When I'm 64.

June 18, 2006 1:49 PM

So Paul McCartney is 64, Now What?[NYT] Sir James Paul McCartney turns sixty-four today. Will we still need him? Will we still feed him? Probably not, given his recent divorce. Happy Birthday anyway!
posted by grapefruitmoon (62 comments total)

Huh? What does feeding him have to do with his divorce? Why did he get divorced anyway?
posted by delmoi at 1:53 PM on June 18, 2006

I'm assuming it means that his now ex-wife won't be feeding him any more, if ever she did.
posted by darkstar at 1:57 PM on June 18, 2006

Very droll.
posted by Effigy2000 at 2:00 PM on June 18, 2006

He will probably be fed. Do we still need him, (since he's the imposter - Paul is dead!- )is the question.
posted by Balisong at 2:02 PM on June 18, 2006

Huh? What does feeding him have to do with his divorce?

When I get older losing my hair
many years from now
will you still be sending me a valentine
birthday greeting, bottle of wine
If I'd been out till quarter to three
would you lock the door
Will you still need me
Will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four

Freakin newbie.
posted by kjh at 2:09 PM on June 18, 2006

man, do i feel old
posted by pyramid termite at 2:16 PM on June 18, 2006

Paul McCartney gets asked by a news reporter if he'd ever consider going down on one knee again. He replies "actually, I'd prefer it you'd call her Heather..."

(I'm so sorry.)
posted by afx237vi at 2:23 PM on June 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Only married people get food.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 2:29 PM on June 18, 2006

"Proof that The Beatles are dying in the reverse order of what they should've."

Mark Steel on McCartney's "Freedom , freedom, I love freedom" song.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 2:36 PM on June 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

Fuck McCartney, and why we talking about this on Mefi?
posted by Vindaloo at 2:48 PM on June 18, 2006

Fuck McCartney, and why we talking about this on Mefi?
posted by Vindaloo at 2:48 PM PST

Woudl you rather talk about something George Bush did as a teenager?
posted by rough ashlar at 2:52 PM on June 18, 2006

These articles are so easy and obvious. I'm sure they've already had them written for a few years, in anticipation.
I'm more of a George Harrison person, but I feel for Paul. He must have been dreading this birthday.
posted by chococat at 2:59 PM on June 18, 2006

Fuck McCartney, and why we talking about this on Mefi?

Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed of nails this morning?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:59 PM on June 18, 2006

(I'm so sorry.)
posted by afx237vi

Nonsense! Thanks much!
posted by cavalier at 3:18 PM on June 18, 2006

I agree with Vindaloo completely.
posted by Floach at 3:22 PM on June 18, 2006

"Proof that The Beatles are dying in the reverse order of what they should've."

hey ! thats my joke !
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:28 PM on June 18, 2006

"Fuck McCartney, and why we talking about this on Mefi?"

is easily answered by

"Paul McCartney gets asked by a news reporter if he'd ever consider going down on one knee again. He replies 'Actually, I'd prefer it you'd call her Heather...'"
posted by klangklangston at 3:30 PM on June 18, 2006

A few more Mills McCartney jokes from Sickipedia.
posted by TheDonF at 3:31 PM on June 18, 2006

anyway , its ringo next isnt it ?
poor , plucky loveable ringo . McCartney's going to end up the Davros of pop or something.
posted by sgt.serenity at 3:33 PM on June 18, 2006

given his recent divorce

Recent divorce? The one-legged slapper only moved out last week.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:48 PM on June 18, 2006

anyway , its ringo next isnt it ?

Oh, I dunno, I can imagine Ringo capering goatlike to an indecent old age, while Paul gets run over by a bus during a stoned attempt to save a day-old baby lamb fallen into a roadside ditch.



The lamb survives, only to be made into merguez sausages six days after it's first birthday.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:15 PM on June 18, 2006

So why did he divorce ole pegleg anyway?
posted by delmoi at 4:16 PM on June 18, 2006

Happy Birthday Paul!



May you have a long and healthy life. Thanks for decades of amazing songs.

Having sung Beatles' lyrics since I was a kid, I feel a deep affection and connection with all the Beatles and their music. John was my fav in 5th grade when it was important which Beatle was one's fav. I was proud of John's creativity and political stand, angry when Yoko seemed to be scapegoated.

Paul seemed too commercial for my taste. But he was the first Beatle to admit using LSD, that was brave in those days. And he wrote some brilliant songs. I love his Yesterday. It's hard to believe he's 64. He wrote that song when he was 16 years old.

Also I respect that he stayed married to Linda all those years. He seemed to be a good dad too. (Happy Father's Day to all the good fathers out there.) His mother died of breast cancer when he was only 14. Then, 4 years after his former wife died of breast cancer, he married a woman who not only was surviving uterine cancer, didn't think she could have a kid, but also had a leg amputated and managed with a prosthesis. He seems like a decent human being. And now going through his first divorce.

afx237vi, That was a bad joke! lol You're a naughty taughty.

For those who didn't already know, When I'm Sixty-Four comes from the great album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. With A Little Help From My Friends
3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
4. Getting Better
5. Fixing A Hole
6. She's Leaving Home
7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
8. Within You Without You
9. When I'm Sixty-Four
10. Lovely Rita
11. Good Morning Good Morning
12. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
13. A Day In The Life



YouTube Beatles videos. Google Beatles videos.
posted by nickyskye at 4:38 PM on June 18, 2006

Fuck McCartney, and why we talking about this on Mefi?
Vindaloo, fuck you. Christ, what is happening to this place.
posted by ghastlyfop at 4:43 PM on June 18, 2006

kjh, of course we know the lyric in the song (I'm assuming delmoi did). But the question was specifically related to the connection with the divorce, hence the reply.

Anyway, cool song. We sang it to our boss (a very neat fella) a few years back when he turned 64. I'm SURE that's never been done before.

In any event, as one Britain's richest men, I doubt he'll have any problem feeding himself. Or getting a dozen shiny helpers (organic or robotic) to do it for him.
posted by darkstar at 4:52 PM on June 18, 2006

What a bunch of wankers we have flapping their lips in this thread.

Paul has written a ton of good music which has and will continue to stand the test of time. My favorite may be "Long and Winding Road." And yes, hats off to him for having a long and apparently happy marriage to his first wife, Linda. That's hard to pull off in or out of show business these days. So his second marriage didn't work out. I bet quite a few mefites will have a marriage go down the crapper on them too in the coming years. We may have some candidates typing away here as we speak.

As for the comments about his future ex-wife having lost one leg, do you also make fun of folks in wheelchairs as they go by. Ugh. Hopefully, Maxwell's Silver Hammer will go bang bang on your heads for those comments. Idiots.
posted by bim at 4:55 PM on June 18, 2006

"So why did he divorce ole pegleg anyway?"

With only one leg she didn't have room for Vera, Chuck, and Dave.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:57 PM on June 18, 2006

Well, now is no better a time to improv the lyrics to "when I'm 74"
posted by samsara at 4:59 PM on June 18, 2006

GYOFPMB
posted by joe lisboa at 5:04 PM on June 18, 2006

Excuse me , but Paul McCartney is but a pale imitation of Cliff Richard.
posted by sgt.serenity at 5:23 PM on June 18, 2006

yeah, cliff "i had one lousy top ten hit in the usa" richard ... phooey
posted by pyramid termite at 5:45 PM on June 18, 2006

It's my birthday, too, yeah!
posted by debgpi at 6:00 PM on June 18, 2006

Excuse me , but Paul McCartney is but a pale imitation of Cliff Richard.

And Sir Cliff is really just George Formby with a makeover.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:17 PM on June 18, 2006

I bet he doesn't have to scrimp and save to take a vacation to the Isle of Wight.
posted by darukaru at 6:17 PM on June 18, 2006

A few people have mentioned Paul's song "Yesterday" and "The Long and Winding Road." Besides those lovely ballads, Paul was responsible for some of the Beatle's more rocking numbers: "Helter Skelter," "Back in the USSR," and "I'm Down" to name a few. Let's not forget his guitar work in "Taxman" and "Good Morning" also.

Yeah, John was always the cool one, but happy birthday Paul, you've given us some great songs.
posted by marxchivist at 6:28 PM on June 18, 2006

Happy Birthday Paul -- and thanks for songs that are on the soundtrack of so many peoples' lives!
posted by ericb at 6:29 PM on June 18, 2006

debgpi, Happy Birthday! :) Woo hoo!



posted by nickyskye at 6:33 PM on June 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

He's proof that all good musical artists should die young.
posted by nightchrome at 6:40 PM on June 18, 2006

posted by fire&wings at 6:41 PM on June 18, 2006

He's proof that all good musical artists should die young.

That's such a crock.

What, people are to exist for your shallow delectation and then kick the bucket? What narcissistic crap and ugliness, trying to pose as cool. Pathetic.

There are plenty of musicians/artists who do brilliant work when they are older. Many also go on to help other younger musicians succeed, create innovative studios, do good works, contribute to the planet in good ways, as Paul does and has done. Paul created a prolific amount of excellent work as a kid and young man and could afford to do nothing with the money/fame he accumulated but on top of still being a musician, painting and being a father of four kids, he still contributes his energy to advocate for animal rights, landmine action, vegetarianism and music education.
posted by nickyskye at 7:00 PM on June 18, 2006

What, people are to exist for your shallow delectation and then kick the bucket?

Yeah, pretty much.

advocate for ... vegetarianism

For that alone he's outlived his welcome.

Metafilter: narcissistic crap and ugliness, trying to pose as cool
posted by nightchrome at 7:22 PM on June 18, 2006

Paul was my favourite Beatle when I was a kid. I remember being embarrassed by my old allegiance when I was a young punk in the 70s, but I really don't give a fuck any more. He's written and performed some damn fine songs and had one long and happy marriage. Good for him.

(That picture of Heather a couple of posts above is weirdly evocative of the cover of Red Rose Speedway, although Paul failed to capitalize on the rise of glam rock and didn't feature some gent licking whipped cream from his face. Pity.*)

* waves to Canadians of a certain age*
posted by rosemere at 7:24 PM on June 18, 2006

Metafilter: narcissistic crap and ugliness, trying to pose as cool

Speak for yourself.
posted by nickyskye at 7:26 PM on June 18, 2006

I do believe I did.
posted by nightchrome at 7:28 PM on June 18, 2006

Fuck McCartney, and why we talking about this on Mefi?
posted by Vindaloo at 5:48 PM EST on June 18 [+fave] [!]

How many gold records has your lame band produced? Go suck eggs.
posted by caddis at 7:35 PM on June 18, 2006

I bet he doesn't have to scrimp and save to take a vacation to the Isle of Wight.

"Arthur could almost imagine Paul McCartney sitting with his feet up by the fire on evening, humming it to Linda and wondering what to buy with the proceeds, and thinking probably Essex."
- Life, the Universe & Everything.
posted by scalefree at 7:38 PM on June 18, 2006

I'm not sure that's the argument you really want to invoke, caddis. Kelly Clarkson, and all.
posted by joe lisboa at 7:39 PM on June 18, 2006

Gold records just don't mean anything anymore do they? Poor Vindaloo still doesn't have one at these bargain rates though.
posted by caddis at 7:49 PM on June 18, 2006

man, do i feel old
posted by pyramid termite

.
posted by taosbat at 8:54 PM on June 18, 2006

He's proof that all good musical artists should die young.

Oh sure. Nothing signifies talent like dying young from a drug overdose after you made a total mess of your life. What a crock of shit. :rolls eyes:
posted by bim at 9:24 PM on June 18, 2006

I don't think people realize what an amazing songwriter Paul McCartney is. Most Beatles songs are attributed to both McCartney and Lennon, but most of the time, it was one or the other. For example, on Sgt. Pepper's, McCartney wrote "Fixing a Hole", "Lovely Rita", "Getting Better", "She's Leaving Home" and the song "Sgt. Pepper's". The best song on the album, in my opinion is "A Day in the Life". In that song, McCartney wrote the middle section (including the line "I'd Love to turn you on.") and the orchestration at the end. That orchestration is one of the most amazing pieces of music ever recorded on a rock album.

Also, Paul McCartney has written some of the most beautiful love songs ever written. If you need proof that he is still a capable song writer, listen to "Calico Skies" on Flaming Pie.

Lennon was "cool", but a little too gimmicky and less timeless as McCartney. George Harrison was an amazing musician, but his songwriting is much less prolific than McCartney's.
posted by Titania at 10:31 PM on June 18, 2006 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure that's the argument you really want to invoke, caddis. Kelly Clarkson, and all.

1) call us back 40 years from now when she's still making records

2) i heard her latest single on the radio the other day ... i liked it ... sue me
posted by pyramid termite at 10:38 PM on June 18, 2006

Lennon was "cool", but a little too gimmicky and less timeless as McCartney.

Whoa, not sure I'd go that far. (I agree with everything Bim said except the mediocre songs cited.) I don't think the beatles are any more timeless than (say) Outkast or Kraftwerk or the Pixies or Debussy. But something doesn't have to be timeless to be great. (And happy birthday.)
posted by Tlogmer at 2:04 AM on June 19, 2006

Speaking of Kelly Clarkson -- who writes her songs, anyway? I wish they'd get some fucking credit once in awhile.
posted by Tlogmer at 2:05 AM on June 19, 2006

Not that I really like Kelly Clarkson, but seriously: why aren't the people who wrote "Toxic" famous? That was a good fucking song. It's not fair for the singer (that would be Britney Spears) to get all the credit (or whatever it is she gets -- recognition).
posted by Tlogmer at 2:11 AM on June 19, 2006

Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face
that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Father McKenzie, writing the words
of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks
in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby, died in the church
and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt
from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
posted by weinbot at 7:33 AM on June 19, 2006

Not that I really like Kelly Clarkson, but seriously: why aren't the people who wrote "Toxic" famous?

One of them was Cathy Dennis who had a fairly short-lived pop career in the UK. If you check out that Wikipedia link, she has written some massively successful music now that she's "just" writing and not performing.
posted by TheDonF at 9:55 AM on June 19, 2006

I'm reminded of a criticism Lennon once leveled at McCartney's songwriting: "granny rock".

Lennon preferred the more edgy and political. A lot of the most beautiful (to my reckoning) Beatles songs were "granny rock", like Elanor Rigby, and not the kind of music Lennon preferred to be doing.

McCartney's surely earned his money and kudos, imho.
posted by darkstar at 10:15 AM on June 19, 2006

*Eleanor
posted by darkstar at 10:18 AM on June 19, 2006

poor old boy
posted by jne1813 at 10:34 AM on June 19, 2006

McCartney didn't write the orchestrated part of "A Day in the Life".
He had an idea for a chaotic orchestral section, but The Beatle's producer George Martin had to write a rough score. He told the mostly conservative orchestra to play whatever they wanted until the 24th bar and then hit the highest note their instrument could hit near an E-major chord.
Anyway, happy birthday.
posted by splatta at 12:06 PM on June 19, 2006

Lennon's not always beautiful, but music is not always meant to be beautiful. "Working Class Hero" is about as beautiful as a punch in the face.

Not that there's anything wrong with McCartney and his silly love songs.
posted by blucevalo at 1:11 PM on June 19, 2006