music
May 5, 2026
‘It’s a bit emotional’: Paul McCartney plays new songs to fans at Abbey Road
The ex-Beatle hosted a playback previewing his next album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, telling stories along the way
TL;DR
- Paul McCartney surprised 50 competition-winning fans with a preview of his new album, 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane,' at Abbey Road Studios.
- The album is McCartney's first solo studio album in over five years and is scheduled for release on May 29.
- McCartney shared memories of his youth in Liverpool, his friendship with John Lennon and George Harrison, and his songwriting process.
- The album draws inspiration from McCartney's childhood, his parents' experiences, and early adventures with The Beatles.
- Specific songs mentioned include 'As You Lie There,' inspired by a childhood crush, 'Days We Left Behind,' referencing Dungeon Lane and a promise to John Lennon, 'Ripples in a Pond' for his wife Nancy Shevell, 'Mountaintop' from a Glastonbury perspective, 'Home to Us' as his first duet with Ringo Starr, 'Life Can Be Hard' written during lockdown, 'Salesman Saint' about his parents' wartime roles, and 'Down South' recalling hitchhiking stories with Lennon and Harrison.
- McCartney played most instruments on the album himself, aiming for a spirit similar to his 1970 solo debut.
- The album title 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane' references a place near the River Mersey where McCartney roamed as a boy.