I'm Carrying Explained

I'm Carrying
Cover:London Town I'm Carrying Belgium cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Wings
Album:London Town
A-Side:London Town
Released:26 August 1978
Recorded:5 May 1977[1]
Genre:Soft rock
Length:2:44
Label:Parlophone/EMI (UK)
Capitol (US)
Producer:Paul McCartney

"I'm Carrying" is a song written by Paul McCartney that was first released on Wings' 1978 album London Town. It was also released as the B-side of the "London Town" single.[2] In 2003 it was later released on the soundtrack to the film The In-Laws.[2]

Lyrics and music

"I'm Carrying" is a gentle love song.[2] [3] Although Linda McCartney, Paul's wife, was a member of Wings, the song was not inspired by her but rather by a former girlfriend of Paul McCartney's.[3] [4] [5] The song has a simple structure, with two verses and a refrain.[3] In the first verse, McCartney sings that he will come to his lover's room after an absence bringing gifts and a carnation.[3] In the second verse, he sings that he has been away for a long time and wonders if his return will lack style.[3] The refrain simply notes that he is carrying something for his lover.[3]

"I'm Carrying" is in the key of E major and based on four chords.[3] McCartney originally recorded the song accompanied by just his acoustic guitar during the London Town sessions aboard the stern of the yacht Fair Carol in the Virgin Islands on 5 May 1977.[2] [4] The song was recorded in one take and according to engineer Tom Anderson, McCartney was "enclosed in a wooden ‘isolation’ area we built out of plywood."[6] In December 1977, he overdubbed orchestral strings and he also overdubbed his own playing of an electric guitar using a Gizmo.[2] [3] [4] The Gizmo is a device invented by 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, which allows a guitar to be played by vibrating the strings rather than plucking them.[2] [3]

Critical reception

Author John Blaney notes that "I'm Carrying" expresses sentiments similar to those McCartney sang on the Beatles' "Yesterday," noting that "I'm Carrying" is "less adventurous melodically but no less welcoming."[2] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls it "nice" and "understated."[7] George Harrison chose "I'm Carrying" as his favorite song from London Town, describing it as "sensational".[4] [8] CD Review described the song as a "silly love song that's sweet, simple, and tuneful."[9] Billboard Magazines Timothy White considers the song one of McCartney's post-Beatle peaks.[10] Jim Beviglia of Culture Sonar described the melody as being "as romantic as a moonlit slow dance."[11]

Other appearances

Wings' version of "I'm Carrying" was used in the soundtrack for the film The In-Laws in 2003.[2] [7] [12] [13] The song is also incorporated in the soundtrack to the Greg MacGillivray film To the Arctic 3D, including for a scene in which a mother polar bear plays with her cubs.[14] [15]

Sham Rock covered "I'm Carrying" on their 2004 album The Album.[16] Guitarist Phil Keaggy played the song with Paul McCartney at the wedding of Linda McCartney's sister Laura Eastman.[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: I'm Carrying (song) . The Paul McCartney Project.
  2. Book: Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Blaney, J.. 123–125, 264. 2007. Jawbone Press. 978-1-906002-02-2.
  3. Book: The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Benitez, V.P.. 81. 2010. Praeger. 978-0-313-34969-0.
  4. Book: Eight Arms to Hold You. Madiger, C. . Easter, M.. 232. 2000. 44.1 Productions. 0-615-11724-4.
  5. Book: The Paul McCartney encyclopedia. Harry, B.. 442. Virgin. 2003. 9780753507162.
  6. Book: Perasi, Luca . Paul McCartney Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 . 2023 . L.I.L.Y. Publishing . 978-88-909-122-9-0 . 1st . Milan, Italy . 268.
  7. Web site: The In-Laws. Erlewine, S.T.. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Allmusic. 8 October 2012.
  8. Web site: The Paul McCartney song George Harrison described as “sensational”. Far Out Magazine. Potter, Jordan. 24 September 2022. 2023-12-10.
  9. Book: CD Review. 1990. 7. 1–6.
  10. Book: Rediscussion. White, T.. 87. Billboard Magazine. 14 June 1997. 8 October 2012.
  11. Web site: The 10 Best Paul McCartney Songs You May Never Have Heard. Beviglia, Jim. 2019-07-18. October 14, 2017. Culture Sonar.
  12. Web site: For The Record: Quick News On Eminem And Nas, Jack Black, Winona Ryder, Wayne Wonder, Tony Hawk & More. MTV. 24 April 2003. https://archive.today/20130129040157/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471502/record-quick-news-on-eminem-nas-jack-black-winona-ryder-wayne-wonder-tony-hawk-more.jhtml. dead. January 29, 2013. 8 October 2012.
  13. News: Soundtracks. Billboard Magazine. Hay, C.. 19. 10 May 2003. 8 October 2012.
  14. Web site: Take a Journey To The Arctic in IMAX® Theatres Starting Friday. PR Newswire. April 18, 2012. 2013-01-11.
  15. Web site: To the Arctic. imax.com. 2013-01-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20130613015325/http://www.imax.com/tothearctic/downloads/IMAX_ToTheArctic_Production_Notes.pdf. 2013-06-13. dead.
  16. Web site: The Album. Allmusic. 8 October 2012.
  17. Web site: Guitar Phil Keaggy brings his album to life. Maissey, J.. hamptonroads.com. 3 April 2008. 8 October 2012.