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Released in 1990

Same Time Next Year

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on August 20, 2019

Album This song officially appears on the Put It There CD Single.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1990

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other songs from the "Back To The Egg" era

Related interview

Same Time Next Year – Taped on May 5, 1978, in the London RAK studio, during the first session of the new Wings’ line-up and finished during the last sessions with those same people, in January 1981. It was recorded as the title track for a movie but rejected, because too much of the plot was given away in the lyrics. A commercial version was issued in February 1990 as the b-side of the ‘Put It There’ single.

Proposed theme-song for the Alan Alda film of the same name

Overdubbed with a 68-piece orchestra at Abbey Road

Lyrics

Must we wait another year

For the celebration, dear?

If we do, we'll hold it here,

Same time next year.

I'll be here, the same as ever,

Maybe wearing something else.

Ah, but nothing changes,

Ah, but nothing changes.

Still to me you look the same

As when I forgot your name,

Lovers in a lovers' game,

Same time next year.

I'll be here, the same as ever,

No, I never go away.

Ah, but nothing changes, (ah, but nothing changes)

Ah, but nothing changes.

Same time next year.

Must we wait another year

For the celebration, dear?

If we do, we'll hold it here,

Same time next year.

Same time next year,

Same time next year,

Same time next year,

Same time next year.

Same time next year

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Same Time Next Year”

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

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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Joost van Gijzen • 4 years ago

Nobody has ever questioned the 'the lyrics gave too much away'-explanation? Because it's clearly nonsense.

And otherwise, the lyrics could have been easily changed. ('Girl, I think I've seen your face/But my mind's a stoner's maze')

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