"Tug of War" is the title track from Paul McCartney’s 1982 album Tug of War.
| "Tug of War" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Paul McCartney | ||||
| from the album Tug of War | ||||
| B-side | "Get It" | |||
| Released | 6 September 1982 | |||
| Recorded | Summer 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:20 (album version) 4:00 (single version) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
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Reception
editRolling Stone described the song as McCartney's equivalent to John Lennon's "Imagine".[1] The song has a clear division between the verses featuring sad lyrics about the struggle to survive, the necessity of conflict (pushing and pulling) and the hopeful refrain, in which McCartney looks for a future where these struggles are no longer necessary.[2] The lyrics have been interpreted as a description of his complex relationship with Lennon,[3] who was killed two years prior. Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci interpreted it as "a mournful meditation that could be interpreted as commentary on McCartney's splintered relationship with Lennon."[4]
Cash Box said that the song is "an intriguing mix of the acoustic and the symphonic," saying that "guitar blends with strings while Paul sings of the constant push and pull in our present lives and a more optimistic 'time to come' when 'we will be dancing to the beat played on a different drum.'"[5] Billboard called it a "wistful slice of pop philosophy given depth by George Martin's orchestration and the vocalist's graceful transition from stately verses to urgent bridge."[6]
The single reached number 11 in Poland, number 53 in the UK and number 53 in the US. It also reached number 31 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[7][8]
The album version starts with the sounds of people grunting as part of a real tug of war—a popular sporting event since ancient times, before Paul goes into the song. These sounds were recorded during the National Indoors Tug of War Championship in Huddersfield, by Eddie Klein on December 7 1980, one day before his bandmate John Lennon was shot and killed.[9] At the end of the song, it fades into "Take It Away". The single version omits these factors.
Music video
editThe music video for "Tug of War" was directed by Maurice Phillips.[10]
Personnel
edit- Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, synthesizer, drums, Mellotron
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals
- Eric Stewart – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Denny Laine – electric guitar
- Campbell Maloney – military snares
- Kenneth Sillito – orchestral arrangement
Track listing
edit- 7" single
- "Tug of War"
- "Get It" (with Carl Perkins)
References
edit- ^ Holden, Stephen. "Review of Tug Of War". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
- ^ Tug of War Songfacts
- ^ Gould, Jonathan (2007). Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain and America. London: Piatkus, Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 9780307353382.
- ^ Gallucci, Michael (April 26, 2017). "How Paul McCartney tapped into a storied past with 'Tug of War'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 25, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
- ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. September 25, 1982. p. 60. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ^ "Paul McCartney singles". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ "Recording the intro of "Tug Of War" (Dec 07, 1980)". The Paul McCartney project. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ "Paul McCartney: Tug of War (1982)". IMDb. Retrieved October 25, 2019.