Too Many People

Paul McCartney

About Too Many People

"Too Many People" is a song by Paul McCartney from his and his wife Linda McCartney's 1971 album Ram as well as the B-side of the "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" single.


Year:
1971
4:09
218 
#1

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Too many people going underground
Too many reaching for a piece of cake
Too many people pulled and pushed around
Too many waiting for that lucky break

That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two

Too many people sharing party lines
Too many people never sleeping late
Too many people paying parking fines
Too many hungry people losing weight

That was your first mistake
You took your lucky break and broke it in two
Now what can be done for you?
You broke it in two

Too many people preaching practices
Don't let them tell you what you wanna be
Too many people holding back
This is crazy and baby, it's not like me

That was your last mistake
I find my love awake and waiting to be
Now what can be done for you?
She's waiting for me

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Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles, and his collaboration with Lennon is one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. After the group's break-up, he pursued a solo career, later forming the band Wings with his first wife, Linda, and singer-songwriter Denny Laine. more »

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Written by: PAUL MCCARTNEY

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Origin
"Too Many People" is a song by Paul McCartney from his 1971 album "Ram". It was the opening track on the album. This was the second album issued by McCartney after he left the Beatles in 1970.
Song Composition
McCartney wrote this song in Scotland and recorded it mostly in New York, with some final overdubbing and mixing carried out in Los Angeles.
Contributing Artists
The song features Paul McCartney on lead vocals and bass, Linda McCartney on backing vocals, David Spinozza on guitar, Hugh McCracken on guitar, and Denny Seiwell on drums.
Directed to Lennon
The lyrics of "Too Many People" were intended by McCartney as a message to his former Beatles bandmate John Lennon. According to McCartney, this song and a few others in "Ram" were "message songs", signaling Lennon that he was upset about how things had ended up between them.
Subtle Insult
One line in the song, "Too many people preaching practices," is considered as McCartney's critique of Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono's public peace demonstrations and avant-garde art exhibitions.
Not-so-subtle photograph
The album cover of "Ram", where the song "Too Many People" is featured, presents a photograph of Paul McCartney holding a ram by the horns. This is interpreted by many fans as a further dig at John Lennon suggesting that Paul was pulling the horns of the main Ram (Lennon) from the band.
Lennon's Reaction
In response to "Too Many People" and other songs on "Ram", Lennon wrote and recorded "How Do You Sleep?" on his "Imagine" album, as a strongly worded rebuttal.
Acclaim
Despite its infamy for the McCartney/Lennon feud, "Too Many People" is highly appreciated and considered a highlight of McCartney's post-Beatles career.
Solo Performance
In 2012, McCartney included "Too Many People" in his live performance for the first time in his extended On the Run tour.
Worth noting
"Too Many People" represents an early instance of McCartney's interest in environmentalism, with the song's title suggesting concerns over overpopulation.

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