| "Don't Let It Bring You Down" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Wings | |
| from the album London Town | |
| Released | 31 March 1978 |
| Recorded | May 1977 |
| Studio | Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, Virgin Islands |
| Length | 4:34 |
| Label | Parlophone (UK) Capitol (US) |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Paul McCartney |
"Don't Let It Bring You Down" is a song written by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine, and released on Wings's 1978 studio album London Town.[1]
Background
[edit]"Don't Let It Bring You Down" was written by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine and is about not getting down on life's low points.[2] It was written on tour in Scotland in 1975, as Paul McCartney stated; "I think we were in Aberdeen, sitting in our hotel bedroom, Just before we were going to turn in for the night, and I had my 12-string guitar with me. I started plonking out a little tune and it became 'Don't Let It Bring You Down".[3][4]
The song was recorded in the Virgin Islands on the yacht Fair Carol during sessions between 22 and 27 May 1977.[4] Mixing and overdubbing was done at Abbey Road Studios during November 1977.[4] Overdubs included backing vocals by Laine and Paul and Linda McCartney and Paul McCartney also added an electric guitar part and Paul McCartney and Laine added flageolets.[4] Overdubbing was completed in January 1978.[4]
Music and lyrics
[edit]The song is in the key of D minor and in a 3
4 time signature.[4] During the chorus, the melody jumps by a major sixth between the words "bring" and "you", and then falls a minor third from the word "you" to the word "down".[4]
The lyrics have the singer mouring for the past.[4] In a review for AllMusic, Donald A. Guarisco states that "The lyrics of the song take on a philosophical tone as they advise against getting down about life’s low points: 'Don't go down, don't go underground/Things seem strange but they change/Oh, they change/Up and down your carousel will go/Don't let it bring you down.' McCartney wraps this lyric in a gentle, syncopated melody that presents its folk-ish hooks at a slow stately pace reminiscent of a waltz played at half-speed."[2]
Release and reception
[edit]"Don't Let It Bring You Down" Was originally issued on Wings's sixth album London Town, and its subsequent reissues.[1] In 2016, it was included the four disc deluxe edition reissue of the Pure McCartney compilation.[5] In a review for London Town for Rolling Stone, Janet Maslin notes that it has a "minor mean streak, one that spices up the Wheatena with a welcome note of discord."[6] CultureSonar critic Ellen Fagan states "another ode to keeping the faith but filtered through a voice of pain [that] is well-crafted but filled with heaviosity".[7] Guarisco called it a "highlight" of the album and a "solid example of a McCartney ballad."[2]
The Sun criitc John Bialas criticized "McCartney's uninspired voice and dreadful lyrics."[8] Ventura County Star critic Matt Aragorn Pavin called it a song "whose words are overly cliched and whose melody is insufficiently arresting to overcome the lack of dynamics."[9] The Michigan Daily critic Owen Gleiberman calls it an "uncharacteristic solemn ballad with an understated 6/8 rhythm that flows along unburdened as it delivers its quietly optimistic message."[10]
Personnel
[edit]According to The Paul McCartney Project:[11]
- Paul McCartney – acoustic guitar, backing vocals, bass, electric guitar, Irish tin whistle, vocals
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals
- Denny Laine – acoustic guitar, backing vocals, Irish tin whistle
- Jimmy McCulloch – possible acoustic guitar
- Joe English – brushes, drums
References
[edit]- 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "London Town Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 Guarisco, Donald A. "Don't Let It Bring You Down". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Blaney, John (2007). Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone: A Critical Discography of Their Solo Work. Internet Archive. Jawbone Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
- ↑ Sinclair, Paul (1 April 2016). "Pure McCartney: Macca-curated best of offers solo & Wings tracks across 4CDs". SuperDeluxeEdition. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (15 June 1978). "London Town". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Fagan, Ellen (18 November 2022). "Wings' "London Town": Time for A Fresh Listen". CultureSonar. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Bialas, John (7 May 1978). "Wings 'London Town' in tailspin as Paul's crew abandons ship". The Sun. p. E-6. Retrieved 2026-04-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ Pavin, Matt Aragorn (20 May 1978). "Wings not soaring - but its record sales are". Ventura County Star. p. A-10. Retrieved 2026-04-30 – via newspapers.com.
- ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (31 May 1976). The Michigan Daily. The Michigan Daily. p. 7.
- ↑ "Don't Let It Bring You Down (song)". The Paul McCartney Project. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
