Paul McCartney Breaks Down Performing “Here Today” — His Heartfelt Tribute to John Lennon
A Moment of Raw Emotion on Stage
It has been more than forty years since John Lennon’s tragic death, yet the pain remains deeply felt for Sir Paul McCartney. The 82-year-old music legend recently revealed that he completely broke down during a live performance of his deeply personal ballad “Here Today” — a song he wrote in honor of his late friend and former Beatles bandmate.
McCartney shared that while performing the emotional tribute, he became overwhelmed with grief, repeating the words “I love you, I love you, I love you” before admitting to the audience, “Oh shit — I’ve just totally lost it.”
The Song That Says What He Never Could
Written in 1981, just months after Lennon was fatally shot outside his New York City apartment, “Here Today” first appeared on McCartney’s 1982 album Tug of War. The song is structured as an imagined conversation between the two musical icons — the words Paul says he never got to express while Lennon was alive.
“At least once a tour that song just gets me,” McCartney admitted. “I’m singing it, I think I’m fine, and then I suddenly realise — it’s very emotional. John was a great mate, a huge part of my life, and I miss him.”
A Friendship Beyond the Fights
Though the final years of The Beatles were marked by creative clashes and public disputes, McCartney insists that his bond with Lennon was unbreakable. Where Lennon once fired back at Paul with the biting track “How Do You Sleep?”, McCartney ultimately responded not with bitterness but with love — and through tears.
“We were like brothers,” Paul has often said. “Even when we disagreed, there was love underneath it all.”
A Staple of His Live Performances
Over the years, “Here Today” has become a cornerstone of McCartney’s live shows. Fans describe those performances as some of the most emotional moments of his concerts — moments when the world’s most successful songwriter allows himself to be completely vulnerable on stage. It’s a song that captures both the depth of loss and the enduring power of friendship.
“Now and Then” — The Final Goodbye
Recently, McCartney admitted he faced similar emotions while recording “Now and Then” — dubbed “the last Beatles song” — which reunites his voice with Lennon’s through restored archival recordings. For Paul, it was another bittersweet reminder of what was lost, and what still remains through music.
Love That Never Fades
Decades later, McCartney’s performances of “Here Today” continue to move audiences around the world. They’re not just tributes — they’re open letters of love, regret, and remembrance. For Paul, the grief may never fully fade, but through every note and every lyric, his message to John remains beautifully clear:
“I love you.”
