Having become a fan of The Beatles and solo/Wings McCartney in the late 90s, of course I was going to give his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, a listen. Will it be his last studio album, or will there be further releases, who knows.
Since there’s already tons of reviews out there, I’ve written track-by-track thoughts as I gave each song a first listen. So be warned, they’re fairly brief – some a lot more than others. There were a couple of songs that just didn’t grab me. I also didn’t have the lyrics in front of me, so I was only catching lines here and there – I’ve subsequently gone and had a look to add extracts below each note.
As You Lie There
Okay, I didn’t expect the spoken intro. Unexpected acoustic into a rockier sound, too. I did wonder if it would be a more gentle, acoustic-led album so pleasantly surprised Paul’s still rocking out. Nice touch to bookend the song with the acoustic sound.
Lyrics: I used to walk past your house / Every night, I’d look up at your window / The light was on / I saw your silhouette on the blind / Do you think of me?
Lost Horizon
Looks like we’re keeping up the rockier sound. A bit of blues/country there, too? His voice so far is holding up fine. Obviously we’re into Old Man McCartney vocals these days, but it’s still recognisably him.
Lyrics: The chimes of a clock ticking on a table top / Well, I remember that sound / The braking of a bus driver coming to a stop / Music from a distant fairground
Days We Left Behind
Paul sounds more fragile on this track as he reaches for the high notes. This is an emotional song and probably my favourite track on the album so far.
Lyrics: See the boys of Dungeon Lane / Along the Mersey shore / Some of them will feel the pain / But some were meant for more
Ripples in a Pond
A romantic song by the sound of it. Has a good rhythm. From what I’ve heard so far, if this is his last studio album, then it seems to be a good one to bow out on.
Lyrics: I love you more than I ever did before / The feeling grows and grows / Let’s carry on making ripples in a pond / And we’ll see how far it goes
Mountain Top
Lovely sound of the harpsichord in the intro there. Wow, really liking this. I like the odd psychedelic imagery in the lyrics. Another good ‘un that’ll be finding its way onto my Favourites playlist. Oh, that’s a cheeky little change-up in the last thirty seconds or so! Hmm, not sure if I like that last bit. Might change my mind on subsequent listens.
Lyrics: Now we’re really tripping / Everybody’s flipping out / Need to get a grip and slip away
Down South
From the lyrics, this seems to be about George, with talking about guitars on a bus and hitchhiking south. A more acoustic-led song this time. Having intentionally not watched any interviews or read about the album prior to it’s release, it was a nice surprise to find a song about his early friendship with George.
Lyrics: The morning bus was where we two would meet / I sat beside you on an empty seat / We’d talk about guitars and rock and roll / They were the subjects that would never grow old
We Two
Probably not my favourite, music-wise. Has an interesting ‘rewind’ sound at the end. Not sure who he’s singing about here.
Lyrics: Last night I dreamed of you / And all that we could do / Together, side by side / We two can do
Come Inside
Ah, we’re back on more rockier territory now. I like the guitar on this, in particular and the piano. Yeah, another winner.
Lyrics: Well, step right up and take a look / See what you can find / ‘Cause all my life’s an open book / Come inside my mind
Never Know
Nice song. Struggling to say much more about it, really. Nice flute action in the song which of course reminds me of The Fool On The Hill and Penny Lane.
Lyrics: I’m gonna take the time to prove that I care / Don’t mind as long as I’m with you / I’ve got to make you see, I’ll always be there
Home to Us
I was aware that this is a duet with Ringo – their first? (Not including Flaming Pie’s Beautiful Night, which wasn’t really a duet as such). I love that it’s a love letter to Liverpool as they sing about their childhood in the city, and it’s a good little bop, too.
Lyrics: The lady on the hill was drinking brandy / Eating caviar, the perfect host / My mum was in the kitchen washing dishes in the sink / And then she burnt the toast
Life Can Be Hard
I think this was the only song I’d heard prior to this album listen, and I’d only heard the first minute or so. His vocal is struggling a little here with singing in a higher register. This has an old-time sound to it, which I quite like.
Lyrics: Maybe the starlight that shines in her eyes / Sings to the moon in her hair / Each time we meet, there’s a look of surprise / She sprinkles love everywhere
First Star of the Night
Wasn’t sure if I was keen on this one, musically. It’s nice but can’t really say much more about it than that. Okay, warmed to it a little more as it went on. Another which will need a few more listens to get a handle on.
Lyrics: Even when it’s raining inside / Something tells me it’s alright / Positive emotions that died seem to come back / Shining bright like the first star of the night
Salesman Saint
Not sure I’m keen on this one either, musically. The lyrics are far more interesting in which he speaks about his parents and their struggles.
Lyrics: My father was a salesman / My mother was a saint / Working every God-given minute / To make enough to pay the rent
Momma Gets By
A lovely song to end the album. A little bit schmaltzy, music-wise? Yes, but I think this is an album where the lyrics take centre-stage. This time the focus is on his mother, Mary McCartney, and her love for her husband.
Lyrics: She doesn’t care, she’s got her own philosophy of life / It wasn’t too long ago that she agreed to be his wife / And even though he’s complicated, she takes it in her stride / What are his silly faults compared to what she feels inside?
Final Thoughts: I did wonder if I would like this album before I listened to it. As mentioned, these notes were from that initial first listen and, while, I do like quite a few tracks, nothing immediately hooked me from the off. I’ll need several more listens before I decide if this is an album I’ll return to often
I do think that the magic is definitely found in the lyrics of some of the tracks, rather than the music (I’m someone who gravitates to the sound of a song first, and then focus on the words). And there does seem to be a mix of, at least on the surface, love songs and ones in which he’s remembering his younger days.
Anyway, at the end of the day, we’re in a world where Paul McCartney is still around and releasing music, and that can only be a good thing.
