Paul McCartney - Riding To Vanity Fair Lyrics






I bit my tongue
I never talked too much
I tried to be so strong
I did my best
I used the gentle touch
I've done it for so long

You put me down
But I can laugh it off
And act like nothing's wrong

But why pretend
I think I've heard enough
Of your familiar song

I tell you what I'm going to do
I'll try to take my mind off you
And now that you don't need my help
I'll use the time to think about myself

You're not aware
Of what you put me through
But now the feeling's gone
But I don't mind
Do what you have to do
You don't fool anyone

I'll tell you what I'm going to do
I'll take a different point of view
And now that you don't need my help
I'll use the time to think about myself

The definition of friendship
Apparently ought to be
Showing support for the
One that you love
And I was open to friendship
But you didn't seem to have any to spare
While you were riding to Vanity Fair

There was a time
When every day was young
The sun would always shine
We sang along
When all the songs were sung
Believing every line

That's the trouble with friendship
For someone to feel it
It has to be real
Or it wouldn't be right
And I keep hoping for friendship
But I wouldn't dare
To presume it was there
While you were riding to Vanity Fair

While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair





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Paul McCartney Riding To Vanity Fair Comments
  1. D.... D....

    GREAT SONG!!! I’ve never heard this hidden McCartney gem until now. Deep. Embodies all of the feelings I felt during my divorce after finding my wife had been cheating on me. Profound, I know some can relate.

  2. A.... R....

    1) Egypt Station
    2) Chaos And Creation in the Backyard.
    3) RAM
    4) Wings at the speed of sound
    5)Flaming Pie


    By far !

  3. D.... H....

    A message to Heather?

  4. P.... K....

    Une des plus belles chansons de l'album ( qui n'en contient aucune de mauvaise, contrairement à bcp d'autres albums de McCa ) qui montrent le compositeur à son zénith. Cet album est une une pure merveille, le fameux Beatle ne refera jamais plus aussi bien !

  5. C.... L....

    one of McCartney's best songs...not just solo - all time. Remarkable on his fifth decade as the songwriter. Kudos to Goodrich for making Paul dig deeper for this.

  6. k.... m....

    Best song on Chaos

  7. A.... D....

    So far one of the best songs ever made by Paul

  8. J.... S....

    The man is singing about the evil wife heather who berated and ridiculed around his staff, called him a stupid old man, an old fart and noted he had to perform with young artists to stay current. Like yoko, she claimed to grow up on classical and not know Beatles stuff and he sang a few for him then she said he wrote a few beautiful songs when he was young. Like John, he fell for that never heard of Beatles much and grew up on classical when each woman targeted a Beatle.

  9. E.... C....

    I shall pray for the 7 thumbs pointing down. Corrective surgery is recommended.

  10. G.... G....

    I bit my tongue
    I never talked too much
    I tried to be so strong
    I did my best
    I used the gentle touch
    I've done it for so long

    You put me down
    But I can laugh it off
    And act like nothing's wrong
    But why pretend
    I think I've heard enough
    Of your familiar song

    I tell you what I'm going to do
    I'll try to take my mind off you
    And now that you don't need my help
    I'll use the time to think about myself

    You're not aware
    Of what you put me through
    But now the feeling's gone
    But I don't mind
    Do what you have to do
    You don't fool anyone

    I'll tell you what I'm going to do
    I'll take a different point of view
    And now that you don't need my help
    I'll use the time to think about myself

    The definition of friendship
    Apparently ought to be
    Showing support for the one that you love
    And I was open to friendship
    But you didn't seem to have any to spare
    While you were riding to Vanity Fair

    There was a time
    When every day was young
    The sun would always shine
    We sang along
    When all the songs were sung
    Believing every line

    That's the trouble with friendship
    For someone to feel it
    It has to be real or it wouldn't be right
    And I keep hoping for friendship
    But I wouldn't dare to presume it was there
    While you were riding to Vanity Fair

    G.... G....

    Looking at the lyrics, one can't help but think this was about HM. He was quoted by saying it was about several people, but she was a temporary rebound from his grief from losing Linda. It sounds like HM took advantage of that situation and is still keeping things stirred up. She likes attention, even if it's bad attention.

  11. S.... B....

    Perfect song for a Gilmour solo!

  12. J.... P....

    this album and pauls ram album are my fav of his albums

  13. J.... C....

    When it was first released I was a bit ambivalent towards Chaos And Creation, but in the past year or two it's the Paul McCartney I most revisit.

  14. S.... G....

    Domani caro Mc Cartney riascoltato i tuoi disci che per me sono nuovi molto belli e già avevi e hai sempre avuto il tuo stile

  15. J.... A....

    A direct attack at the bitch Heather!!!!!!

  16. l.... p....

    MOLTO BELLA E PROFONDA

  17. E.... A....

    My heart Has Chosen Jessica Alba,..Beatles are Great. Sia are Great indeed. I don't fool, i'm the fool myself. Forever is my Only Way.

  18. P.... L....

    Love this song and the album, he reveals insecurities quite a lot and loneliness and i take it that they are his feelings ;So the subject matter was very refreshing.

  19. B.... D....

    FRIENDSHIP PAUL AND ETTA

  20. B.... D....

    CHECK IN

  21. S.... D....

    Here's to you Jess. Almost ten years later. I love and hate you equally,

  22. n.... r....

    "Chaos and creation..." is a great great album! If it had come out 20 years before it would be famous and had sold billions of copies but it came out in a time when Macca wasnt in his best selling and promoting part of his career, and the choice of the good "Fine Line" as a single wasnt the best choice to me.. because, even if a great tune (reminding of ELO) it sounded like it was that "Another album".. People was ready for "another album" but this wasnt.. this was a truely inspired album including great arrangements, great lyrics and songs songs songs, you can listen to it from a to z. I suggest you to find "chaos e creation at abbey road", a funny showcase in which Paul and Goldrich play a few tunes from the album plus a couple of oldies and have fun playing weird instruments showing how the album was recorded. This is about music, about love for music and love for being in a studio... Kind of things these people are masters, like Jeff Lynne or other great artists from the golden era of pop music. BUY this album.. you wont regret! there's everything, life, laughs, cry, healing... Love to Paul!

  23. S.... W....

    At one point you hear him sing "writing to Vanity Fair" - someone close to him was leaking stuff to the media

    S.... W....

    Writing or riding? Heather did an interview with Vanity Fair that Paul did not like while they were married and thought she was only married to seek attention for herself.

    S.... W....

    @Daniel Achille exactly Daniel. Vanity Fair was also required reading in school in England.....Like Keats, and Shakespeare and other classic reading material, Not that I'm defending HM, I think you have it correctly.

  24. D.... B....

    That cello after the second chorus: awesome!

  25. T.... A....

    Glad Godrich got Macca to challenge himself more. Chaos is a truly great album, this song included.

    T.... A....

    Go on-- big picture project . net-- and read “The Present” for the truth about life and death, which can change the world from page one. Nothing is more important than reading it.

    T.... A....

    Taylor Abrahamse , change challenges greatly and death a massive challenge.....mom, dad, John, Linda, George, Maureen, Paul dated before ringo.....

  26. N.... -....

    the song its about who ??????

    N.... -....

    Heather Mills....in relating to Paul McCartney, most people just refer to her as HM. She's not worth mentioning unless it's something very specific about her. She decided (or someone decided for her) to change her name back to Mills. Pauls adopted daughter is Heather McCartney so it does get confusing at times.

    N.... -....

    @G. G. Beaufort The name that shall not be mentioned

  27. K.... ....

    This is by far my favorite Paul McCartney song, including when he was in the Beatles.  Yeah, I said it.  This album was a masterpiece.  It was produced by Nigel Godrich, who produced Radiohead (probably my favorite band of all time), and also produced Beck's "Sea Change" album, which was also awesome.

    K.... ....

    I'm not offering to imply it's better,mouth im just interested, have you heard his most recent album? Just curious, not trying to be one of those, "ummm have you NOT heard his new album?"

    K.... ....

    Darn good, but have you heard the songs "Yesterday" and "Penny Lane" when he was with the Fab Four?

    K.... ....

    Go back and listen to For No One

  28. T.... F....

    this about john? 

    T.... F....

    I hear him expressing his disappointment in working with Michael Jackson.

    T.... F....

    Heather Mills.

  29. m.... m....

    His best solo album by far. I guess its a great achievement after all he has written to come up with the goods this late in the game.

    m.... m....

    Its a matter of opinion you piece of shit.

    m.... m....

    +mac morrison This and even "New" contain some of his best ever songwriting, but I like the sound on this album better. Even "Memory Almost Full" has some fantastic and heartfelt lyrics, but the musical aspect is not my favourite. This song, in particular, is probably one of my favourite solo Paul songs, and "Friends To Go" is very well done. Definitely an awesome late-career creative peak.

    m.... m....

    1) ALL Wings except Wild Life
    2) RAM
    3) Flaming Pie
    4) McCartney & McCartney II
    5) Tug Of War
    6) Hits and B-sides
    7) The Paul/Costello songs/demos.
    8) All the other albums, including this one have gems, 4 or 5 good to great songs.
    -The Peggy Lee and Badginger and Cristmas song

    That's my nickle.

    m.... m....

    mac morrison : There's opinion...& there's also quality & shit. This song & album is shit. His singing often doesn't suit the feeling in the lyrics. & his singing is badly done & lacks genuine feeling. Paul wants us to think "while you were riding to vanity fair" is a profound line, profound song ? SMH.
    A lot of the music is just different things thrown together...& the album is poorly recorded. Ugh.

    m.... m....

    open your ears

  30. p.... ....

    All is brilliant in Ch and C ./Too much rain,Dear  friend,English tea,Certain softness./

    p.... ....

    Jenny Wren...

  31. C.... G....

    Totally, totally, totally agree with you...except New is actually pretty good despite it being a little bit of a formula song. But I definitely take your point.

    This particular song is just a masterpiece, I couldn't imagine just writing something like this and having it be no big deal and have a thousand others. Seriously, Paul, this is seriously good shit.

  32. C.... G....

    Totally kick ass album, love it.

  33. s.... ....

    This is one of those very rare brilliant songs that McCartney has written and performed in the last 20 years (in fact with Jenny Wren and Never happened Before) there were three masterpieces on the same album. What a shame he turns out so much dross like Fine Line and New when he can come up with 3 brilliant songs on one album of this quality. Lets hope there are some similar songs on the new album

  34. A.... L....

    Love this album, especially this song and Jenny Wren.

  35. G.... B....

    fantastic

  36. p.... ....

    I think I will bookmark this

  37. J.... P....

    This man is infinite...is incredible the talent

  38. K.... ....

    I read it was about someone else and the timing was wrong, because this came out well before they even separated. However, I always listen to this song as his song to Heather because I felt she used him for money (despite having money from modeling) and he was too in love to get a prenump. He wouldn't actually speak out for himself so song is his way. I understand that PM fans like myself weren't there, don't know the whole story, and are a bit biased - but I'll still listen to it that way.

    K.... ....

    Heather Mills.

    K.... ....

    Paul acknowledged that there are songs that he wrote that there were good songs with HM as her as his muse that they would be wasted if he left them out. I suppose this was written to balance any misconceptions that he was officially over her.

  39. R.... H....

    i totally agree!

  40. m.... l....

    damit hat er aber etliche songwriter auf ihre plätze gesetzt.

  41. N.... ....

    The Definition of Fantasmagoria

  42. M.... ....

    What a team Nigel Godrich created with Paul. Hope they can get together again

  43. c.... ....

    I'm 19 and I have been writing music since I was in 3rd grade but some of Paul's songs I want to smack myself for not coming up with!!! Lol

  44. f.... ....

    It reminds me a bit of "For No One," in that both songs are painfully beautiful.

  45. K.... S....

    A one-man orchestra!

  46. A.... S....

    Such a brilliant melody. PM is the greatest musical composer of my lifetime.

  47. 6.... ....

    Beautiful song Thumbs UP posting. Thanks

  48. y.... ....

    amazing song!

  49. M.... ....

    catharctic song

  50. D.... t....

    @MrMoviemaster26 I know what you meant when u said 78 likes, I just said now it was 89 likes

  51. D.... t....

    @MrMoviemaster26 You mean 89 likes

  52. H.... ....

    @HippieChick445
    Yoko. It's before Peggy.

  53. O.... �....

    He is a fucking Beatle!

  54. M.... ....

    i feel so catharctic every time i listen to this!It's a deep quality song

  55. I.... S....

    This song deserves a great video.However, I'm sure the real life events which inspired it would be much too tragic for good time you tube viewers..The music soothes us...

  56. D.... ....

    Sounds like a Beck song and Godrich was a Beck producer.

  57. H.... n....

    This makes me think of car rides through the English countryside on hot sunny days, thinking about relationships. I find the lyrics slightly, slightly childish but the composure just great. As if it's only just carrying itself along.
    Nice song Paul.

  58. K.... ....

    The most cute & lovely song

  59. f.... ....

    This song makes me think, soo bad. Everybody is running to the vanity fair, everything is so vain... There is a "material" between us, people.
    Thank you for this song

  60. m.... ....

    One of his most vulnerable songs. Absolutely gorgeous.

  61. K.... S....

    Pretty direct huh?--set to a beautiful tune.

  62. S.... M....

    Great song.... unfortunately underrated.

  63. r.... ....

    good stuff. we need more like it. ditch the cover band macca and get back to the studio - -ALONE.

    r.... ....

    JR....no, no, no! I don't think so. The guys he plays with now are great musicians in their own right. That's why Paul doesn't introduce them on tour, because they choose to be there, no contracts like the one the broke up the Beatles.
    Paul "Wix" Wickens, Abe Laboriel, Jr, Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray all do their own gigs between tours. They have actually played faithfully with Paul for over 15 years....not one substitute. That's longer than playing with the Beatles.
    Paul has always stated that he loves touring and singing live. The day he stops will be the beginning of the end. He's very happy right now....thanks to this group of musicians, his wife Nancy and huge support from his kids. The jumped on board as he was in the middle of his divorce, helped him get through that, and welcomed Nancy. Each one of them have been a tremendous compliment to Paul's playing Paul has known "Wix" for 26 years. He's very unassuming...he does back up keyboard and mixes a lot of the tracks on stage. They all have my full respect. Also Paul's, as he stated how honored he is to he is able to tour with them

  64. t.... ....

    Best song for years and years-really impressive and atmospheric. His output from Flaming Pie onwards has been great,much better than the mid to late 80's/early 90's low points!