Paul McCartney Never Performed This Iconic Beatles Song Live
The Beatles quit touring for good in 1966, and many of the songs from later releases never got a proper Fab Four performance. That being said, each respective member of The Beatles went on to perform a number of those post-Beatles songs during their solo runs. But surprisingly, there’s one hit track that never got a performance; not even from the man who wrote it.
That song would be “Martha My Dear” from the band’s 1968 self-titled album. The track was written by Paul McCartney and is a heartfelt tribute to his beloved sheepdog, Martha. Some have interpreted the song as a reference to his public breakup with Jane Asher, notably with the lyrics “Don’t forget me”. The lyrics “Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you” is seen as a dig at a potential alleged affair Asher had while McCartney was traveling with The Old Vic Theatre.
However, McCartney has never verified these claims. He’s also never performed the song live. Why Paul McCartney Never Performed “Martha My Dear” Live?
“Martha My Dear” is a major fan-favorite among Beatles superfans and casual listeners alike. The band’s contemporaries and other artists love it too, with the likes of Brass, World Party, Phish, and more covering the track. It’s quite surprising that McCartney never played the song live with Wings or during his solo endeavors. Ironically, the song sounds as close to a Wings song as you can get.
Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com
