A lot of controversy around this song when it came out. Linda co-wrote it. She liked to add a bit of reggae to songs so it is very likely that the faux-reggae sound is her idea. However, everyone wailed when Paul added her to the writing credit. How could this be? She has no prior musical training, blah, blah, blah - while forgetting that none of the Beatles could read or write music either. Other critics asserted that Paul put her on the credits to somehow get an extra monetary percentage for co-writing. Ridiculous. Then the critics pounced that the music was insipid, sugary pap. One even went so far as to call it an advertisement for vaginal deodorant. Nonetheless, the general public did take a liking to the song and it performed very well on the charts. It is definitely in the 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da' vein. But no-one puts them together like this except Paul. Yeah, the lyrics frequently tend toward molasses but in retrospect this is one of Paul's more coherent and best resolved post-Beatle lyrics. The melody is top-notch as well and even edges into precisely conveying the heartbreak and isolation to the listener much like he did with 'Eleanor Rigby'. At the time when this come on the radio most people still living in the musical fallout of Beatle glory would disparage this tune or even turn it off. These days it comes back and has aged so well. A welcome song to hear every now and then.
A lot of controversy around this song when it came out. Linda co-wrote it. She liked to add a bit of reggae to songs so it is very likely that the faux-reggae sound is her idea. However, everyone wailed when Paul added her to the writing credit. How could this be? She has no prior musical training, blah, blah, blah - while forgetting that none of the Beatles could read or write music either. Other critics asserted that Paul put her on the credits to somehow get an extra monetary percentage for co-writing. Ridiculous. Then the critics pounced that the music was insipid, sugary pap. One even went so far as to call it an advertisement for vaginal deodorant. Nonetheless, the general public did take a liking to the song and it performed very well on the charts. It is definitely in the 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da' vein. But no-one puts them together like this except Paul. Yeah, the lyrics frequently tend toward molasses but in retrospect this is one of Paul's more coherent and best resolved post-Beatle lyrics. The melody is top-notch as well and even edges into precisely conveying the heartbreak and isolation to the listener much like he did with 'Eleanor Rigby'. At the time when this come on the radio most people still living in the musical fallout of Beatle glory would disparage this tune or even turn it off. These days it comes back and has aged so well. A welcome song to hear every now and then.