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Released in 1983

Sweetest Little Show

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on May 10, 2020


Album This song officially appears on the Pipes Of Peace Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1983

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1980, when Paul McCartney was 38 years old)

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Sweetest Little Show” is a track from 1983 album “Pipes Of Peace“. Along with “Average Person” and “Keep Under Cover“, this song has been written in 1980, 3 years before the release of “Pipes Of Peace“. The basic track was recorded during the initial sessions for “Tug Of War” in January 1981.

That just came out of a jam, just a little chord sequence which was lying around for a while. It nearly got into a medley with two other pieces, and we suddenly didn’t like the two other pieces, but we liked “The Sweetest Little Show” bit. So then I added the guitar show — I fancied playing a bit of guitar — so I played a little bit of acoustic in the middle of it, and that got a little bit of applause and that became the Little Show. So it became its own little thing. I quite like that track, it’s just a soft little track.

Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich N° 31, 1983

Lyrics

Well they can treat you like a brother

Yeah they can treat you like a clown

But if they treat you like a lover

They've got the sweetest little show in town

You got the sweetest little show

Sweetest little show

Sweetest little show in town


You've been around a long time

But you're still good for a while

And if they try to criticize you

Make them smile, make them smile


And if they treat you like a brother,

Well, you will never let them down

But if they treat you like a lover

They've got the sweetest little show in town

They've got the sweetest little show

Sweetest little show in town


You got the sweetest little show

Sweetest little show

Sweetest little show in town


You got the sweetest little show

Sweetest little show

Sweetest little show in town


- guitar piece -


You got the sweetest little show

Sweetest little show…

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Sweetest Little Show

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.


Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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Paul McCartney writing

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