The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

The book is arranged chronologically, from early Beatles songs like "Love Me Do" to later solo works such as "New" and "Queenie Eye". Each entry includes the full lyrics, a short commentary by McCartney, and often facsimiles of handwritten manuscripts or typed drafts. The commentaries are conversational and anecdotal, offering insights into his songwriting methods, such as the use of a tape recorder to capture melodies, and his collaborations with John Lennon. The anthology is not a complete lyric collection; McCartney chose songs that he felt had a story worth telling, omitting many instrumentals and some lesser-known tracks.

Critics generally praised the book for its intimate, personal tone and its visual appeal. Reviewers in The Guardian and The New York Times noted that the commentaries provide a rare glimpse into McCartney's creative mind, though some felt that the entries were uneven, with certain songs receiving more detailed treatment than others. The book was a commercial success, reaching the top of bestseller lists in the UK and US. It was also nominated for the 2022 National Book Critics Circle Award in the Autobiography category, though it did not win.

One notable detail is that the book's title echoes the 1973 compilation album The Beatles 1967–1970, often called the "Blue Album", but it is not an official tie-in. McCartney's commentary occasionally corrects long-held myths, such as the origin of "Yesterday" — he clarifies that the melody came to him in a dream, but the initial lyrics were "Scrambled eggs". The book also includes a few songs that were never released as singles, such as "Calico Skies" and "Riding to Vanity Fair", which McCartney considers personal favorites. Additionally, the anthology features a foreword by the poet Paul Muldoon, who helped edit the commentaries, and it was designed by the London-based studio Here Design, which incorporated archival materials from McCartney's personal collection.

The publication of The Lyrics coincided with McCartney's 80th birthday year and was part of a broader wave of Beatles-related retrospectives. It stands alongside other autobiographical works by the band members, such as John Lennon's interviews and George Harrison's I Me Mine, but it is unique in its focus on the craft of lyric writing. The book has been used in university courses on popular music and creative writing, and it has been praised for its educational value. In 2022, an audiobook version was released, featuring McCartney reading his commentaries and discussing the songs with the actor and director Sam Mendes, adding another layer of intimacy to the project.

Allen Lane

An imprint of Penguin Books, the UK publisher of The Lyrics.

Liveright

An American publishing house, part of W. W. Norton & Company, that published the US edition.

Paul Muldoon

Irish poet and editor who contributed a foreword and assisted with the book's editing.

Here Design

London-based design studio responsible for the book's visual layout.