Even as a child, Paul McCartney had a sharp mind, but he also described himself as a bit “sneaky.” While he wasn’t a troublemaker in the traditional sense, he had a knack for avoiding punishment—even if that meant bending the truth. When he did get caught, he found creative ways to get back at his parents, proving that even one of the world’s most famous musicians had a mischievous side growing up.

McCartney Knew How to Dodge Punishment

McCartney and his younger brother, Mike, were no strangers to childhood mischief, but according to their father, Jim McCartney, Paul was much better at staying out of trouble.

“I was once hitting Michael for doing something,” Jim recalled in The Beatles by Hunter Davies. “Paul stood by shouting at Mike, ‘Tell him you didn’t do it and he’ll stop.’ Mike admitted he had done it, whatever it was. But Paul was always able to get out of most things.”

When Paul couldn’t avoid getting in trouble, he found small, subtle ways to retaliate.

“I was pretty sneaky,” McCartney admitted. “If I ever got bashed for being bad, I used to go into their bedroom when they were out and rip the lace curtains at the bottom, just a little bit, then I’d think, that’s got them.”

Even as a kid, he had a rebellious streak, though he was careful not to get caught in the act.

His Father Believed He Was Naturally Good at Avoiding Trouble

Despite Paul’s own recollections of being sneaky, his father painted a different picture. Jim believed his son was a kind and well-behaved child.

“I remember the headmistress saying how good the two boys were with younger children,” Jim said. “Always sticking up for them. She said Michael was going to be a leader of men. I think this was because he was always arguing.”

He also noted that, while Mike was more vocal and often landed himself in trouble, Paul had a quieter, more calculated way of handling things.

“Paul did things much quieter,” Jim explained. “He had much more nous [common sense]. Mike stuck his neck out. Paul always avoided trouble.”

McCartney’s Approach to School Frustrated His Father

As he grew older, McCartney’s intelligence became evident, but his casual attitude toward school frustrated his father. “Paul was able to do his homework while watching TV,” Jim shared. “I used to tell him not to, that he couldn’t possibly do both. But I once asked him exactly what had been on, and he knew, and he’d also done an essay.”

McCartney had the potential to go to university, but once he realized that was what his father wanted for him, he deliberately pushed back.

“He was smart enough easily for a university,” Jim said. “That was always my intention for him. Get a BA or a BSc behind his name, then he’d be okay. But when he knew what was in my head, Paul tried to stop himself doing well. He was always good at Latin but when I said he’d need the Latin for a university, he started slacking up.”

While Jim McCartney had dreams of higher education for his son, Paul had already set his sights on something else—music. In the end, his instincts proved to be right, as his talent led him to become one of the most influential musicians in history.