McCartney at 80 and Questions about Retirement

 

Sir Paul McCartney celebrated his 80^th birthday last weekend, and this coming weekend he will be appearing at Glastonbury; the oldest performer ever to do so.

Good for him…

… or is it?

Now, as most of my friends and blog readers will be well aware, I am a bit of a fan. Certainly, I am a big fan of the Beatles and there is no doubt that McCartney’s amazing musicality, creativity, experimentalism (often overlooked), and sheer energy played an enormous part in the Beatles’ success, output, and progress.

I have been watching Peter Jackson’s superb ‘Get Back’ film documenting the prolonged and protracted ‘Let it Be’ sessions, and I am finding it fascinating for the insight it gives into the relationships between the four Beatles (by this time sometimes strained, but equally also often fun and affectionate) and the insight into the ways in which their songs were created and developed.

While I might instinctively be more aligned with John Lennon’s music, I recognise McCartney for the genius he was and is, and the ‘Get Back’ film has reinforced that view.

John Lennon also recognised McCartney’s great ability. In spite of his well known criticisms of some of McCartney’s songs (such as ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ and ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ dismissed as ‘granny music’… and I tend to agree with Lennon on this) he also said ‘Paul was one of the most innovative bass players ever. And half the stuff that is going on now is directly ripped off from his Beatles period. He is an egomaniac about everything else about himself, but his bass playing he was always a bit coy about.’

Well, I find that interesting in all kinds of ways!

There are some lazy and inaccurate assessment’s made by people, such as the oft-stated idea that Lennon represented the rawer, rockier side of the Beatles while McCartney was more the soft, gentle balladeer. But that does not stand up to scrutiny when you consider the likes of McCartney’s ‘I saw her Standing There’, or ‘Why don’t we do it in the Road’ or ‘Helter Skelter’ and so on and on. (And not to mention the several ‘gentler’ and deeply sensitive Lennon compositions.)

Another popular misapprehension is that Paul was fine when he worked with Lennon in the Beatles, but since then he has descended into pop kitsch (or however the supposed critic would describe his post-Beatles’ output). And I will readily admit that he has produced some pretty mind-numbing nonsense whether as a solo artist or with Wings. But albums such as ‘Band on the Run’ or singles such as ‘Coming Up’ and ‘Live and Let Die’ are great (at least, in my opinion).

And then there is his most recent release ‘McCartney III’.

I confess, I did not begin listening to it with much positive expectation (I too seem to be infected with the prejudice). But it is absolutely great! I am not sure that I might not even suggest that it represents his best post-Beatles piece of work…

…except…

…his voice…

It has gone.

It has long gone, to be honest.

With my wife, my son, my daughter, and my brother, and many thousand others, I went to see the great man playing at Hampden Park some years ago. What a concert it was! It was the nearest I will ever get to attending a ‘Beatles’ Concert’. The music was great, the playing superb… although I could have done without his cheesy ‘showmanship’ and schmaltzy comments in between songs. However, it was his voice that struck me. It was not what it was… not by a long shot… and it is not getting better as the years pass.

Well, that’s no surprise. The man’s now 80!

So, why does he not just gracefully retire? Why did he not gracefully retire 20 years ago? He obviously does not need the money, or the recognition, or the sense of achievement.

And as I ponder that question, I am also asking the very same question of myself.

Did I not retire just a few weeks ago? Then why am I wondering about being a locum somewhere, or looking at possible roles in the wider life of the church, or checking out certain wee part-time jobs in the church??

I do not need the money (nice as it would be!) nor the recognition (I don’t think).

So, what is it?

Perhaps it is no more complicated than that it is difficult to give up those things that you enjoy, things that you find fulfilling, things that feed your soul, things that you have always done.

And what will you do if you stop doing these? Is it a question of role, or even identity?

Perhaps that is Paul McCartney’s problem.

Perhaps it is mine too.

Perhaps it is an issue for many people.

But perhaps too there is a time to recognise that we may no longer be able to do what we once did, and nor should we. Those days are past.

Is it time for Paul and me to celebrate the past and ‘Let it Be’, and to step out on a new part of the ‘Long and Winding Road’.

Time to recognise that whatever we contributed in the past, we may no longer have what it takes to do the same in the present or the future, accept that, and find what we can do and find fulfilling and meaningful?

I am just pondering… no decisions… yet.