Ebony and Ivory
Paul McCartney
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Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we? We all know that people are the same where ever you go There is good and bad in ev'ryone We learn to live, we learn to give Each other what we need to survive together alive Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord why don't we? Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony Ebony, ivory, ooh We all know that people are the same where ever you go There is good and bad in ev'ryone We learn to live, when we learn to give Each other what we need to survive together alive Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord why don't we? Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony Ebony, ivory living in perfect harmony
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Written by: Paul Mccartney
Lyrics © Tratore, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
Song Composition• "Ebony and Ivory" is a song written by Paul McCartney, a former member of the globally renowned British band, The Beatles.
• The song is a powerful collaboration with Stevie Wonder, an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who is widely regarded as one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century.
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Song Message• The song "Ebony and Ivory" is seen as a plea for racial harmony with metaphorical reference to the keys of a piano.
• The lyrics "Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my piano keyboard, why can't we?" clearly depict its message.
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Release and Commercial Performance• Columbia Records released this song in March 1982.
• The song lent its name to McCartney's album "Tug of War".
• It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in April 1982, spending three weeks at the top.
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Charts and Accolades• In the United States, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks, making it McCartney's third number-one hit in America as a solo artist.
• "Ebony and Ivory" also topped Billboard's R&B and Adult Contemporary charts.
• In 1982, it was named the Billboard Song of the Year.
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Grammy Nominations• The song was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1983 - Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
• However, it didn't win in any of these categories.
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Music Video• Two music videos were made: one featured McCartney and Wonder in the studio performing the song, while a second did not feature them together due to conflicting schedules.
• Wonder filmed his parts in the U.S., while McCartney's parts were filmed in the UK.
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Cultural Impact• Over the years, "Ebony and Ivory" has been covered by numerous artists, showcasing its broad appeal and enduring status.
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Citation
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"Ebony and Ivory Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 9 Feb. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1343928/Paul+McCartney/Ebony+and+Ivory>.
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