On that fateful day, December 8, 1980, the world lost a legend when John Lennon was tragically shot and killed by Mark David Chapman outside the iconic Dakota building in New York City. The news sent shockwaves around the globe, deeply affecting everyone, including Paul McCartney, who had managed to mend fences with Lennon in the years prior.
Paul McCartney, now 81, recently shared his raw emotions during an episode of the iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries’ “McCartney: A Life in Lyrics” podcast, aired on December 6. He admitted, “It was absolutely devastating… In the end, though, I found a sense of relief knowing that we had shared some truly beautiful moments together before his untimely death.”
He elaborated, “It would have been the worst thing imaginable if John had been taken from us while we were still at odds. I’d have been consumed with regret, thinking, ‘Why didn’t I do more to mend things?’ That would’ve been a heavy burden of guilt for me to carry.”
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Revisiting the Beatles Legacy
This heartfelt confession came just a couple of years after Paul released Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, where he reflected on how the Beatles’ breakup altered his relationship with Lennon. “When the band broke up and everyone was scrambling to find their footing, John turned quite hostile,” he wrote in his 2021 memoir, as reported by People.
“I don’t fully grasp why he became so bitter. Perhaps it’s because we grew up in Liverpool, where throwing the first punch was often seen as a smart move,” Paul mused.
The Breakup and Its Aftermath
John Lennon officially announced his departure from the band in 1969, leaving Paul to deal with the aftermath. “Too Many People” was penned as a response to Lennon’s treatment of him during that tumultuous period. “Back then, John was launching verbal missiles at me. I didn’t know what he hoped to achieve other than hurting me. And that really got under my skin,” Paul confessed.
“Eventually, I decided to retaliate with my own missiles… At the time, I was mostly keeping quiet about John and the Beatles’ split. I didn’t have many grievances to throw his way, but he sure had plenty for me. Those barbs were sharp and painful, and they were all directed at me. So, I had to endure it, even though it hurt,” he added.
Despite all the disagreements, Paul remained grateful for the incredible music they created together during their time in the band. “We’d have a spat over something, and he’d say something particularly cutting. I’d feel wounded, but then he’d push down his glasses, look at me, and say, ‘It’s only me, Paul,’” Paul wrote. “That was John. ‘It’s only me.’ Oh, alright, you just went off and that was someone else, was it? It was his shield talking.”
Paul’s Complex Relationship with Yoko Ono
During the podcast episode, Paul also touched on his complicated history with Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. “John would make comments in some of his songs, suggesting that the Beatles were nothing, that they were rubbish,” the Grammy-winning artist recalled. “Yoko would say, ‘Paul never did anything. All he did was book the studio.’ I’d have to read all that stuff, and on one hand, I’d think, ‘Oh, screw off, John, you idiot.’ That’s my main feeling. But on the other hand, I’d wonder, ‘Why would you say that? Are you annoyed at me, or are you jealous?’”
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