Paul McCartney Said It Took ‘Courage’ to Show John Lennon 1 of His Songs

Early in their friendship, Paul McCartney taught John Lennon to play songs by a 1950s rock star. Subsequently, Paul showed “courage” by showing John one of his own songs. The song was not officially released until the 1990s.

Paul McCartney taught John Lennon to play songs by a famous rock star

During a 2021 interview with The New Yorker, Paul discussed meeting John for the first time. Paul said he was introduced to his fellow Beatle by a friend named Ivan Vaughan. “And after that John and I started hanging out quite a bit,” he said. “I was on school holidays and John was about to start art college, usefully next door to my school.” 

Paul said he and John had opposite personalities. “John often had his guard up, but that was one of the great balances between us,” he recalled. “He could be quite caustic and witty, but once you got to know him he had this lovely warm character. I was more the opposite: pretty easygoing and friendly, but I could be tough when needed.”

Paul discussed how his collaboration with John started. “I showed him how to tune his guitar; he was using banjo tuning — I think his neighbor had done that for him before — and we taught ourselves how to play songs by people like Chuck Berry,” he remembered.

Paul McCartney said ‘it all began’ when he shows John Lennon 1 of his songs

Subsequently, the “Ebony and Ivory” singer discussed playing John one of his songs. “I would have played him ‘I Lost My Little Girl” a while later, when I’d got my courage up to share it, and he started showing me his songs. And that’s where it all began.”

During a 2021 interview with The New York Times Magazine, Paul discussed what “I Lost My Little Girl” was like. “When I first said to John, ‘I’ve written a few songs,’ they were simple,” Paul said. “My first song was called ‘I Lost My Little Girl’ — four chords.”

How ‘I Lost My Little Girl’ performed on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom

“I Lost My Little Girl” never charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, it never appeared on any of The Beatles’ albums. Eventually, a live performance of the song appeared on Paul’s 1991 album Unplugged (The Official Bootleg). The album became a minor hit in the United States, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard 200. The song stayed on the chart for eight weeks.

The Official Charts Company reports “I Lost My Little Girl” never charted in the United Kingdom either. On the other hand, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) became far more popular there. The album peaked at No. 7 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for three weeks.

“I Lost My Little Girl” isn’t a famous song but it has an interesting palace in the history of Paul and John’s friendship.