Wild Life

Album: Wild Life (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The inspiration for "Wild Life" came from Paul McCartney going on an African safari and seeing a sign reading "the animals have the right of way." It made him reflect on our duty to care for the creatures that share our planet. "You just realize the sort of dignity and strength of wild animals because here they've got the right of way," he said in an interview on Paulmccartney.com. "Whereas we're all so full of our own importance. It's kind of nice, you know. You're just a guy in a Land Rover. You don't matter so much! So that was why I wrote that song. Man, you know, we're the 'top species,' and yet we're the ones who eff it up, which is not right."
  • On July 9, 1972, Wings set out on a concert tour of Europe in a double-decker bus. McCartney thought it would provide live recordings to be included on a future album, but fans had a long wait for the record. Finally, in 2018, McCartney released the limited edition box set Wings 1971-73, which included a newly compiled live album, Wings Over Europe. Track 15 is a live version of "Wild Life," recorded at the band's August 21, 1972 show at The Hague.
  • "Wild Life" is the title track of Wings' debut studio album, McCartney's third after leaving the Beatles. Recorded between July 25 and August 2, 1971 at Abbey Road Studios, the band released it on December 7, 1971. The critics dismissed the record, slamming it as rushed and lightweight. The public reacted in a lukewarm manner too – it only peaked at #10 on the US albums chart and #11 in McCartney's native UK.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

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.