Dear Friend by Wings

Album: Wild Life (1971)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

This song was originally issued on the Wild Life album under the name Wings. It is an official Wings release without the "Paul McCartney" in front. This song was written as a response to the musical and personal battle between McCartney and John Lennon after the Beatles breakup. Beginning with the McCartney album, John was offended by the song "Teddy Boy," which he felt contained personal references to him, as well as "Dear Boy" and "Too Many People" from Ram. John responded as well in his first recording as the Plastic Ono Band by specifically mentioning Paul's name in the song "I Found Out."

Lennon then blasted Paul on "How Do You Sleep?" from his Imagine album, but Paul tried to make peace with the conciliatory "Dear Friend."
Paul is quoted in the biography Band on the Run as saying each member of the Beatles was influenced by outside forces that would pit them against one another. He explained further that they never hated each other but paranoia and frustration would boil over, and as songwriters their only outlet was to express themselves in song. In this song Paul is attempting to tell John his true feelings.

George Harrison also commented on the affairs in the Beatles breakup in songs such as "Isn't It a Pity," "Wah-Wah," and "Sue Me, Sue You Blues." >>
Suggestion credit:
Dick - Barboursville, WV, for above 2
Speaking in a 2018 Q&A about Wild Life on PaulMccartney.com, Macca admitted he struggles to listen to "Dear Friend" when it gets played now. "I have to sort of choke it back," he said.

McCartney added that he's telling Lennon it's time to make amends after all the disputes they had about The Beatles' breakup.

Dear friend, throw the wine,
I'm in love with a friend of mine.
Really truly, young and newly wed.
Are you a fool, or is it true?

"That lyric: 'Really truly, young and newly wed.' Listening to that was like, 'Oh my God, it's true!,'" he said. "I'm trying to say to John, 'Look, you know, it's all cool. Have a glass of wine. Let's be cool.' And luckily we did get it back together, which was like a great source of joy because it would have been terrible if he'd been killed as things were at that point and I'd never got to straighten it out with him."

Comments: 14

Patricia Powell from Fort Worth, TexasDear Friend was written as a conciliatory song to John. He was referring to Linda as the friend he was in love with...really truly young and newly wed. I believe with my whole heart that John and Paul were each other’s first love. That doesn’t mean bed partners which some are inferring. Get real and grow up.
Eli from Philadelphia, PaHow Do You Sleep predated Dear Friend by at least a month or two. I think Paul was trying to be the bigger man here amidst the feud with John.
Anonymous from Dedra From NyOf course Paul is telling John that he is in with a friend of his who obviously is LINDA! Really truly young and newly wed.. so obvious.
Cb From Canada from CanadaIn interviews with McCartney he says it was written for John as a response to the breakup of the Beatles, and doesn't say anything about it being related to Lennon's song at all.
Angela from NcPaul obviously couldn't admit that Dear Boy is addressed to John, because he sounds like a jilted lover in it.
Angela from NcThe Paul in "I Found Out" is the apostle Paul.
Angela from NcWhen he says "I'm in love with a friend of mine" who does he refer to? I dare ask, is it John? - Aleen from Los Ageles, Ca

Who else? The song is about John. He also used the phrase "a friend of mine" on RAM and it definitely wasn't Linda.
Angela from Nc"Paul is so sweet after all the crap John said about him" - Olivia from Philadelphia, PA

After Paul crap talked John on RAM, yeah he was back to being sweet.
Steve from TotnesDear Boy is addressed to Linda's previous partner, Melville See.
Ladaladunka from Zelenograd When he says "I'm in love with a friend of mine" who does he refer to? I dare ask, is it John? Aleen - Los Angeles, Ca

I think it is john that he refers to.
Ladaladunka from Zelenograd This songs is like a truce. I think people will relate to it when you have a bad argument with those people who are close to you friends or family.
Aleen from Los Angeles, CaWhen he says "I'm in love with a friend of mine" who does he refer to? I dare ask, is it John?
Olivia from Philadelphia, PaPaul is so sweet after all the crap John said about him
Andrew from London, United KingdomNot going to cry...not going to cry...

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Cheeseburger in ParadiseJimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger In Paradise" has muenster (cheese), not mustard, as commonly misheard in the line "medium rare with muenster'd be nice."

Stay With MeSam Smith

A gospel choir appears in Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" video, but the vocals on the song are all Smith - about 20 tracks of his voice were used to make him sound like a chorus.

I Kissed a GirlKaty Perry

Katy Perry's breakout hit, "I Kissed A Girl," was surprising to those familiar with her past: Her parents were pastors and she started off singing Christian music.

Everything Your Heart DesiresHall & Oates

The Hall & Oates hit "Everything Your Heart Desires" has no rhymes.

Human NatureMichael Jackson

Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" was written by the keyboard player from Toto, who was working on the Thriller album.

Freedom Of ChoiceDevo

The Devo song "Freedom Of Choice" is about mindless consumerism - how people like to make frivolous choices, but otherwise want to be told what to do.