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Released in 2018

Hunt You Down

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 songs

Related interviews

“Hunt You Down” is a track from 2018 album “Egypt Station“.  From “Words Between The Tracks” YouTube series:

That’s a three-part song, which goes from this sort of rocker, Hunt You Down, and the words are: “I can’t find my love, no matter how hard I try,” you know, “She’s giving me the run-around,” just kind of like blues complaining lyrics. “Yeah, my woman done hurt me, I can’t find my love…” you know, it’s that kind of thing. So I’m having fun with that, and doing this rock ‘n’ roll piece, and that became Hunt You Down.

And then it goes through, into another song called Naked. And again it links through, ’cause there’s like a tempo change at the end of Hunt You Down. It goes from 4/4 into 3/4, and goes into this other song, which is a very simple song that I’d recorded pretty much on my own.

It’s a simple song about ‘I’ve been naked since I was born.’ And, you know, this thing we go through that’s life, that everyone goes through it, and in a way there are many situations that you find yourself where you’re kind of naked, socially. You can sort of feel naked: “I don’t know how to deal with this,” you know.

So that was a song about, that’s my take on that. As I say I played it myself, and sang it myself in the studio.

And then that links on to another thing we called C-Link in the end, which it just me totally indulging myself in wanting to play guitar. And the original take on it is about 11 minutes, I think. But it’s just me really enjoying playing electric guitar. ‘Cause I always say to people, people often say, ‘Why do you still do it?’ I say: “‘Cause I love it. I love this thing.”

And I’m still thrilled with having the privilege of being able to go up to an amp, turn it on, get my guitar, plug it in and play it very loud. It’s a thrill, and it’s never stopped being a thrill, that.

And then there were certain little phrases that were kind of more melodic than others. A lot of it’s just bluesy phrases, there were one or two in there that suggested something else. So we orchestrated a few of the phrases, and made it a little more of a composition.

It was an idea that I fancied doing. I fancied doing it for a long time, of just getting someone – it turned out to be me – I was just going to get someone to play blues guitar against an orchestra holding a chord. In this case it was C, and then C minor, just the orchestra hold this chord for ever and ever and ever, and then this guitar playing over the top of it. And actually I was always gonna ask Eric Clapton to do the blues guitar – so Eric, if you’re listening… But this time it turned out to be me – you know, D.I.N. – I’d better go round to it. And so, I did. And that finishes the album. Right at the end of that session… you just hear a little ‘Whoo!’ and that’s it. Egypt Station.

Paul McCartney

On a Twitter Q&A in September 2018, Paul said “Hunt You Down” was inspired by Prince:

You mentioned that Prince inspired the song “Hunt You Down” on the new album. I also recall you saying he inspired the song “If You Wanna” on Flaming Pie. Has Prince inspired other songs and were you a big fan?

I can’t think of other songs he has inspired, but those two definitely. I was always a big fan. I went to see him in concert a few times and wrote to him saying how much I enjoyed his guitar playing particularly. I met him a few times. The last time was a couple of New Year’s ago, when he played a New Year’s gig. I’ve always been a big fan.

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

Lyrics

I can’t find my love

No matter how hard I try

She’s giving me the runaround

Makes me want to lay down and cry

Come on back to me right now

‘cos you don’t have to stay away

I won’t play no hide and seek

It’s not a game I want to play

Travelling around the world

Trying to find a perfect mate

I found myself a little girl

Now she’s started running away

Come on back to me right now

Don’t wait til they unleash the hounds

If you don’t get back today

They’ll follow your trail

And hunt you down

Variations

  • A Album version. Medley with "Naked", "C-Link"

Officially appears on

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

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Ashpenaz • 7 years ago

Isn't Hunt You Down the same basic riff as Jethro Tull's Locomotive Breath?

The PaulMcCartney Project • 7 years ago

Hi Ashpenaz, I don't know this Jethro Tull's song - so cannot comment ; all I can say is that Hunt You Down is too short on the album...

John D. Mackintosh • 3 years ago

To me, McCartney has often come up with great album endings. Back Seat of My Car on Ram, 1985 on Band on the Rub, Beautiful Night/Great Day on Flaming Pie to name same big standouts. Enough time has passed since its 2018 release that I can say that this three song medley ending of Egypt Station is his best since the wrap up of Abbey Road with Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End. Just superb, love the guitar with orchestra on C-Link. Wish this would be played live on the Got Back tour but doubtful. I will just keep enjoying it on ES.

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