The Beatles Love Lyric Paul McCartney Insisted Had No Specific Target
The more we know about an artist’s personal life, the more it can narrow our views of their songwriting. Too often, we assume the meaning of a particular track, without giving the credit for the imagination of the writer to create something outside their immediate personal experience.
That’s what happened, according to Paul McCartney, with The Beatles’ song “I Will,” which was released on The White Album in 1968. Although it’s a love song and McCartney was still in a relationship with actress Jane Asher at the time, he insisted afterward that he had no one in particular in mind when writing it.
Where There’s a “Will”
“I Will” represents the oft-unorthodox manner of approaching songs that was emblematic of The White Album. Instead of The Beatles taking their specific instruments, they switched things up. McCartney plays acoustic guitar and sings, while vocalizing the bass part. Ringo Starr played bongos and maracas, while John Lennon added extra percussion on wood blocks. George Harrison wasn’t at the session that produced the song.
Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com
