Paul McCartney’s Most Psychedelic Songs

The Beatles live in 1963 - Beatroom - Glory1Dx / Youtube
Paul McCartney, a renowned musician and former member of The Beatles, has been an outspoken advocate for the legalization of marijuana. Despite facing legal trouble in the past, McCartney continues to express his support for the drug’s widespread acceptance. During the 1960s and 1970s, referencing drugs in songs was considered taboo, but McCartney was a leading voice in advocating for the legalization of marijuana. His influence, along with the shifting attitudes towards the drug, has resulted in many countries adopting less strict regulations surrounding its use. McCartneyโs incorporation of subtle references to marijuana in his music serves as a testament to his passion for the cause and his desire to express his love for the plant through his art.
โSheโs A Womanโ โ Beatles For Sale (1964)
The 1964 track โSheโs a Womanโ from the Beatlesโ album Beatles for Sale includes their first explicit reference to drugs. McCartney, primarily responsible for the songโs composition, along with a few contributions from Lennon, revealed that they were excited to incorporate some risquรฉ material into their music. The inclusion of the phrase โturns me onโ was their way of subtly alluding to marijuana, using it as an expression within the song.
โGot to Get You Into My Lifeโ โ Revolver (1966)
A seemingly innocent love ballad that actually reflects McCartneyโs admiration for pot is โGot to Get You Into My Lifeโ from the album Revolver. In an interview, McCartney admitted that the song is essentially an โode to pot.โ He likened it to someone else writing an ode to chocolate or a good claret, emphasizing the significance of marijuana in his life.
โFixing the Holeโ โ Sgt. Pepperโs Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Another song that expresses McCartneyโs affection for marijuana is โFixing a Holeโ from the iconic album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). While the song has various interpretations, McCartney revealed that part of it is about his discomfort with fans who linger around his house. Some fans believed the phrase โfixing a holeโ referred to heroin, but McCartney clarified that it was an โode to pot.โ
โMagical Mystery Tourโ – Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Another notable example is the title track of the 1967 television film and accompanying soundtrack, โMagical Mystery Tour.โ McCartney aimed to infuse a psychedelic vibe into the song and included the repetitive phrase, โroll up for the mystery tour,โ which he later admitted was a not-so-subtle reference to rolling a joint. The Beatles were known for incorporating veiled references to drugs and trips in their music, aimed at their friends who would understand.