Paul McCartney has given countless interviews over his legendary career, but there’s a reason fans are raving about his appearance on the latest episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Throughout their hour-plus conversation, McCartney is remarkably relaxed and unguarded, clearly charmed by Poehler, whose infectious personality is matched by her thoughtful, well-prepared interview style. The result is one of McCartney’s most candid and revealing Q&As in years, touching on everything from The Beatles and his relationship with music, to his personal life and breakfast routine.
At one point, McCartney tears up while reflecting on his late wife, Linda. At another, he breaks into a mock TikTok dance while impersonating modern music. As a bonus, the episode also features an appearance by McCartney’s daughter, Stella, who has her own unique wit and offers a rare glimpse into their father-daughter relationship and what it was like growing up a McCartney.
Below you can find some of the big takeaways, but the full episode is really worth a watch.
He Became Emotional Discussing His Late Wife Linda
“If you were at a dinner party and someone was eating meat, Linda would give them trouble: ‘Do you know what you’re eating?'”
“She had this Disney-esque view of animals. If we saw a frog in the garden, she’d pick it up, and the way she’d hold it, she wouldn’t hurt it. She’d say, ‘Mummy loves it,’ even to a frog.”
His Current Relationship with John, George, and Ringo
“I’m a fan. The more we go on, I’m a bigger fan. I’m a Beatles fan. I’ll hear something we did and I’ll remember writing it with John, and think, ‘Wow, I was really lucky to sit down and write with someone and he happens to be John Lennon.’ And I think the same for him with me.”
“I’ve become more a fan the more I think about them.”
McCartney’s Pre-Show Ritual
“I get up and have my breakfast. It’s really boring, it’s always the same: a bit of cereal, not too much. Berries, five raspberries, got to be five. A handful of blueberries tucked in, and a strawberry which I cut up… Add a few pecans and raisins.”
“In the morning, just water, no caffeine. I’m not a big coffee person; I’m English! Maybe one coffee in the middle of the day.”
On Modern Music
“Billie Eilish is cool, but I don’t think I’d want to have written her songs. A lot of songs these days are breakup songs, and I’m married!”
“Back in the day, I used to wish I’d written Billy Joel’s ‘Just the Way You Are.’ I always thought that was the kind of song I felt I could have written.”
“Nowadays, some of [the popular songs] are very banal… And then you’ve got to do the [TikTok dance with it].”
Note: McCartney actually impersonates a TikTok dance
He’d Still Like to Collaborate with Dylan, but He’s Still Too Intimidated by Him
“I’m too nervous to ring him up!”
He Listens to The Beatles Channel in His Car
“They have a Beatles channel on Sirius… and my driver knows to have it on. It’s a good channel.”
“He turned one [song] up because I couldn’t remember what the title was. I thought, ‘What’s this one?’ And when it played, I couldn’t even remember the song! It had just come and gone so fast. But a lot of them, like ‘Mull of Kintyre,’ I have very strong memories of.”
He’s Concerned About How He Is Portrayed in Film, Including in Sam Mendes’ Upcoming Beatles’ Biopics
“[The Beatles] were all the same height, and Ringo was a bit smaller. If you look at photos, we’re all the same height!”
“Sam Taylor-Johnson did a film called Nowhere Boy, and the John character, who she later married, is bigger than me in the film. My character is kind of wimpy, smaller than John, and John knocks me to the floor! I said, ‘Sam, this is not true!’ And her only explanation was, ‘This is a movie; it’s not a documentary.’
“And guess what? [Paul Mescal, who plays McCartney] is smaller than the guy who plays John [in the Beatles biopics]! I said to [director] Sam [Mendes], ‘I’ve got just one thing I need to say to you: Paul’s a bit small.’
“Sam sent me a still from the filming where they’re crossing the Abbey Road crossing, and the Paul character is markedly smaller. So I texted him, ‘Don’t do this! You said you wouldn’t do it.” He said, ‘No, it’s okay, it’s just the stride pattern.’ And then he sent me another one where they were equal!”
Rapid Fire Answers
Best decade for music? The ’60s
If you were an animal, what would you be? A horse
Favorite song you’ve written? “Here, There and Everywhere”
Nancy’s favorite song of yours? “Days We Left Behind”
Last concert you went to? Brandi Carlile