The Stories Behind 4 Paul McCartney-Penned Beatles Tracks

There are stories behind many of the songs that Paul McCartney wrote for The Beatles in their heyday. Some songs lack any story whatsoever, but a few tracks were inspired by real-life events and experiences. Let’s take a look at just four examples! These songs are worth revisiting anyway.

1. “When I’m Sixty-Four”

“When I’m Sixty-Four” from the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was one of the very first songs that Paul McCartney ever wrote as a teenager. It’s a testament to his songwriting talent, but there’s also a darker theme lurking in the background of this music hall classic. 

“When I’m Sixty-Four” is all about aging and mortality, and there are two different rumored stories that inspired this song: One being that McCartney’s father turned 64 the year he revisited “When I’m Sixty-Four” for the 1967 album, the other being that 64 was widely believed to be the life expectancy of British people at the time McCartney wrote it.

2. “Got To Get You Into My Life”

Paul McCartney’s stories behind his songs can be both heartwrenching and delicate. Other times, though, they’re simple and pretty humorous. According to legend (and McCartney himself), “Got To Get You Into My Life” from the 1966 album Revolver was written about McCartney’s first experience ever smoking pot. In fact, McCartney described it as an “ode” to the substance.

3. “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window”

“She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” is a bit of an underrated track on the 1969 album Abbey Road. It also has a bizarre story behind it.

This track was written by McCartney about an experience he had with a fan who often hung around his home in St. John’s Wood at the time. The fan, named Diane Ashley, actually broke into McCartney’s house. After finding a ladder in his yard, the young Ashley climbed into his open bathroom window. She opened the front door to the home and let her friends inside, and the little criminals left with a number of photographs and clothes. McCartney was obviously not happy about the situation but looked at it with enough lightheartedness to pen a cheeky tune about it.

4. “Helter Skelter”

“Helter Skelter” has since become associated with the Manson murders, but it was originally based on one of the most interesting Paul McCartney stories out there. McCartney allegedly heard that The Who had penned “the heaviest song of all time”, which ended up being “I Can See For Miles”. Fans of The Who know that song isn’t that heavy.

Regardless, McCartney wanted to one-up them, and “Helter Skelter” was born. That song has since been hailed as one of the most influential songs in the development of heavy metal music.

Photo by Jerry Wacher/Images/Getty Images

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