]

@@dobythedog Possibly but she also grew up going on tour with Wings and seeing 10's of thousands of screaming fans. Everywhere they've gone her whole life people have worshipped her dad. She certainly knows he's someone special.

[@jamescarr4662]

Would he have beaten a prime Mike Tyson though?

[@dylanakent]

So cool that she's been a part of his songwriting process since she was an infant. It's a terrific energy between the two of them.

[@lucybraun8969]

Yes, and even some of the wind beneath his wings!

[@georgebaigent8078]

At times she blushes because he’s so good but also Dad. Really cute to watch.

[@doradedham9162]

Paul seems like such a happy man. Everybody has their ups and downs but he doesn't have that artistic angst thing going. Comports like he's really enjoying being Paul McCartney in this lifetime. That's great.

[@ivanjulian2532]

For a while, Heather Mills did her best to take the happines out of him.

[@reputablehype]

He's someone who takes their pain and anger and processes it into a positive experience for the world. It's a win win, he vents it out and we get music :)

[@sirvicemanone]

im so happy that he is happy and has a loving family.

[@jamesgoddard2321]

I think he has every reason to enjoy being Paul McCartney.

[@deepwaterrehab7685]

He literally has it all. Beautiful voice, unbelievable songwriter, great producer, great instrumentalist, great entertainer, good looking… 🐐

[@stanleysteelmon9082]

Paul is such a treasure. One of a kind and I am forever grateful I got to live in his time. I understand he’s a nice fellow as well. Thanks Paul ❤

[@Teeder]

Me too x 1,000,000,000…..!!!! I know that Mary McCartney is Paul’s daughter, but somewhere inside she must be pinching herself saying, “He’s my DAD, and he’s performing just for ME!” That would have to be the ultimate dream come true for any Beatles/Sir Paul fan - to jam with him or to sit around and listen to him play on his acoustic guitar (and just talk about his music). What an incredible thrill that would be. (So, if you’re listening, Paul, I’ll have my best guitar restrung left handed for just such an occasion). Mary is an excellent interviewer. She deftly directs the flow of the interview by placing the emphasis on the interviewee and not on herself. It must feel a little strange to interview your Dad, but they both did an excellent, professional job!

[@PaulNose]

Ditto ❤

[@sunside7]

We are so lucky! ❤️

[@KennCramerHanberg]

We can proud be saying that we lived in the same century as him and the Beatles. The best songwriters and performers since Mozart

[@flynnstone3580]

It's a fact that Paul McCartney holds the record for writing and composing more songs than any other composer.

[@ketchup5344]

I know that people say that but I listened to Mozart the other day and it was useless; couldnt sing to it and couldnt dance to it at all ✌😅

[@flynnstone3580]

@@ketchup5344 I think it was the song, I want to hold your hand, was a Beethoven melody, one of them was.

[@stephenburnett19]

Completely agree with you about that. The creative genius of the Beatles, both as a group, then as individuals has already stood the test of time. 200 years from now, assuming humanity survives, their music will still be recognized as pure genius. The comparison/analogy to Mozart is perfect, and the longer humanity lives, the more we will realise just how true it is. Thank you for your thoughts.

[@paulbakker6765]

@@flynnstone3580 No it was Blackbird

[@jamesgoddard2321]

I took my daughter to his concert earlier in the year and the surprising thing to me was not that he rocked like a 30 year old (this man was born for music), but that the crowd around me had ladies ranging in age from the seventies all the way down to eight years old, and they all knew the words to his songs! Not just the Beatles songs either. Generations of musicians have tried and failed to replicate the appeal of Paul and the Beatles. This man is just a natural musician, and a real treasure.

[@larushka1]

I was one of the 71 year old ladies in the third row giving my daughter the experience of a lifetime. Singing Hey Jude with my girl and Sir Paul up on stage so close was just amazing memory.

[@ronnienaidoo3249]

James you've said it all !!! "This Man was born for Music" !!! He is a Natural, a Treasure & a Gift from God !!!!!

[@rodserling6955]

Saw Wings over America 1976 Msg Nyc..after that my ears were ringing for 2 days and I thought i could fly?

[@marioimolina]

Mary is such a babe

[@meanderer06513]

As much as it'd be, to be near Paul McCartney while he's going through his songs and writing process...I could look at Mary McCartney all day and night. She is stunning.

[@belair90210]

Same! She’s so breathtakingly beautiful!

[@PaulDowsettUK]

The thing about Picasso's Last Words is how the feel of it matches the drunken, singalong theme. It almost sounds like an old traditional song. So effortlessly clever.

[@wayneengle4473]

I never before realized that Mary McCartney was so beautiful! Her face is just DIVINE!

[@garycogswell5499]

He has a special gleam in his eye for his Mary. Above the gleam he seems to always have. Bless you both.

[@poppyneese1811]

I figured it out, Paul is still a 6 year old boy that even though life has battered and bruised him, he still believes in magic and all the potential that the wrapped Christmas present under the tree has😊

[@dobythedog]

The greatest British treasure ever.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Never disliked The Beatles but the older I become, the more I like their music. It has nothing to do with my age. It has everything to do with how good they were.

[@lsmft9576]

Mary, incredible direct gaze. Very beautiful.

[@mtp4430]

That's the same approach I use to songwriting. With one exception, Paul does it so much better. He's written more memorable melodies than most human beings that I'm aware of.

[@DF-ee8vt]

Paul has songs "come to him". That's a true gift. He's attracted some of the best songs in pop and rock music. You can see the pure enjoyment of his daughter as she's watching him. He named her after his mother, Mary.

[@deedee-tc4fh]

Yeah it just came to me one day as I saw this frog going Bum Bum Bum, so I wrote.. The Frog song, Mary Had a Little Lamb C. Moon.. If a body language expert analysed this, he/she would have a field day. He is FAKE imo

[@JoanneJaworski]

He channels his songwriting & music so he can't really explain how it could work for others. It comes through him!

[@CANNIMAGINE]

Paul is amazing. Songs just fall out of him.

[@HeyBulldog-Beatles-Tribute]

used to fall out of him. Now we can hear that the songs are staying as a demo. He don't have anymore the genius he had before... It's normal!!! But it's a fact :)

[@susanschaffner4422]

Paul's a constant pleasure to the soul. Music just flows.

[@gregnormal55.]

Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day… Stay Safe!

[@ZillaYT]

What a job! Having Paul sing to you, even though he’s Dad!

[@tonyroma7599]

This guy is amazing. It’s just that easy for him to write a song as it is to breathe. Thx Paul for all the songs you let us hear.

[@MattDonaldson]

She is so beautiful!

[@patriciaeddy7629]

I really wanted so much for Paul to have gotten back together with John, for their two song writing abilities were unmatched. Changing as they had both grown, I knew the magic would still be there. So sad for the world that we all never got the chance to hear them both creating songs together again, after both had spread their wings over other matters of the times.

[@haleybarton4821]

Man is so good he can play the drums on the guitar. I can’t believe he can play a song that he hasn’t played in decades with that level of perfection and familiarity. His “Mrs. Vanderbilt” played here was immaculate.

[@NickC769]

It was more than likely rehearsed as it was going to be on a dvd

[@haleybarton4821]

@@NickC769 he said in the video that he hadn’t played them in decades…

[@proactivelifewithljc4000]

Paul McCartney aka Bernard Webb also a producer & actor......"Give My Regards to Broad Street!"

[@adrianburn7178]

He makes it look so easy!

[@gav_creates]

McCartney is a force of nature

[@willswalkingwest7267]

And now this is my favorite version of Picasso's List Words.

[@japupkind8493]

Man! I think exactly so.

[@davecostello560]

God I'd be happy to listen to him busk his way through songs from every solo album he's ever done, just him and his acoustic guitar.

[@joshkarena3058]

He's an amazing musician and song writer Sir Paul McCartney.

[@schtuff.8207]

The most interesting part of this is Paul keeping complete eye contact with Mary, singing to her like shes still just a daughter on his knee, and how she lights up and also tries to avoid eye contact :) ... he never really answers any question here either which is fun :D

[@alfredog2921]

There is not a single song by Paul that is not beautiful and a work of art and he is also a brilliant improbisator...a true genius of our times and that he will also be forever because I am sure that in 200 years his songs will continue to be heard on all the world. I love Paul.

[@arkadaurum298]

Revoulution #9

[@AiMR]

Spies Like Us

[@2visiondigital]

Said Maxwell Silver Hammer.

[@martynjones8560]

In the early nineties I was on a small Greek island called Serifos, very late at night and very drunk, arguing with a British girl about who was the best songwriter in The Beatles. I insisted that it was John, but this girl said that no one realised how much influence Paul had had on Lennon's songs (especially in the arrangement and finishing touches) - I asked her how she could possibly know that, and she replied "Because I'm his daughter" - Me and this Scot's guy I was with took the piss out of her shamelessly for saying that, but years later watching Linda's funeral on the news, I saw the same girl walking with her sisters and Paul, and thought "F*ck me, that really was Mary McCartney on Serifos!". The thing was that we had been pretty obnoxious to her during our drunken "debate", but she never got upset nor angry at us, nor was she at all arrogant in her assertion of her father's contributions. Very down to earth.

[@harrydelange1821]

Nice story!

[@thesilvershining]

I hope this story is true because I’ve always believed that Paul helped elevate John’s songs in the arrangement process. Even Ringo has said “When it came to song arrangements Paul was usually always right. It annoyed us.” lol

[@vincentm4717]

When you look at these 2 you can see a daughter who has alot of love and deep admiration for her father and a father who clearly loves his daughter. As one person here put it earlier, there are far better musicians but Paul McCartney simply has a gift that few people have. He has a gift for melody and the man is highly musical. McCartney knows he has this talent and he is clearly proud of it.

[@sstills951]

I agree there are better musicians, but did you have to say 'far better'?

[@vincentm4717]

@@sstills951 Sure, why not? I'm not taking away anything from McCartney here. I'm a musician myself and people need to start being honest about their musical heroes. If I said the same thing about Michael Jackson or Madonna I'd get the same thing from their fans too. These were all brilliant artist but they don't walk on water. McCartney and especially The Beatles will live forever! They will be remembered much more than any far better musician. Isn't that more than enough?

[@sstills951]

@@vincentm4717 Fine with me. I'm easy going.

[@klmullins65]

Paul McCartney is a PERFECT bassist, imo.... not too flashy, always the perfect note at the perfect time, integral part of a song's melodic structure

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

Far better musicians? lol Like who?

[@nervo6321]

Just beautiful Paul being interviewed by his lovely daughter.

[@seventeendegree]

I need a 20 hours version of him giving songwriting examples. He‘a so good with the guitar and piano. There is a video on youtube, showing him writing the Rockestra theme, so impressive!

[@roccoand2612]

Dag, that was so good.

[@vayabroder729]

Lovely interview; especially witnessing the father/daughter interaction.

[@bobf.5538]

Paul told a story once of how he was playing his guitar in the living room and his kids were like " dad , do you have to do that in here "Paul said " I'm a famous singer you know " his kids said " so what we wanna watch TV go somewhere else and do that"

[@BGTuyau]

Was Mary one of those kids?

[@bobf.5538]

@@BGTuyau don't know he didn't mention.names just said the kids

[@lomarsweed6604]

Is it true that Macca then bashed his guitar over one of the kids' heads like the Honky Tonk Man?

[@bobf.5538]

@@lomarsweed6604 no that was Mick Jagger. And it's Honky Tonk Women

[@lomarsweed6604]

@@bobf.5538 You don't know what you're talking about.

[@alanpaola5266]

What a beautiful woman !

[@TigerRogers0660]

Mrs. Vandebilt is a VERY clever song!! For me, always been near the top of Macca songs!!

[@paulthompkins4150]

Mary is as beautiful as her namesake.

[@glendacox6540]

Their mutual admiration breaks my heart in the sweetest way……☮️☮️☮️

[@johnwilliams1223]

That album will turn 50 years old this year. I still remember when it came out. I bought it and played it to death.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Tell me the best part of it is how merriest as completely charmed and delighted as any of us would be just sitting there in front of Paul. You know she’s trying to suppress it… But she can hardly do it. It’s real magic.😊😊😊

[@knittingnana2939]

Mary has beautiful eyes.

[@mauriziosant1658]

For me the Beatles will always be the best pop band ever. Best music, best lyrics and timeless. A societal orientation in all worldly human feelings, then.

[@ralex3697]

Absolutely agree, they were the greatest

[@news603redux]

Sorry, they're not the best "pop" band ever, they're the best ROCK band ever. People try to label them a "pop" band to try and make an argument for someone else - nice trick but it doesn't work. The were best band in the history of rock and roll, therefore they're a ROCK band.

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@news603redux but they're also a pop band There's nothing bad in that

[@news603redux]

@@muchanadziko6378 "Also" a pop band I have no issue with. My issue is that for decades, people have tried the ruse of "The Beatles are a POP band and The Stones are a ROCK band, which is bullshit. Actually, starting with Rubber Soul, their music usually transcended either category and was just Beatle music. A Day In The Life, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, stuff like that just fits in the category of Masterpieces.

[@muchanadziko6378]

@@news603redux yeah, I don’t disagree with anything you said here I used to call that genre „Beatle-rock”, though „Beatle-music” does seem like a better option

[@sirvicemanone]

is this not one of the most charming precious moments ever on youtube? Paul sharing his love of songwriting with i think his daughter and reminissing about a great song he hasnt playwd in over 50 years playing it so joyfully!!!!(im mot sure if Mary is his daughter?) and its like we are almost there with them !! omg He is a great dad and a beloved person...you can see the light in both their eyes as they sit together casually. thank you Sir Paul for your service of music and joy in this world.i am firever greatful. Please protect and care for yourself and family dear man. I hope you continue making this kind of video. Yes Mary is indeed Pauls daughter !

[@wayneengle4473]

Yes, she's his daughter, all right.

[@Kieop]

He's joking about it being 59 years since he last played it! He's only 58 here. So that's longer than his lifespan at the time of the interview! 😛

[@mcarp555]

Mary was and is a beautiful woman. She has the best of Paul and Linda. Stella also looks like both her parents, but in a completely different way.

[@tonitoze2452]

Just love how his mind works. Things just flows in and out. Get to feel his spirit it's amazing.

[@albertmontes11]

Daughter Mary and Dad Paul what a treasured moment!! What great family structure. Paul of course what a genius!! Ay Chihuahua

[@mikehenson819]

So glad I got to see him a few years ago in Nashville with my son. He's always been one of my favorites. I told my son that I've waited nearly 60 years to see a Beatle perform live, and I got to see the best one of them! He put on a nearly 3 hour performance, and the wait was worth it.

[@TorMax9]

What a treasure for all mankind.

[@Amarti58]

Mary looks beautiful.

[@fretboardmaster70]

I love her eyes ❤

[@valeriejrt66]

Musical genius, a treasure beyond what anyone could’ve imagined…I am so grateful I was growing up with the magic of Beatlemania…and to experience and love each of their solo careers…never again shall we witness this kind of phenomenon in music…❤️🙏🏼☮️🌱🎶❣️

[@jamesgoddard2321]

Considering the way the music industry is today Valerie I’m afraid you may be right. Before the Beatles came along it was rare for a band to write, record and perform their own songs, at least at that level of the market.

[@valeriejrt66]

@@jamesgoddard2321 …yes…albums, as a whole, with that theme weaved through them is a thing of yesterday…very very few artists today do that, very few artists today get my attention, and if they do it’s usually just for a song or two… but I’m glad I’ve got my 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, some of the 90’s library of albums…

[@peanutgallery98]

This is very sweet.. you can see that these two love each other deeply.

[@donw804]

Can you just imagine being an audience of one with the great Sir Paul as he teases with a few gems of the day? I'd be covered in goosebumps.

[@786itube]

Such a down-to-earth treasure and a huge credit to the human race

[@diffbreak2366]

There are talented musicians, then virtuosos, and then there is Paul McCartney.

[@ianolding8431]

one quarter of THE most influential and inspirational band in rock n roll history ! say no more ! counting myself in there with the many .

[@jazz2020]

What a great upload. And this can't go unsaid, Mary is stunningly beautiful. Then and now ~

[@harrydelange1821]

Yes indeed 1000%

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

Pauls one of ours a true scouser we all love him and his family

[@yoya4766]

It's his musicality and melody making ability that is incredible. He's also amazing with words and gets to the heart of things. Put all that together and you have a living legend and Shakespeare of music.

[@sveinsigurdgismarvik4445]

Sir James, noone over, noone by his side hes one of a kind. So glad we live in his time on earth.

[@nanpark3646]

Fabulous, love hearing you sing to your beautiful daughter. !!!❤

[@UnclBerry]

He looks like he's in love, it's so beautiful how he looks at his daughter.

[@harrydelange1821]

From both sides, her eyes... beautiful people...

[@UnclBerry]

@@harrydelange1821 she looks absolutely beautiful

[@countalucard4226]

I could hear thousands of these stories from Sir Paul. Long live the Fab 4!

[@Maryanoel]

I would never get over my Electra complex with such a dad ❤

[@east5871]

She is extremely reserved!

[@ronyvandervaeren9783]

Impressing, so natural for him, incredible for us...

[@fishboy91]

I do not mean this in a weird way but Mary looks like she is in love with her Dad. The way she looks at him with such admiration and love is quite apparent.

[@magneto7930]

I think it says a lot about Paul as a father, she looks at him lovingly and with pride.

[@oliverbird6914]

Yeah .licking her lips at times

[@mwj5368]

One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century and couldn't be more famous and no ego at all and also like Mrs Vanderbuilt I think he is very well off financially, right? So he's as easy-going and nice of a person wow!

[@anthonylentini6278]

such a great person and blessed with a beautiful family he brought so much happiness to this world

[@user-ng8zv7vt4l]

ДЖЕЙМС МАККАРТНИ!!! Ты как в молодые годы такой же заводной и даришь свои песенки нам!!! Здоровья, удачи и долголетия!!! БУДЬ СЧАСТЛИВ!!! ЕВТЮХИН.

[@akustickesrdce4690]

Amazing great tunes Paul IS a great inspiration ❤️😀👍

[@MrAschiff]

Mary is gorgeous

[@kevinscheuller4429]

All his kids are interesting mixes of him and Linda. Mary and Stella are lovely, like their mom, but you also see a bit of Paul in their faces. James looks a lot like Paul with Linda’s fairer hair color and complexion.

[@9999bigb]

She looks so much like her mom it's insane. Even the same voice

[@TheAmateursOriginalMusic]

What a dude he is! Total legend and talents beyond imagination!🫡

[@walterbriggs272]

Obviously Mary is also impressed at how the thought flows from his mind, to fingers to mouth and music appears where none was.

[@johngraydon506]

Love Mary too she seems so nice . Like her Mum

[@suzettebavier4412]

A little gem💎...this Is

[@gregnormal55.]

Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day… Stay Safe!

[@n.miller907]

There's more musical ideas in Paul's "Ms. Vanderbilt" than fifty rap songs.

[@terri6854]

Exactly! It's like a landscape painting with dozens of objects, hues, spatial depth, light and shading compared to a stick-figure drawing.

[@callithowiseeit5806]

Cliff Richard was once asked about rap music, the reporter said "isn't it all just pressing buttons?" to which Cliff responded "yes but someone has to be there pressing those buttons don't they?" my point is there's great art in every genre, casual listeners will only ever hear the worst end of it

[@n.miller907]

@@callithowiseeit5806 I'm sure regular folks wouldn't understand a band like Kraftwerk, for example. If you don't have any reference point about archaic electronic instruments, you'd probably say the machines run by themselves. But this isn't really the case in rap. The idiom is highly constricted in form and execution. I watched a documentary on the Roland TR-808 drum machine and it was clear the hip-hop and rap community leaned heavily on this machine. I'm not saying that rap doesn't have it's exemplar artists or recordings, but I could say the same thing about disco. In the case of McCartney's music, he wasn't glued to a particular music form even within one song. Most rap songs are predictable from start to finish and the star feature of that type of music is generally the rap portion itself. I have little allegiance to the culture that created this music nor much admiration for the musicians themselves. "Rap is to music what Etch-a-Sketch is to art". Funny saying but not all that far from the truth. I'm also old enough to know that what is popular in music often has little to do with the quality of the work. Exceptions do exist. I'm still baffled as to how hip-hop and rap still exists. Most commercial musical trends lasted ten years and a new form took over. No new musical forms on the horizon which I find highly disappointing.

[@thesilvershining]

Mrs. Vandebilt has one of the funnest basslines I’ve ever played. In fact it’s actually the lead guitar of the song, it’s brilliant. Paul always had a knack for making the bass stand out!

[@TheMjphoto45]

The world is better with Paul in it

[@mirkomontaldo]

You hear Paul jamming and it's immediately The Beatles. Close your eyes. This is the Beatles.

[@tyronewhitehead3123]

All that history their faces are incredible you gave me the goosebumps 🙏♥️

[@MicheleMJJ]

I love Paul.

[@leafpeeper98]

I love that they look at each other with such love shining in their eyes. Every daughter should adore her father like that.

[@Larrymarx]

I can watch these short clips of Mary asking her Dad all sorts of questions all day long♪♫♪

[@ClarkKent768]

I will be posting lots more over the next few weeks :)

[@Larrymarx]

@@ClarkKent768 That is great... I'll be looking forward to them, thank you so much.♪♫♪

[@rodrigobastidas946]

es un genio!!!!! no hay comparación posible!!!

[@lindawiley3112]

❤MARY HAS Paul's eyes!

[@dsthorp]

...is running out of jaws to drop.

[@senudarajapakse3469]

That version of Let Me Roll It is incredible

[@gilbertdare5921]

Mary is so beautiful!

[@robertgunter7230]

Just bloody marvellous

[@mickcarlon8147]

Not to be shallow, but Mary is so lovely.

[@MissAstorDancer]

I don't think it's shallow to also recognize physical beauty! Moderation and Balance in All Things is the goal! The beauty of both of their faces, the seeing of how much they look alike, and yet, Mary has "Linda" in her face, as well......talk about beautiful! 😍

[@lethiapage4767]

He makes it look easy, God bless him. I love this guy.

[@OfficialPaulMcCartney009]

Hello Lethia, how are you doing today? It’s nice meeting you here.

[@lucybraun8969]

Now, this? This is special. ✌❤✌

[@gregnormal55.]

Hello!!! How are you doing today, please pardon me for intruding into your privacy but I just wanted to know if you’re a fan ? Have a great day… Stay Safe!

[@kcwoodsxx10]

Amazing thanks two u both