I am distressingly obsessed with McCartney’s 1982 album Tug of War now.

I’m just curious if others have thoughts on this album? I can’t find much mainstream thought on it, due to the “McCartney writes about nothing” phenomenon as well as the “McCartney says nothing means much” phenomenon. Drives me crazy. This album obviously means A LOT.

But one things that seems to obfuscate it from casual perspective is that a lot of it was prepped during the early 1980s, after Coming Up becomes a hit and after McCartney II is received. And…after McCartney gets word that Lennon is now in the studio, recording for the first time.

Message received?

To me, this is the decision point in whether this McLennon back and forth code exists or not.

Synchronicity is a pretty powerful brain phenomenon, and it’s pretty stretchin’ to make the case for cherry picked Wing’s singles after the live ‘76 album (which is so ripe with every example you might pick, cmon, but AFTER). I CAN make post ‘76 cases…but they’re weaker. But suddenly. McCartney II comes out and uses every code phrase you might have thought.

McCartney hears Lennon has responded and started recording an album. And he records half the demos for Tug of War. Somehow the mainstream press if they touch it at all records this as one upping. What??

McCartney after Lennon’s death can’t finish the album until 1982. 1981 being the only year he has ever not published music.

The transitions of these demos, what he keeps, what morphs entirely…are so powerful. The most famous song Here Today is widely known. The mainstream accepts that one song, but what about what follows?? To me, the most emotionally raw part of the album directly follows the famous song. I can’t think of anything that is as powerful as the three song set Ballroom Dancing/The Pound is Falling/Wanderlust. Well, except the opening song Tug of War. I simply don’t understand why it has been so overlooked as a masterpiece.

The acknowledged song Here Today is more famous, because it is one of the very few McCartney had explicitly said is about Lennon. It is less natural for McCartney because it’s so direct. It demonstrates a lot that McCartney tried to be so direct for once, but his stronger emotional expression in his own form can arguably be seen throughout this album.

My dad played a game of tug-o-war with an octopus in a dark alley, and I was the rope.

Ok so the bit of “Tug of War” that I want to talk about is

In years to come they may discover

What the air we breathe and the life we lead

Are all about

But it won't be soon enough

Soon enough for me

No it won't be soon enough

Soon enough for me

Because it’s too late without John, right? That’s what I’m hearing anyway.

Fun with a Towel, After the Bath, 1982

tug of war is so fun, literally the predator nonhuman sport

Here's the proper way to contract "handkerchiefs."

Source details and larger version.

I have some rather fun vintage bear imagery collected here.

What is your one Beatle solo career song that you will go to war for? Maybe a lesser known one (ex. not Imagine or Maybe I’m Amazed or All Things Must Pass)

Mine is Wanderlust off of Tug Of War. Its one of the most powerful melodic power ballads I’ve ever heard and it still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

The first time I ever heard it, I was maybe 8. It came on at a dinner party my parents were hosting and because I knew how to operate the CD player I remember I snuck over and pressed “back” to replay the track literally ten times before my dad had to tell me to stop it.

Dogs just wanna have fun.

Tug of War • Part 2

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Tug of War (12)

Steve Rogers x black!reader

Summary: Y/N caught the attention of her boss, who’s determined to win her over

A/N: it’s time :) this chapter may be a bit shorter than the others BUT i have PLANS and IDEAS (more apologies for never updating- trust me i hate myself for it)

Warning: none :)

SERIES MASTERLIST

It was around 2 am when Steve woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. He looked at where you were lying beside him, still deeply asleep. He leaned down to press a kiss to your cheek before slowly getting out of bed and walking out of the room. He walked into one of the guest bedrooms, went over to the bedside table, and pulled the drawer open, taking out a small velvet box. He sat on the bed, opening the box and admiring the diamond ring that sat inside. From the moment you guys started dating, Steve knew he would make you his wife. It wasn’t even a question, he just had to plan out the perfect proposal. He’d always think about you taking his last name, or hyphenating it if that’s what you wanted, you being the perfect little housewife for him, having married couple sex, having babies- that last thought makes him particularly feral and he can’t wait for the day you tell him that you’re ready to have kids. 

He was so focused on envisioning himself on one knee proposing to you that he didn’t hear your soft footsteps coming toward the room. “I’m sure whatever you’re looking at isn’t more important than sleeping with me” your voice carried through the room as Steve flinched and stood up, quickly closing the box and hiding it the best he could. “Y-Yeah um, I’m sorry flower I was having trouble sleeping” 

Your eyes ran over Steve’s body, looking at his hands that were currently clasped behind his back. “What are you hiding?” you walked into the room to stand in front of him, crossing your arms over your chest. Steve did his best to not give away his emotions through his face but he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. “Nothing, just looking at something” he answered, hoping he was doing his best to convince you (he knew he was failing, let him be delusional for a bit). “Uh huh” you nodded your head “You’re already caught Steve so just ask” you said with a smirk as you watched his eyes widen a bit. “You saw…?” he asked softly. You smiled at him and went to run a hand through his hair “A small velvet box yes” You grinned and set a hand on his cheek. “So?” you said expectantly. 

Steve looked into your gorgeous brown eyes, thinking about how much he loves you. And if you already saw the box, well, he has no choice. He pressed a kiss to your forehead before moving to kneel on one knee, taking your left hand in his. He could see the tears threatening to spill from your eyes and it made him start to tear up as well. 

“Y/N…I love you so much flower, my peony, my baby. You have been such a beaming light in my life since the moment we met. I never told you this, but I’ve noticed you around the office before and I thought you were absolutely gorgeous. The day we met I was so fucking happy to talk to you. You were even more gorgeous up close and you immediately had me wrapped around your pretty finger. I love waking up next to you, coming home to you, sleeping in the same bed, when I’m not with you it feels like a part of me is missing. You are the love of my life and I want us to have an eternity together, loving each other. So, peony, will you marry me?” 

At the end of his speech, Y/N was trying (and failing) to hold back her tears but it was no use. She smiled down at Steve with tears streaming down her cheeks as she replied with an enthusiastic “Yes! Yes of course I’ll marry you! I’m gonna be Mrs. Rogers” You squealed as Steve grinned and took the ring out of the box sliding it onto your finger before standing up to pull you into a passionate kiss. 

Steve broke the kiss, pressing your foreheads together. “You’re my fiance” he said softly, running a hand up and down your back  “We’re getting married” you said back to him and smiled before kissing him again. 

Now it was time to give you the wedding of your dreams.

taglist: @ljstraightnochaser @pastelbabygirl19  @datsavageavenger

Paul recently talking about the line “What about the night we cried” and Key West:

“And ‘the night we cried,’ that was to do with a time when we were in Key West, down in Florida. And for some reason, I think it was like a Hurricane, and something had been delayed and we couldn’t play for a couple of days. So we hold up in a little motel. […]

So, what would we do? Well, we’d have a drink. And we would get drunk. We didn’t have to play, so we did that night, we got drunk. And uh, started to get kind of emotional, ‘Ah you were great when you, I love that…’ and we started, it all came out you know. But it was lovely. And then we threw up. [laughs]

But on the way to that, there was a lot of soul searching and you know, we told each other a few truths you know, ‘Well I love you man. I love that you said that…’ and we opened up. So that was kind of special to me. I think that was really one of the only times that ever happened.

[…] 

But this one night in Key West we really kind of opened up to each other and it was always a very special night to me because of that. And you know, we opened up so much that we started crying together. So it was a great memory for me—still is to this day. Where we actually got to be real, and we bonded, even more than we bonded just by being in a group.”

Tug of war mai almost hath paon chilwa liye

But hey atleast we won by 2-1🤡🤝

Paul McCartney talking with his hands - From the Tug of War (1980) official music video