‘Band on the Run’ is a song by the British–American rock band Paul McCartney and Wings, released as the title track to their 1973 album Band on the Run. The song was released as a single in April 1974 in the US and in June 1974 in the UK, following the success of "Jet", and became an international chart success. The song topped the charts in the United States, also reaching number 3 in the United Kingdom, becoming McCartney's third non-Beatles American chart-topping single, and the second with Wings. The single sold over one million copies in 1974 in America. It has since become one of the band's most famous songs.
The song reached number 1 in both Canada and New Zealand. The song was also a top 40 single in multiple European countries, such as the Netherlands (number 7), Belgium (number 21), and Germany (number 22).
A medley of three distinct musical passages that vary in style, ‘Band on the Run’ is one of McCartney's longest singles at 5:09. In a 1973 interview with Paul Gambaccini, McCartney stated that the lyric "if we ever get out of here" was inspired by a remark made by George Harrison during one of the Beatles' many business meetings. McCartney recalled: "He was saying that we were all prisoners in some way [due to the ongoing problems with their company Apple] … I thought it would be a nice way to start an album." McCartney added, referring to his inspiration for "Band on the Run": "It's a million things … all put together. Band on the run – escaping, freedom, criminals. You name it, it's there.”
According to Mojo contributor Tom Doyle, the song's lyrics, recalled through memory following the robbery of the band's demo tapes for the Band on the Run album, were altered to reflect on the band's then-current status, "stuck inside the four walls of the small, cell-like studio, faced with grim uncertainty."
Paul McCartney and Wings won the Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for "Band on the Run" at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards. NME ranked the song as the tenth best song of the 1970s, as well as the fifteenth best solo song by an ex-Beatle. In 2010, AOL Radio listeners voted ‘Band on the Run’ the best song of McCartney's solo career. In 2012, Rolling Stone readers ranked the song as McCartney's fourth best song of all time, behind "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Hey Jude", and "Yesterday". Rolling Stone readers also ranked the song the fifth best solo Beatle song.
Label – Apple
Songwriters – Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Producer – Paul McCartney
SONG LYRICS
[Part I][Verse]
Stuck inside these four walls
Sent inside forever
Never seeing no one nice again
Like you
Mama, you
Mama, you
[Part II]
[Verse]
If I ever get out of here
Thought of giving it all away
To a registered charity
All I need is a pint a day
If I ever get out of here
If we ever get out of here
[Part III]
[Verse 1]
Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash
As we fell into the sun
And the first one said to the second one there
"I hope you're having fun"
[Chorus]
Band on the run
Band on the run
And the jailer man and Sailor Sam
Were searching everyone
For the band on the run
Band on the run
For the band on the run
Band on the run
[Verse 2]
Well, the undertaker drew a heavy sigh
Seeing no one else had come
And a bell was ringing in the village square
For the rabbits on the run
[Chorus]
Band on the run
Band on the run
And the jailer man and Sailor Sam
Were searching everyone
For the band on the run
Band on the run
Yeah, the band on the run
The band on the run
The band on the run
Band on the run
[Verse 3]
Well, the night was falling as the desert world
Began to settle down
In the town they're searching for us everywhere
But we never will be found
[Chorus]
Band on the run
Band on the run
And the county judge, who held a grudge
Will search forevermore
For the band on the run
The band on the run
The band on the run
Band on the run