Released in 2001
Spinning On An Axis
Written by Paul McCartney • James McCartney
Last updated on January 21, 2021
Released in 2001
Written by Paul McCartney • James McCartney
Last updated on January 21, 2021
Album This song officially appears on the Driving Rain Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 2001
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Feb 21, 2001
Officially appears on Flaming Pie
Officially appears on Driving Rain
Unreleased song
November 2001 • From paulmccartney.com
“Spinning On An Axis” is a track from Paul McCartney’s 2001 album “Driving Rain“.
Recorded 21st February 2001 onto 16-track analogue tape then loaded into Logic Audio for overdubs. Paul played Rickenbacker bass then overdubbed Martin acoustic, Epiphone electric guitar, percussion and the vocal. Abe played his drum kit and Roland Handsonic then overdubbed percussion. Rusty played Danelectro electric guitar then overdubbed Martin acoustic guitar and percussion. Gabe overdubbed percussion. James overdubbed percussion. David overdubbed Wurlitzer.
From the liner notes of the album, and from paulmccartney.com
‘Spinning On An Axis’ – I was sitting in New Hampshire, visiting American relatives. The sun was going down and me and James, my son, were talking about how the sun actually isn’t going down, we’re turning around away from it. We had a little keyboard thing there and James was playing a little riff on it and I was doing a parody rap thing, just goofing off with no real melody, on those thoughts of spinning on an axis. I had my little cassette with me and I happened to tape that as a little reminder.
Paul McCartney – From “The Driving Rain interview” published on paulmccartney.com, November 2001
World spinning round
To the next revolution
Sun going down
Gonna rise up again
I watch the sun go down
With some sorrow
And now I know it's gonna'
Come back tomorrow
Ain't no reason
It has to do that
It's the season of the culture bat
Spinning on an axis
Spinning on an axis
Staring in the face
Of time and space
Spinning on an axis
World spinning round
To the next revolution
Sun going down
Gonna rise up again
World spinning round
To the next revolution
Sun going down
Gonna rise up again
Hear me rising
Rise up and sing, rise up, rise up
Although I'm curious
It isn't a crime
I want to know if I
Find out in time
A lot of people busy doing their thing
Are gonna wake up and sing
Spinning on an axis
Spinning on an axis
We ask the question
And the answer's yes
Spinning on an axis
I watch the sun go down
With some sorrow
And now I know it's gonna'
Come back tomorrow
Ain't no reason why
It has to do that
It's the season of the culture bat
I watch the sun go down
Wonder if it's gonna come back
Certainly there's no guarantee
But I got a feeling it will be
Spinning on an axis
Spinning on an axis
Spinning on an axis
Spinning on, Spinning on an axis
Spinning on an axis
World spinning round
To the next revolution
Sun going down
Gonna rise up again
World spinning round
To the next revolution
Sun going down
Gonna rise up
Gonna rise up
Gonna rise up
Gonna rise up
Gonna rise up again
World spinning round
To the next revolution
Official album • Released in 2001
5:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Executive producer, Percussion, Vocals James McCartney : Percussion Rusty Anderson : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Percussion Abe Laboriel Jr. : Drums, Percussion Gabe Dixon : Percussion David Kahne : Mixing engineer, Piano, Producer Mark Dearnley : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jaime Sickora : Assistant engineer Kevin Mills : Second assistant engineer
Session Recording: Feb 21, 2001 • Studio Henson Recording Studio, Los Angeles
Driving Rain - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
5:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Executive producer, Percussion, Vocals James McCartney : Percussion Rusty Anderson : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Percussion Abe Laboriel Jr. : Drums, Percussion Gabe Dixon : Percussion David Kahne : Mixing engineer, Piano, Producer Mark Dearnley : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jaime Sickora : Assistant engineer Kevin Mills : Second assistant engineer
Session Recording: Feb 21, 2001 • Studio Henson Recording Studio, Los Angeles
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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.
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