Paul McCartney has long admired country music. He’s spoken about the genre’s merits on more than one occasion. Despite this, he’s never gone full-blown country. However, there are several songs in McCartney‘s catalog that, with a few changes, could easily fall into the country category. Check out three of them, below.
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“Heart of the Country” (Linda and Paul McCartney)
There are many ways to go about writing a country song, but songwriters often choose to focus on their rural surroundings. There is no shortage of country songs that heavily lean into the artist’s southerly or western roots. It has become so pervasive that it’s nearly a cliche.
But, with that in mind, we could categorize Linda and Paul McCartney’s “Heart of the Country” in this genre if we wanted to. Like the twangiest singers in Nashville, McCartney waxes poetic about taking some time away from big city life. Looking for a home in the heart of the country / I’m gon’ move, I’m gon’ go / I’m gon’ tell everyone I know, he sings. Sonically, it may not be the most country song ever, but the genre has expanded its reach exponentially. With the pop and hip-hop tones we’re used to hearing in country nowadays, we can’t count out this McCartney track, despite its soft rock sensibilities.
“Calico Skies” (Paul McCartney)
In the ’70s, folk and rock started to mix, creating a separate genre that can only be defined by the songs that exist within it. McCartney borrowed that mix in the ’90s for “Calico Skies”–a tender ballad about a poignant love. It was written that I would love you / From the moment I opened my eyes / And the morning when I first saw you / Gave me life under calico skies, McCartney sings over a simple guitar melody. We’d dare to say that many country balladeers would jump at the chance to sing a song like this.
While it might be sooner lumped into the folk crowd, “Calico Skies” is not completely out of country music’s reach. It’s universally relatable and follows the “three chords and the truth” motto. We wouldn’t think twice if this song was recorded by one of our favorite country artists.
“Blackbird”
Beyoncé keyed us into this idea with her cover. “Blackbird” could easily be a country song. Though McCartney sings this song with a marked lack of twang, it’s easy to imagine such a voice singing these lines.
Country music hasn’t always been the most socially conscious, but the artists in this genre that do dare to stir the pot become legends. Loretta Lynn with women’s rights. Kacey Musgraves with LGBTQ pride. These artists (and many more) have gone against the grain in country music. Many hate them for it, while those with similar mindsets rejoice in the welcomed change of pace. As a country song, “Blackbird” would fall into this category. Beyoncé molded this song about racial injustice into the country space. It caused quite the stir, which was likely the point in the first place.
(Photo by Wood/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
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