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Released in 2001

Lonely Road

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on June 3, 2022

Album This song officially appears on the Driving Rain Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2001

Master album

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

“Lonely Road” is the opening track of Paul McCartney’s 2001 album “Driving Rain“. 

Recorded on 16th February 2001 onto 16-track analogue tape, then loaded into Logic audio for overdubs. Paul played Hofner bass and sang a live vocal some of which was used then overdubbed Martin acoustic, Epiphone electric guitar and another vocal. Abe played drums and overdubbed tambourine. Rusty played Gibson SG electric guitar, then overdubbed Pedal steel guitar and Gibson acoustic guitar, Gabe played Wurlitzer electric piano. David overdubbed Roland Organ.

From the liner notes of the album, and from paulmccartney.com

‘Lonely Road’ was also written in Goa, where I was enjoying the beach and the sea and generally chilling out in the new century. Again, I had a few moments in the afternoon, which is always a good time for me, a quiet spell when it’s always cool for me to go off and fondle my guitar. The songs basically wrote itself in about an hour. It is what it is, this song, you can make of it what you want to make of it. To me it’s not particularly about anything other than not wanting to be brought down. It’s a sort of anti-being brought down song, which is for anyone and everyone. It’s ‘don’t want to get brought down again, don’t want to walk that lonely road’, it’s symbolic for anyone who’s been through any sort of problems. It’s a defiant song against loneliness, written in a hotel room in Goa. – Paul McCartney, 2001

Paul McCartney – From “The Driving Rain interview” published on paulmccartney.com, November 2001

Paul McCartney in "Conversations With McCartney", by Paul Du Noyer:

‘Lonely Road’ was written in India, and that’s a bit… I don’t really know what I’m doing, just blues longing. I say I tried to go somewhere ‘old’, that’s India. ‘To search for my pot of gold’, well I wasn’t, I was on holiday. So it’s half imagination, half reality. If I’m looking for a rhyme for old, and pot of gold comes into my mind, then I don’t resist. ‘I try to go somewhere old cos I no longer need a pot of gold?’ Fuck that. Let’s go somewhere old to search for a pot of gold seems more like a song.

Lyrics

I tried to get over you

I tried to find something new

But all I could ever do

Was fill, my time

With thoughts, of you

I tried to go somewhere old

To search for my pot of gold

But all I could ever hold

Inside, my mind

Were thoughts, of you

I hear your music

And it's driving me wild

Familiar rhythms

In a different style

I hear your music

And it's driving me wild again

Don't want to let you take me down

Don't want to get hurt second time around

Don't want to walk that lonely road again

I hear your music

And it's driving me wild

Familiar rhythms

In a different style

I hear your music

And it's driving me wild again

Don't want to let you take me down

Don't want to get hurt second time around

Don't want to walk that lonely road again

Don't want to let you take me down

Don't want to get hurt second time around

Don't want to walk that lonely road again

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Lonely Road”

Related films

Videos

Album Driving Rain

Live performances

“Lonely Road” has been played in 67 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Lonely Road” has been played

See all concerts where “Lonely Road” has been played

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

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Diego Riera Carrera • 2 years ago

At the beginning of "Song fact" section, there's a mistake. It is written "She's given up talking" instead of "Lonely road". The song which this page is talking about.

Love your site!

The PaulMcCartney Project • 2 years ago

Thanks Diego, I've fixed this !

Mark • 2 years ago

On IMDB, McCartney is listed as the only cast member. Yet, there is radio announcer voice and a bunch of women being overly sexual or violent. Not sure what that was about. Any idea who all the cast members were?

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