Paul McCartney reveals who inspired him to write lyrics for ‘Yesterday’

Launched in 1965 in Help!fifth studio album by Beatles“Yesterday” became one of the main songs in the history of Fab Four – and only now that Paul McCartney revealed who inspired him to write one of the verses of the legendary song.

It is worth remembering how McCartney wrote the song alongside John Lennonwith whom he wrote several hits for the band, which was also formed by George Harrison (guitar) and Ringo Starr (battery). On the podcast A Life in Lyrics, McCartney detailed the creative process behind the verse “I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.”

According to the artist, the verse in question was subconsciously inspired by a conversation he had with his mother several years before writing the song. “Sometimes it’s only in retrospect that you can appreciate that. I clearly remember one day feeling really embarrassed because I embarrassed my mother,” he said.

“We were in the backyard and she was talking posh. She was of Irish descent and was a nurse, so she was above street level,” he continued. Paul McCartney. So she had something going for her and spoke what we thought was a bit elegant. And she was a bit Welsh too – she had connections, her aunt Dilys She was Welsh.”

I know she said something like, ‘Paul, can you ask him if he’s going to…’ I said ‘Arsk! Arsk!’ And she was a little embarrassed. I remember thinking later, ‘God, I wish I’d never said that.’ And that stayed with me. After she died I thought, ‘Oh, sh*t, I really wanted…’