Released in 1991

School - I'll Always Be Here

Written by Paul McCartney • Carl Davis

Last updated on July 10, 2019

Album This song officially appears on the Liverpool Oratorio Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1991

Master album

Liverpool Oratorio
By Paul McCartney

Related songs

“I’ll Always Be Here” is the fifth track of the second movement – entitled “School” – of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio, released in 1991.

II: SCHOOL. 1953. The war baby – Shanty – now 11 years old and at school, celebrates his Liverpool upbringing. With classmates, he skips lessons to “sag off” and sunbathe in the graveyard of Liverpool Cathedral. Sleeping on a gravestone, he dreams of ghosts of the past and the future. One of the ghosts, Mary Dee, is his bride-to-be. Waking and back at school, Shanty and his classmates are taught Spanish in the form of a folk song by their new mistress, Miss Inkley.
“Liverpool Oratorio” liner notes

Lyrics

MARY DEE (as ghost)

I'll always be here,

I'll never leave you,

I'll always be in your mind.

Dreams of the future,

Ghosts that the past left behind.

WOMEN'S CHORUS (ghosts)

You're sleeping amongst us.

We're in your dream.

Who are you?

Why call us?

What does this mean?

FULL CHORUS (ghosts)

Disturbing our slumber,

You move so fast.

SHANTY and MARY DEE (as ghost)

Ghosts of the past.

(later, back in school)

Officially appears on

Liverpool Oratorio
Official album • Released in 1991
1:35 • Live • L1
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Eddie Klein : Additional engineer John Timperley : Balance engineer Carl Davis : Orchestra conductor Peter Mew : Additional engineer, Editor John Fraser : Producer Kiri Te Kanawa : Soprano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra : Orchestra Nic Raine : Assistant to carl davis Martin Astle : Additional engineer Tom Leader : Additional engineer, Editor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir : Choir Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral : Choir Ian Tracey : Chorus master and master of the choriste Jerry Hadley : Tenor
Concert From the concert in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Jun 28, 1991
Selections from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio
Official album • Released in 1992
1:35 • Live • L1
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Eddie Klein : Additional engineer John Timperley : Balance engineer Carl Davis : Orchestra conductor Peter Mew : Additional engineer, Editor John Fraser : Producer Kiri Te Kanawa : Soprano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra : Orchestra Nic Raine : Assistant to carl davis Martin Astle : Additional engineer Tom Leader : Additional engineer, Editor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir : Choir Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral : Choir Ian Tracey : Chorus master and master of the choriste Jerry Hadley : Tenor
Concert From the concert in Liverpool, United Kingdom on Jun 28, 1991

Live performances

“School - I'll Always Be Here” has been played in 6 concerts.

Year	Soundchecks	Concerts
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1991	0	2
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2024	0	4

Latest concerts where “School - I'll Always Be Here” has been played

Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 27, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 21, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 20, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Liverpool Oratorio
Jul 18, 2024 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio
Liverpool • Liverpool Cathedral • United Kingdom
Jun 29, 1991 • Part of Liverpool Oratorio

See all concerts where “School - I'll Always Be Here” 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

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