Paul McCartney’s “Here Today”: A Song of Love, Loss, and the Words He Never Got to Say
When John Lennon was killed in 1980, the world mourned the voice of peace, rebellion, and genius. But for Paul McCartney, it was something even more personal—it was the loss of his oldest friend, his musical soulmate, his brother in everything but blood. Years later, Paul would sit down, guitar in hand, and finally say what he never got to say. The result? “Here Today.”
Released in 1982 on his album Tug of War, Paul McCartney Here Today is a heartbreakingly honest letter to John—delivered through melody. It’s not dramatic. It’s not loud. It’s quiet, vulnerable, and real.
“And if I say I really knew you well, what would your answer be?”
“Well, knowing you, you’d probably laugh and say that we were worlds apart.”
In those lyrics, Paul captures what so many fans felt: the sorrow of unresolved words, the ache of missed chances, the sharp edges of grief. But beneath the pain is a deep, undying love. “Here Today” is Paul’s confession, apology, and final embrace—all wrapped into one acoustic ballad.
He’s said in interviews that writing the song brought him to tears. And when he performs it live today, decades later, he still sometimes chokes up. Because it’s not just a song—it’s a conversation with a ghost, a bridge across time, a healing moment in music form.
What makes Paul McCartney Here Today even more powerful is that it came from a man who rarely wore his emotions on his sleeve. Paul was known as the “optimist” of The Beatles, the one who kept things moving. But this song laid it all bare.
And fans responded. Over the years, “Here Today” has become a sacred piece in McCartney’s catalog—quietly treasured for its sincerity, its simplicity, and its courage to speak love after death.
In 2025, the song still stirs tears in arenas. Not because we lost John—but because we know what he meant to Paul.
🎧 Listen to Paul’s heartfelt tribute here: