Paul McCartney represents everything that one should expect from a musician. McCartney’s collaborations with John Lennon introduced some of the most sophisticated ideas to rock and roll, despite his lack of formal training in proper musical theory. Together, they created timeless melodies that touched the hearts of millions of people worldwide. Even with the overwhelming praise for songs like “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be,” Macca still wishes he could write like this particular artist.
When McCartney first began writing with Lennon, he would find himself incorporating elements from any genre he could think of. The jazzy chords in “Michelle” are one example, and the show-tune melodies in “When I’m 64” are another. McCartney dabbled in uncharted territory. Their music pulsated with echoes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard, yet they carved their distinct path.
However, Bob Dylan changed American popular music at the same time. The Beatles were beginning to experience their first real success with albums like A Hard Day’s Night. Beginning with folk music, Dylan turned the world of music upside down with albums like The Freewheelin‘ Bob Dylan. Songs like “Masters of War” and “Blowin’ In the Wind” addressed the major issues facing the globe.
Although Macca first acknowledged not getting Dylan’s approach, he subsequently claimed to be envious of his verbal prowess. Dylan’s early attempts at writing songs featured simple chord progressions, typically favoring a small number of chords to act as a bed for him to tell his stories. Examples include “The Times They Are A-Changin” or “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” in contrast to McCartney’s complex melodies.
McCartney would later remark, “Dylan is a fantastic composer,” when discussing Dylan’s influence, adding that he wished he had Dylan’s wordplay prowess. I was initially perplexed. His songs used to stop for me in the middle, but eventually, I realized it didn’t matter. Just two words in a Dylan song can cause you to become fixated. His amazing word combinations include “magic swirling ship” and “jealous monk.” I’m envious of him because I could never write as well.
Although Paul McCartney was enamored with Dylan’s work, his writing partner likely felt the same way. When discussing Dylan’s impact on The Beatles‘ sound, McCartney recalled how enamored Lennon would get of Dylan’s writing. He stated to Rolling Stone that “[It] struck a chord with John.” John seemed to be thinking, “That ought to have been me.” John then performed a Dylan impression.
The British rockers were a major influence on Dylan when he picked up an electric guitar for the first time in 1965. The band found themselves magnetically attracted to his way of writing songs. The band may have enjoyed a friendly rivalry throughout the 1960s, but what they produced together was the best rock and roll ever.
