Ever Present Past

Album: Memory Almost Full (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • McCartney told America Online (AOL) the details behind this song: "Sometimes I just sit down and try and write a Pop song. I've done it throughout my life and it's an interesting thing to do, to make something kind of catchy that might be attractive. It starts off, 'I've got too much on my plate.' The way I write I just follow that thought and think, 'What did I mean by that? Explain yourself.' So I think, 'Well what I meant was...' After I'd got the verse, this idea of my past, my 'Ever Present Past,' came about. No deep meaning in it. I think what happens with me is I just write a thing and people read into it. I like that because I think often you do things in a subliminal way you don't actually realize what you are doing. So something that I might think is a simple statement, somebody might go, 'Yeah, but it means that.' I like multiple meanings to these things even though I often start it off as a phrase that's really to help me write the song, to get me to the next bit."
  • Paul says the opening line to the song was taken from something his mother would say: "I have too much on my plate, no time to be a decent mother." He changed the last word to "lover" to make it appropriate for him to sing. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ken - Louisville, KY

Comments: 6

  • Olivia from Philadelphia, PaThis song was from 2007 I think. Paul has still got it! He is my favorite singer in the whole world! I am hoping that he will come to Philly again so I can see him. It has been my life long dream to see him in concert!
  • Ken from Louisville, KyThe whole album has references by Paul to his Beatles past. The line "The things I think I did" was him not being sure if his memories of those days are authentic or Beatle legends. In other words, he's wondering if he bought the myth, too.
  • George from Chicago, IlPaul remains as a good song writer and performer. His musicianship is first-rate, as always.
  • Amanda from Gretna, VtFirst time i heard this song and now i officially LOVE IT!
  • Ken from Louisville, KyPaul plays every instrument on this track. The album was a cross between "Driving Rain" where he had a backing band and "Chaos And Creation" where he played all the instruments. On "Memory Amost Full" he had a band for half the tracks and played all the instruments on the other half.
  • Kristina from Albuquerque, NmI love this song! One of the very few Beatles solo songs that would actually be worthy of being a Beatles song. Sometimes Paul just hits the nail on the head with expressing something that I can't express myself. This is one of those times. The whole album was really good.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.