# Paul McCartney/Yoko Ono **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201 "2002-12-16T23:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Breezy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Breezy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Breezy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/1 "2002-12-16T23:58:00Z")
I just read [this article](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=795&ncid=799&e=1&u=/eo/20021216/en_music_eo/10987) about Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. I was just wondering. Am I the only one who kind of sides with McCartney on this one? I don’t see the harm in switching the credit from LENNON-MCCARTNEY to Paul McCartney-John Lennon or MCCARTNEY-LENNON. I just don’t get what the problem is. For one thing, the people who don’t know the history about the credits on the Beatles songs probably aren’t going to even NOTICE the change. And the people who NOTICE the change, probably already know who had the most influence on each song. GRRRRR :mad: What do you all think? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/2 "2002-12-17T00:17:45Z")
I say leave it as it stands. The “Lennon-McCartney” arrangement goes waaaaaayyyyyy back to their earliest days of songwriting. Sorry, Sir Paul, let this one go. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/3 "2002-12-17T00:45:30Z")
I think McCartney’s frustrated that Lennon wrote more good songs in 40 years than he ever will, so he’s keen to remind us all about “Yesterday”. Yeah, we know you wrote it by yourself Paul, get over it. Or write something as good, like Lennon managed to do even after he was a Beatle. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/4 "2002-12-17T00:52:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I say leave it as it stands. The “Lennon-McCartney” arrangement goes waaaaaayyyyyy back to their earliest days of songwriting. Sorry, Sir Paul, let this one go. Except, they didn’t choose and stick with “Lennon-McCartney” until **With The Beatles** –that’s several years after they started writing songs together. On **Please Please Me** , the songs are credited McCartney-Lennon. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/5 "2002-12-17T00:56:27Z")
The biggest issue is that Lennon is not around to express his point of view on the change, and, as shown in interviews, John could be prickly, proud and unpredictable. It is not clear how he’d feel about the change - and Yoko, whatever you may think about her - has a strong argument that all she is doing is protecting John’s interests in his absence and because she was not in the room when the songs were written, and the agreement between L&M was decided long before, who is she to do anything but argue for no change? If she continues to take that stand, it does make Paul look somewhat…petulant? Granted, there are some songs that seem to be clearly 100% Paul, such as Yesterday (that’s one that I know of - I am sure there are others). Yoko might do the diplomatic thing and give McCartney sole credit or primary credit for that one. But wherever there is some question, it could be tough… ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/6 "2002-12-17T00:59:25Z")
So it would seem Sir Paul has been stewing about this for the last 40 years. Time to let it go, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/7 "2002-12-17T01:00:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\*Except, they didn’t choose and stick with “Lennon-McCartney” until **With The Beatles** –that’s several years after they started writing songs together. On **Please Please Me** , the songs are credited McCartney-Lennon. \*\* Really? I know you are a bigger Beatles buff that I am, **pepperlandgirl** , so I won’t be doing any disagreeing here. Do you have a cite? And are there any other facts/observations/insights you can add to the discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/8 "2002-12-17T01:07:12Z")
Maybe he needs the money? ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/9 "2002-12-17T01:20:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Usram \* > \*\*I think McCartney’s frustrated that Lennon wrote more good songs in 40 years than he ever will, so he’s keen to remind us all about “Yesterday”. Yeah, we know you wrote it by yourself Paul, get over it. Or write something as good, like Lennon managed to do even after he was a Beatle. \*\* Do try not to show your ignorance quite so blatently in public m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/10 "2002-12-17T01:29:18Z")
Yes, Lennon is credited on “Yesterday”, but Paul is credited on “Give Peace a Chance”, soooo… ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/11 "2002-12-17T01:30:02Z")
**Moderator’s Notes** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\*Do try not to show your ignorance quite so blatently in public m’kay? \*\* And please try not to show your invective quite so blatently in this forum m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/12 "2002-12-17T01:39:45Z")
Cite for what? The songs on Please Please Me? Don’t you have the album? I believe Paul mentioned in Barry Miles’ book “Many Years from Now”. I’ll check on it tonight. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/13 "2002-12-17T01:41:11Z")
m’kay? ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/14 "2002-12-17T01:42:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\*Do try not to show your ignorance quite so blatently in public m’kay? \*\* There you go again, **WSler,** you wacky guy you! You always have to be the most charming fellow in the room! From the linked article: > [@](#): > > “Merely switching a credit on a song doesn’t seem to misrepresent who wrote the song in any way shape or form,” says [Paul’s lawyer] Freundlich. “It’s pretty much public knowledge, I would say, as to which songs were authored mainly by Paul and which songs mainly by John…All he’s done is switch the names. It’s not meant to be divisive.” If the name change is so meaningless, why go to the trouble of doing it? Paul’s actions obviously have meaning and are obviously divisive, IMHO. But I say it’s nobody’s business but his and Yoko’s. This issue is clearly one that’s been keeping him up nights for 40 years and the only way for him to settle it personally was to change the order of the names. For Yoko’s part, she feels it is her responsibility to her late husband to be absolutely sure that his memory is not ignored. The fact that they don’t seem to like each other much makes the whole thing feel a little dirtier, but where that much money is at stake, people are rarely friendly to each other, even if they are friends otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/15 "2002-12-17T01:57:17Z")
I am one who believes that Paul and John were equals in the Beatles–equals in their talent and impact. The order of their names is meaningless, except to the extent that the phrase “Lennon-McCartney” has become something magical to most true fans. Paul is being a bit petty, it seems to me. Anyone who needs reminding of Paul’s contribution, probably doesn’t really care either. Let it go, Paul (or should I say, let it be?). ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/16 "2002-12-17T02:12:52Z")
The comment I thought I remembered about the name-order not being in stone until the second album wasn’t in the book I thought it was. But in **Many Years from Now** I found the following quotes. > [@](#): > > I (Paul) would write down anything we came up with, including at the top of the page A Lennon-McCartney Original That was starting in 1957. > [@](#): > > The Beatles first album _Please Pleaes Me_ was released on 22 March, 1963. Of the 14 ongs, 1/2 were McCartney-Lennon originals (as they were credited on the label.) That’s all I can find on it for now…it bothers me though, because I _know_ Paul has discussed the reason that Please Please Me is credited M-L and the rest are L-M. ---
**Author:** ![typhoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed8c4c/32.png) [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/17 "2002-12-17T02:46:44Z")
I think Paul’s right. It makes sense that whoever wrote the majority of the song should get credit first. I think people side with Lennon too easily because of the whole death thing. And really, why does everyone feel free to knock Paul? Because John wrote lyrics that sound like they should be meaningful (even though they generally didn’t mean anything)? Because John’s dead and has a greater legacy because of it? Because Paul actually had a sense of humor (“When I’m Sixty-Four,” “Her Majesty”)?! We’re talking about the guy who wrote “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Penny Lane,” “Hey, Jude,” “Blackbird,” and “Let It Be.” Lay off. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/18 "2002-12-17T03:14:56Z")
I’m going to dig a little on this. I have a friend who’s a BIG Beatles fan and I have e-mailed this thread to him. Perhaps he can shed some light. I will post any info I can find. Even though Paul says there’s no divisiveness on this matter, it _sounds_ like it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/19 "2002-12-17T04:13:17Z")
BTW, that should have said “a little research”. Just got an e-mail from my friend. He is checking on the _Please Please Me_ switch. He thinks it may have been an error on the part of Vee Jay Records who did the original pressings of this album. In fact, on numerous copies, the group’s name is misspelled as “The Beattles”. ---
**Author:** ![marinwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@marinwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marinwood)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201/20 "2002-12-17T04:39:23Z")
Well, I just pulled out my CD copy of _Please Please Me_, and the listings for the John/Paul songs are indeed credited to “McCartney/Lennon.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-mccartney-yoko-ono/143201.md?page=2)