Junior's Farm

Album: Wings Greatest (1974)
Charted: 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This 1974 single was one of McCartney's biggest solo hits, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, continuing his success after "Band On The Run." At the time he wrote "Junior's Farm," he was staying at the Lebanon, Tennessee farm of Curly Putman Jr., which is how he got the title. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • The song's B-side, "Sally G," was recorded at the same in Nashville. It charted separately peaking at #17 on the Hot 100 as well as reaching the Country charts.
  • This was the last Paul McCartney song to be released on Apple Records.
  • The song was covered by the Heavy Metal band Galactic Cowboys on their 1996 EP Feel The Rage.
  • Putman was a songwriter from Nashville whose greatest success was "Green Green Grass Of Home." He told The Tennessean McCartney and Wings rented his farm for six weeks while recording in Nashville "for a pretty good little chunk of money." Meanwhile, Putman and his wife treated themselves to a trip to Hawaii.

    When Putman and his wife returned to their farm, McCartney saw them walking up the driveway. Macca and the band greeted them by playing "Green, Green Grass of Home."
  • Jimmy McCulloch, Wings lead guitarist and bassist from 1974 to 1977, made his debut with the band on this song.

Comments: 4

  • Rick from Fargo, NdThe are two stanzas of the lyrics missing.

    At the Houses of Parliament
    Ev'rybody's talking 'bout the President
    We all chip in for a bag of cement

    Olly Hardy should have had more sense
    He bought a gee-gee and he jumped the fence
    All for the sake of a couple of pence
  • Brad from Fl"Take me down Jimmy" is a reference of course to the gone-too-soon Jimmy McCulloch, who also played the memorable lead on the live version of "Maybe I'm Amazed".
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 5th 1975, "Junior's Farm" by Paul McCartney & Wings peaked at #3 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on November 3rd, 1974 and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #16 in the United Kingdom...
    The week that "Junior's Farm" peaked at #3 and record in the #1 position was a song composed by Lennon/McCartney, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", by Elton John...
    R.I.P. Ms. McCartney (1941 - 1998) and Sir Paul will celebrate his 72nd birthday come next June 18th.
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandReached #16 in the UK (was later re-released - with the same cat. no. - with the B-side, Sally G, as the new A-side)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.