‘Jet’ is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings from their third studio album Band on the Run (1973). It was the first British and American single to be released from the album. The song peaked at number 7 on both the British and American charts on 30 March 1974, also charting in multiple countries in Europe. It has since been released on numerous compilation albums, and has since become one of the band's best-known tracks.
Speaking with GQ in 2018, Paul McCartney told the story behind this song: "I was in a songwriting mood and I was up in Scotland. I just thought, OK, I just gotta go somewhere and try and write a song. We happened to have a little pony that was called Jet on the farm. I took my guitar and hiked up this great big hill. I found myself a place which was in the middle of nature, and just sat there and started making up a song. I don't know where all the words came from. Well I know where 'Jet' came from - I liked the name. The words are probably about me and my father-in-law. The early days of getting married and when your father-in-law is kind of a nuisance. He's probably the 'Major' in it but it's only a song so you kind of work your things out.”
He continued, “That one was written halfway up a mountain in Scotland, then recorded in Nigeria. I was wondering where to record and I fancied getting out of England, so I asked my record label which is EMI to supply me with a list of all the studios they had around the world - I knew they had a lot. One was in China, one was in Rio de Janeiro and one was in Lagos, Nigeria. So, I went, Yeah Lagos, come on, because I like African music a lot. I love the rhythms of African music so I chose that not realizing that it would be a really basic little studio. We kind of built half the studio. They didn't have a vocal booth, so we had to explain to them: you take some wood, you get some glass and you put it in like that. So, we built the vocal booths. But it was kind of nice, I liked the primitive aspect of it and being in Africa was a pretty interesting experience."
The single was a Top 10 hit for Paul McCartney and Wings. It peaked at number 7 on both the British and American charts on 30 March 1974, and charted in multiple countries in Europe. ‘Jet’ has since been released on multiple compilation albums, including Wings Greatest (1978), All the Best! (1987), Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) and Pure McCartney (2016). Prominent music critic Dave Marsh named the song number 793 in his list of the 1001 greatest singles ever made. He referred to it as a "grand pop confection" that represented the only time McCartney approached the "drive and density" of his tenure with the Beatles. Writer Graham Reid has described it as a power pop "gem." Billboard said that the "guitar energy" and vocal performances generate "an outstanding production." Cash Box called it a "catchy number" with "distinctive guitar riffs," a "straightforward rock beat" and "provocative lyrics." Record World called it "an overpowering smash both vocally and instrumentally."
Label – Apple
Songwriters – Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Producers – Paul McCartney
SONG LYRICS
[Chorus]Jet!
Jet!
Jet, I can almost remember their funny faces
That time you told 'em that you were gonna be marrying soon
[Pre-Chorus]
And Jet, I thought the only lonely place was on the moon
[Chorus]
Jet! (Ooh)
Jet! (Ooh)
[Verse 2]
Jet, was your father as bold as a Sergeant Major?
Oh, how come he told you that you were hardly old enough yet?
[Pre-Chorus]
And Jet, I thought the Major was a Lady Suffragette
[Chorus]
Jet! (Ooh)
Jet! (Ooh)
[Bridge]
Ah, mater
Want Jet to always love me
Ah, mater
Want Jet to always love me
Ah, mater
Much later
[Instrumental Bridge]
Jet!
[Pre-Chorus]
And Jet, I thought the Major was a little Lady Suffragette
[Chorus]
Jet! (Ooh)
Jet! (Ooh)
[Bridge]
Ah, mater
Want Jet to always love me
Ah, mater
Want Jet to always love me
Ah, mater
Much later
[Verse 3]
Jet, with the wind in your hair of a thousand laces
Climb on the back, and we'll go for a ride in the sky
[Pre-Chorus]
And Jet, I thought that the Major was a little Lady Suffragette
[Chorus]
Jet! (Ooh)
Jet! (Ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
And Jet, you know I thought you was a little Lady Suffragette
[Outro]
Jet! (Ooh)
A little lady
My little lady, yes, oh!