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Released in 2018

Do It Now

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on December 22, 2019


Album This song officially appears on the Egypt Station Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2018

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

Do It Now” is a track from 2018 album “Egypt Station“.  From “Words Between The Tracks” YouTube series:

“Do It Now” is an expression my dad used to say.
 
It’s funny, you know, as you get older, you remember things that your parents or maybe teachers or friends said, and if there is a catchphrase. And my dad’s big catchphrase was “do it now”. You know, you would sort of say, “No, well, I’ll do it later”, and he would say, “No, do it now”.
 
And he used to say “DIN” so that was just his particular little catchphrase. And I always thought, DIN, that’s a great name for a record label…
 
Anyway, this has always been in my mind, this “Do it now” thing. So I was looking for an idea to write this song about, so then I started off, okay, I’m on a journey, I’ve been invited to go somewhere, so if I’m going in my imagination somewhere, and the idea is that if I don’t do it now, I may never get to this place. Basically it’s a song, an imaginary journey suggested by the fact that my dad would have said, “Go on that journey now, don’t leave it till it’s too late”. So there it is. Do it now.

Paul McCartney

A song like ‘Do It Now’ knocked me out

Producer Greg Kurstin
Each track of “Egypt Station” has been given individual artwork that was first published on Twitter on August 14, 2018

Lyrics

Got the time, the inclination

I have answered your invitation

I’ll be leaving in the morning

Watch me go


I don’t know where the wind is blowing

Got directions to where I’m going

Nothing’s certain

That’s the only thing I know


Do it now, do it now

While the vision is clear

Do it now

While the feeling is here


If you leave it too late

It could all disappear

Do it now

While your vision is clear


Do do doo…


I don’t regret the steps I’m taking

The decision that I’m making

Is the right one, or I’m never

Going to know


Got the time, the inclination

(It’s not too late)

I have answered your invitation

(You’ve still got time)

I’ll be leaving in the morning

(Follow the beat of your heart)

Watch me go


So do it now, do it now

While your vision is clear

Do it now

While the feeling is here


If you leave it too late

It could all disappear

So do it now

While your vision is clear


Do do doo…

Variations

  • A Album version

Officially appears on

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.


Going further

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

"Do It Now" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.

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Paul McCartney writing

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