It’s been more than four decades since John Lennon’s tragic death, but the pain is still raw for Sir Paul McCartney. The former Beatle has revealed he completely broke down on stage while singing his heartbreaking ballad “Here Today” — written as a tribute to his late friend and bandmate.
The 82-year-old music legend confessed that during an emotional performance of the track, he found himself overcome with grief, repeating the words “I love you, I love you, I love you” before admitting to the crowd: “Oh shit – I’ve just totally lost it.”
McCartney penned “Here Today” in 1981, just months after Lennon was gunned down outside his New York apartment. The poignant song, which appeared on his 1982 album Tug of War, is written as an imaginary conversation between the two icons — the words Paul says he never got the chance to say in real life.
“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.”
Despite their famously fiery rows in the Beatles’ final years, McCartney insists the bond between him and Lennon was unbreakable. Where Lennon once fired shots at Paul with his scathing “How Do You Sleep?”, McCartney responded years later not with anger but with love — and tears.
Over the years, “Here Today” has become a staple of his live shows, often leaving both the star and his audience visibly moved. Fans describe it as one of McCartney’s most touching moments on stage — a rare glimpse of raw vulnerability from the world’s most successful songwriter.
And even now, the emotions haven’t faded. Just recently, McCartney admitted he also struggled to keep it together while performing “Now and Then” — billed as “the last Beatles song” — which reunites his voice with Lennon’s through restored recordings.
For McCartney, it seems the grief never goes away. But through his music, the message to Lennon remains the same — “I love you.”
