Deliver Your Children
"Deliver Your Children" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Cover in the Netherlands, where it charted | ||||
Single by Wings | ||||
from the album London Town | ||||
A-side | "I've Had Enough" | |||
Released | 16 June 1978 | |||
Recorded | May 1977 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Label | Parlophone/EMI (UK) Capitol (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Denny Laine Paul McCartney | |||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Wings singles chronology | ||||
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"Deliver Your Children" is a song written by Denny Laine and Paul McCartney that was first issued on Wings' 1978 album London Town. It was also released as the B-side of Wings' single "I've Had Enough". In the Netherlands, it received enough airplay to be ranked on the national charts along with its A-side, and joint single reached No. 13.[1] On some charts within the Netherlands "Deliver Your Children" was ranked alone on the single charts, and it reached No. 9 on the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40 chart.[2] Laine also released solo recordings of the song.[3]
Writing and recording
Laine wrote most of the song himself and McCartney helped him complete it.[4][5] It was originally written during the Venus and Mars sessions in 1975.[5][6] Laine's original title for the song was "Feel the Love," despite the fact that the song lyrics do not contain the phrase, but McCartney suggested the revised title.[7][8] It was recorded on the yacht Fair Carol in the Virgin Islands in May 1977; at the time Linda McCartney was pregnant with her and Paul's fourth child, James.[6] Laine sings the lead vocal and both Laine and McCartney play acoustic guitar.[9] Laine also plays the Spanish guitar solos.[10] McCartney also plays bass guitar, and both he and Linda McCartney provide backing vocals.[5]
Lyrics and music
"Deliver Your Children" is an uptempo song.[5] Music professor Vincent Benitez and Beatles biographer Robert Rodriguez describe it as being "folksy."[7][9] It is one of two songs on London Town primarily written by Laine with children as its theme.[7] The verses describe a variety of unlucky experiences the singer has had, including getting caught in a rain storm, dealing with an unfaithful lover, and dealing with an unscrupulous repairman who can't fix his truck.[7][9] Both Benitez and McCartney biographer John Blaney describe the verses as "rambling."[5][9] The refrain contrasts by exhorting the listener to deliver the children to the good life and make things right for them.[7][9]
According to Benitez, the song sounds as if it is in the key of A minor but the guitars are actually played in the key of D minor with a capo on the seventh fret.[9] Actually, the verses are neither in a major or a minor key, but in a Dorian mode, which emphasizes their harsh imagery.[9] The first two verses, the guitar solo near the end and the outro are in D-Dorian, while the last verses are in G-Dorian.[9] The refrain is in C major, contrasting the verses and emphasizing its more hopeful lyrics.[9]
Reception
Rolling Stone Magazine critic Janet Maslin described "Deliver Your Children" as "wonderful" and one of the best songs on London Town.[11] Rodriguez regards it as the best of McCartney's and Laine's collaborations.[7] Beatle biographers Roy Carr and Tony Tyler described it as "minor key Nashville chunkachuck" displaying "superior craftmanship."[12] Music critic Joel McNally regards it as a "good" song, describing it as "an upbeat number that dares to use some acoustic guitars in an electronic age.[13] Author Giuseppe Rausa regards "Deliver Your Children" as one of the few memorable songs on London Town, describing it as a pleasant, quick, country music-like song.[14]
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – acoustic guitar, bass, co-lead vocals
- Denny Laine – lead vocals, acoustic and Spanish guitars, backing vocals
- Joe English – drums
- Jimmy McCulloch – acoustic guitar
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals
References
- ^ "I've Had Enough/Deliver Your Children". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard Magazine. 12 August 1978. p. 78. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Masters". Allmusic. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ Philipp, J. (1991). Listen to what the man said: Paul McCartney und seine Songs : eine komplette Werkschau der Platten, Videos und Filme. Pendragon. pp. 84–85. ISBN 9783923306800.
- ^ a b c d e Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone. Jawbone. pp. 123–125. ISBN 9781906002022.
- ^ a b Madinger, C.; Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 233. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ a b c d e f Rodriguez, R. (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970–1980. Hal Leonard. pp. 223, 375. ISBN 978-0-87930-968-8.
- ^ Sandford, C. (2012). McCartney. Random House. p. 255. ISBN 9781446455548.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Benitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
- ^ Luca Perasi, Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013), L.I.L.Y. Publishing, 2013, ISBN 978-88-909122-1-4, p.156
- ^ Maslin, Janet (15 June 1978), "Music Reviews : London Town by Wings", Rolling Stone, archived from the original on 6 May 2016, retrieved 6 May 2016
- ^ Carr, R.; Tyler, T. (1981). The Beatles: An Illustrated Record. Harmony Books. p. 124. ISBN 0517544938.
- ^ McNally, J. (7 May 1978). "McCartney Blinks at Life". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. 95. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ Rausa, G. (5 November 2013). Dizionario della musica rock: Europa, USA, Canada e Australia. Bur. ISBN 9788858658239.
External links
- Lyrics from Paul McCartney's official site
- v
- t
- e
- Wild Life (1971)
- Red Rose Speedway (1973)
- Band on the Run (1973)
- Venus and Mars (1975)
- Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
- London Town (1978)
- Back to the Egg (1979)
- Wings over America (1976)
- Wings over Europe (2018)
- One Hand Clapping (2024)
- Wings Greatest (1978)
- Cold Cuts (unreleased)
- Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
- "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
- "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
- "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon"
- "My Love"
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- "Jet" / "Mamunia"
- "Let Me Roll It"
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- "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"
- "Junior's Farm" / "Sally G"
- "Listen to What the Man Said" / "Love in Song"
- "Letting Go" / "You Gave Me the Answer"
- "Venus and Mars"/"Rock Show" / "Magneto and Titanium Man"
- "Silly Love Songs" / "Cook of the House"
- "Let 'Em In" / "Beware My Love"
- "Maybe I'm Amazed" / "Soily"
- "Seaside Woman"
- "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
- "With a Little Luck" / "Backwards Traveller"/"Cuff Link"
- "I've Had Enough" / "Deliver Your Children"
- "London Town" / "I'm Carrying"
- "Goodnight Tonight" / "Daytime Nighttime Suffering"
- "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Getting Closer"
- "Arrow Through Me" / "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Rockestra Theme"
- "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)"
- "Mama's Little Girl"
- "Big Barn Bed"
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- "No Words"
- "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"
- "Call Me Back Again"
- "She's My Baby"
- "Must Do Something About It"
- "Warm and Beautiful"
- "Girlfriend"
- Wings University Tour (1972)
- Wings Over Europe Tour (1972)
- Wings 1973 UK Tour (May 1973)
- Wings Over the World tour (1975-1976)
- Wings UK Tour 1979 (1979)
- Wings Over the World (1979)
- Concert for Kampuchea (1980)
- Rockshow (1980)
- Back to the Egg (1981)
- Wingspan – An Intimate Portrait (2001)
- 1972 Wings Tour Bus
- Discography
- Songs
- McGear
- Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (album)
- Japanese Tears
- Standard Time
- Suzy and the Red Stripes
- The Oriental Nightfish
- Wide Prairie