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Released in 1997

Little Willow

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on September 4, 2024

Album This song officially appears on the Flaming Pie Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1997

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1995, when Paul McCartney was 53 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other Flaming Pie songs written in Jamaica, January 1995

Related interviews

“Little Willow” was written early 1995 as a tribute to Maureen Cox, the first wife of Ringo Starr, who passed away in December 1994; it was released on 1997 album “Flaming Pie“. From the liner notes of the album:

‘Little Willow’ was written after Paul learned of the death of a dear friend. He created the song not only as an immediate personal response to the sadness but, hopefully, as a salve for his late friend’s children. The studio recording, begun ten months later (on the day the The Beatles Anthology 1, with “Free As A Bird” was released), is an eloquent combination of voice and instrumentation, Paul’s work being augmented by Jeff Lynne.

“I wanted to somehow convey how much I thought of her. For her and her kids. It certainly is heartfelt, and I hope it will help a bit.”

A good friend of mine died, someone we all loved, so I wrote a song that conveyed my mood. It’s heartfelt – instead of writing her kids a letter I wrote a song. It was a very sad day for all of us, and Jeff Lynne and I gave it our all in the studio.

Paul McCartney, in Club Sandwich n°82, Summer 1997

Even if I’m writing something very specific, I veil it. That’s just my way. It’s the way I’ve developed as a songwriter. You know, if I want to write about loneliness, it’ll be ‘Eleanor Rigby’ who carries the can. ‘Little Willow’, I know I was very affected by Maureen’s death, and again I remember just going into a room and putting those sentiments into that song. The sort of fragility of life is in that song. But it wasn’t called ‘Maureen’, it was called ‘Little Willow’. I always prefer to conjure up some story or tale or some bit of imagination around something, because then I can get my emotions out but it’s not quite as raw. And I think it makes it a little more available to people if you call it ‘Little Willow’. We’ve all got a Little Willow.

Paul McCartney, from the Flaming Pie Archive Edition, 2020

‘Little Willow’ is an achingly touching ballad written by Paul upon hearing of the death of a close friend, whom the McCartneys visited in hospital and continued to keep in close contact with until she died. Being on holiday at the time, and therefore out of reach, Paul wasn’t given the news for some days, but instantly created ‘Little Willow’ not only as a personal response to the sadness but, hopefully, as a salve for his late friend’s children. The studio recording, begun ten months later (on the day that The Beatles Anthology 1, with ‘Free As A Bird’ was released), is an eloquent combination of voice and instrumentation, Paul’s work being augmented by Jeff Lynne.

Mark Lewisohn, in Club Sandwich n°82, Summer 1997:

At the end of 1997, “Little Willow” was included in a tribute album to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in August the same year.

A promotional video directed by John Schlesinger was shot in September 1997, and premiered in December during the second airing of the Oprah Winfrey show.

“Little Willow” was remastered in 2016 for inclusion on the “Pure McCartney” compilation, and then in 2020 for the “Flaming Pie Archive Collection“, both times by engineer Alex Wharton. As explained on the Steve Hoffman forum:

It’s interesting that for both ‘Pure McCartney’ in 2016 and the new 2020 remaster the polarity is different. Which means something went wrong in the final mastering stage of the original 1997 issue. Because ‘Pure McCartney’ worked from a compressed and limited 1997 master, and this 2020 remaster from a tape without that compression and limiting.

by forum resident “mindgames”

Lyrics

Bend, little willow

Winds gonna blow you

Hard and cold tonight

Life, as it happens,

Nobody warns you

Willow, hold on tight

Nothing's gonna shake your love

Take your love away

No one's out to break your heart

It only seems that way… hey

Sleep little willow,

Peace gonna follow

Time will heal your wounds

Grow to the heavens

Now and forever

Always came too soon

Little willow

Nothing's gonna shake your love

Take your love away

No one's out to break your heart

It only seems that way… hey

Bend, little willow

Wind's gonna blow you

Hard and cold tonight.

Life as it happens

Nobody warns you

Willow, hold on tight

Ah, little willow

Little willow

Variations

  • A Album version
  • A2016 2016 remaster
  • A2020 2020 remaster
  • B Home Recording
  • C Rough mix

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Related film

  • Little Willow

    1997 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by John Schlesinger

Videos

Album Flaming Pie

Album Flaming Pie - Archive Collection

Album Flaming Pie - Archive Collection

Album Flaming Pie - Archive Collection

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012

This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.

The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.

Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

Buy on Amazon

Paul McCartney writing

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Paul Lisney • 5 years ago

This is a beautiful song.

David Lingley • 2 years ago

On the day I heard that I had just recovered from cancer, I heard little willow while listening to songs on flaming pie. In the mood I was in I really appreciated the fragility of life and after feeling that Paul was the most real, optimistic, natural and talented person I had ever experienced in my 69 years and ever since 1966 when I started to think that. This song puts the final stamp on those feelings for me. Paul and I nearly met in the summer of ‘69. After a night of Lucy in the Sky, I was walking to the top of Primrose hill and about 20 feet away I could see Paul get out of his little car at about 6 in the morning. He was walking Martha. I kept my distance and marveled that Paul had just finished working at EMI studios and by another miracle I got to see the human Paul and his beloved Martha. I was 17 and lived in Camden Town and went to Haverstock Hill School. Obviously I know how much Paul and the Beatles meant to so many People. For me they were the guiding beacon to freedom fun and the magical possibilities in life. I have never lost that feeling. To have grown up in a different place and not experienced the Beatles would have made the world a much less exiting , fun and frightening place. God bless the little willow teller. Love David.

Michael Anthony Worry • 1 year ago

This song brings me to tears! I love it! Definitely one of the greatest songs ever written

Tony DeMaria • 1 year ago

"Even if I’m writing something very specific, I veil it. That’s just my way. It’s the way I’ve developed as a songwriter. You know, if I want to write about loneliness, it’ll be ‘Eleanor Rigby’ who carries the can. ‘Little Willow’, I know I was very affected by Maureen’s death, and again I remember just going into a room and putting those sentiments into that song. The sort of fragility of life is in that song. But it wasn’t called ‘Maureen’, it was called ‘Little Willow’. "

This (well the entire quote posted here) is exactly what I would say to anyone that questions Paul's songwriting for not being personal enough (more specifically those that compare to John's songwriting). Yes Paul has plenty of songs with lyrics that are relatively light or meaningless, but Paul knows how to write a song to convey his emotions. You may not agree with the concept that Paul wants to make the song "more available" by indirectly referring to things in his life but that's his choice as a songwriter.

Little Willow is a beautiful song and another great example of Paul managing to find yet another peak in his career in the mid-90s.

The PaulMcCartney Project • 1 year ago

Thanks Tony - nice comment !

Maurice Paton • 2 months ago

Lovely song. I’ve only just heard it.

I like songs that sound organic and natural, songs that haven’t been constructed to a template, and Little Willow fits that bill.

Back in the late sixties Paul and Linda very nearly bought my Grandparents farm in Surrey. They both visited numerous times and used to take the horses out across the fields. On one such occasion Paul turned up with an acoustic guitar and offered to sing a song for those present, my grandmother chose Eleanor Rigby, and Paul sat on the kitchen stool and sang this song.

I now have this stool!

Paul has written song beautiful songs.

The PaulMcCartney Project • 2 months ago

Hi Maurice, what an amazing story ! Thanks for sharing !

Paul Lisney • 2 months ago

Great story!

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