Paul McCartney turns 84: 84 best songs ranked

On Paul McCartney’s 84th birthday, a new ranking highlights 84 standout tracks across The Beatles, Wings, and his solo catalog—focusing on deep cuts and crowd favorites alike, plus the stories behind how they landed.

Paul McCartney didn’t just bring out Ringo Starr during a London stop on his Got Back tour—he kept the emphasis where it belongs: on the songs.

On June 18. as the music world marked McCartney’s 84th birthday. the occasion came with a big. almost impossible prompt—an unwieldy task of ranking 84 of his best songs. The list spans The Beatles. Wings. and his solo career. and it leans into a simple idea: even when you have to leave things out. McCartney’s catalog is so wide that any attempt to measure it becomes a kind of tribute.

The ranking sets its boundaries early. Songs that McCartney wrote that became hits for others—such as Badfinger’s “Come and Get It” and Elvis Costello’s “Veronica”—weren’t included. For Beatles tracks co-written with John Lennon. the list notes that if McCartney included them in his book “The Lyrics. ” they were under consideration.

The tour’s energy is part of the backdrop. With shows that feature 30-plus songs from his catalog. McCartney has been grinning through “Live and Let Die. ” telling stories before “Blackbird. ” and leading the sing-along on “Hey Jude.” The list frames that joy as central to why the birthday ranking feels more like a celebration than a quiz.

The countdown below offers an imperfect set of favorites—84 tracks, numbered from 84 to 1.

84. ‘Souvenir’ (1997)
Though written during what McCartney has described as “a lazy holiday,” the “Flaming Pie” track is coiled with emotion. Against a soulful backdrop spiked with electric guitar. McCartney promises a friend that “When you’re fed up. shedding too many tears … I will come to you to ease the pain.”.

83. ‘Ebony and Ivory’ (1982)
This duet with Stevie Wonder—a first for McCartney with another major artist—is widely maligned because of its simplified ode to racial harmony. But the list says it’s hard to fault McCartney’s intentions or the song’s tunefulness.

82. ‘Biker Like An Icon’ (1993)
The single from “Off the Ground” was a minor hit in Germany. but it’s best known for how its title came together. McCartney and wife Linda were discussing cameras and their phrases “I like a Leica” and “I like a Nikon. ” which merged into a story about a girl who liked a biker … like an icon.

81. ‘Come on to Me’ (2018)
The topic of how to pick someone up at a party isn’t novel, but McCartney turns it into an engaging challenge, buoyed by a stomping, uncomplicated chorus.

80. ‘Temporary Secretary’ (1980)
Kraftwerk-esque electronic elements color the song with a sound described as almost incomprehensible for a McCartney effort. Still, it earned a spot on the list as a bold zigzag that, in retrospect, is at least interesting.

79. ‘The Kiss of Venus’ (2020)
McCartney aimed to duplicate the do-it-yourself format of his first album with “McCartney III. ” his most recent release. While the list says his voice might have more warble to it. it credits him with the ability to turn the bucolic into something infinitely listenable.

78. ‘Waterfalls’ (1980)
Paired with a sparse backdrop—Fender Rhodes electric piano and eventual acoustic guitar—this underrated ballad from “McCartney II” uses layered vocals to underline what the list calls his ability to make small things sound grand.

77. ‘C Moon’ (1972)
So unfussy that a child could easily sing along, the other side of Wings’ “Hi Hi Hi” single is in the key of C and follows the same lite-reggae format as its companion, with a xylophone.

76. ‘Queenie Eye’ (2013)
Based on a game McCartney played as a child, the chant-along chorus stands out on its own. The rest of the song, the list says, shows a genius of melody whose touch remained deft 60 years into his career.

75. ‘Daytime Nighttime Suffering’ (1979)
With harmonizing reminiscent of Crosby, Stills & Nash, the B-side to “Goodnight Tonight” is described as a feast of poppy synths and raspy high-hats.

74. ‘Put It There’ (1990)
“As long as you and I are here, put it there,” goes the chorus of this acoustic guitar-fronted testimony to the strength of a mere handshake, wrapped in delicacy and finesse.

73. ‘Say Say Say’ (1983)
The lead single from “Pipes of Peace,” described as a second pairing with Michael Jackson—after “The Girl is Mine” in 1982—lopes along on a lightly funky shuffle beat under pristine production by George Martin.

72. ‘Little Lamb Dragonfly’ (1973)
From Wings’ “Red Rose Speedway” album, the six-plus-minute gentle folk ballad is often connected to McCartney’s switch to vegetarianism, and the list calls it enchanting.

71. ‘Hope of Deliverance’ (1992)
Injected with layers of percussion for a soft Latin touch, the “Off the Ground” single may not be among McCartney’s most musically challenging songs, but the message of optimism is said never to fade.

70. ‘Venus and Mars/Rock Show’ (1975)
Compared to Elton John’s “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding,” this medley of two songs from “Venus and Mars” is described as a melding of woodsy folk that escalates into a four-on-the-floor rocker.

69. ‘Things We Said Today’ (1964)
The B-side to “A Hard Day’s Night” is said to have been described by McCartney as “future nostalgia.”

68. ‘Hi Hi Hi’ (1972)
Paired with “C Moon” (see No. 74), the uncomplicated rock song is often remembered for being banned by the BBC for supposed sexually suggestive lyrical content.

67. ‘The World Tonight’ (1997)
A modest hit from the “Flaming Pie” album, this track is characterized by a serrated guitar riff, musical and vocal contributions from Jeff Lynne, and lyrics quoted as: “I go back so far, I’m in front of me.”

66. ‘Mull of Kintyre’ (1977)
A massive U.K. hit, the Wings strummer is described as a love letter to the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland, the place of McCartney’s haven at the remote High Park Farm. Bagpipes are credited with adding authenticity and wistful glory.

65. ‘Jenny Wren’ (2005)
Utilizing the guitar-plucking style employed on “Blackbird,” plus a duduk played by Pedro Eustache, the tender acoustic ballad is said to be named for a character of the same name in Charles Dickens’ novel “Our Mutual Friend.”

64. ‘Martha My Dear’ (1968)
Penned in tribute to McCartney’s Old English Sheepdog, Martha, the piano-heavy selection from “The White Album” is often tied to The Beatles’ inner-band turmoil at the time. The list also says McCartney played all instruments on the tune.

63. ‘My Love’ (1973)
Described as a valentine to beloved wife Linda and positioned as a companion to “Maybe I’m Amazed,” the list says the swooping strings and gushy chorus replace the unfettered devotion with what it calls an antiseptic veneer.

62. ‘Another Day’ (1971)
Noted as McCartney’s debut single following The Beatles’ breakup in 1970, the song was instantly dissected. Often dismissed as trite. the list argues it unveils a vivid portrait of sadness: “Alone in her apartment she’d dwell/’til the man of her dreams comes to break the spell.”.

61. ‘We Can Work it Out’ (1965)
Issued as a double A-side with “Day Tripper,” the jangly pop submission is described as an equilibrium between McCartney—supposedly writing about then-girlfriend Jane Asher—and Lennon, whose contribution is characterized by “life is very short” in the song.

60. ‘Goodnight Tonight’ (1979)
Though McCartney’s bass playing is singled out, the disco-funk he crafted is described as fitting its era with percussive panache.

59. ‘Arrow Through Me’ (1979)
With a heavy bass intro meshed with electric piano, the lightly funky inclusion on Wings’ “Back to the Egg” is called enticingly scattershot, with horns and a clavinet providing an R&B vibe.

58. ‘Ever Present Past’ (2007)
A genial selection from McCartney’s “Memory Almost Full” album. it’s described as hitting hard in the chorus—“the things I think I did” lodges in your brain. It also credits McCartney with embracing nostalgia—“Looking back It went by/it went by. in a flash”—wrapped in a warm synth-pop blanket.

57. ‘Tug of War’ (1982)
The title track from McCartney’s 11th post-Beatles album captures him in a vulnerable state. With an orchestral arrangement and striking horns, the list quotes the refrain as “pushing, pushing/pulling, pulling.”

56. ‘Sing the Changes’ (The Fireman. 2008)
McCartney’s semi-secret side project with Killing Joke bassist Youth—whose album “Electric Arguments” is described as the root—produced an ethereal loveliness. The list points to echo-y vocals and a chorus described as so exquisite it could make Coldplay shudder.

55. ‘Home to Us’ (2026)
The 20th solo album from McCartney, “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” is described as steeped in wistfulness but also joy. The list cites this as the first-ever post-Beatles duet with Ringo Starr, in which the two pals smile through a romp about their storied past.

54. ‘So Bad’ (1983)
Initially released as the B-side to “Pipes of Peace,” the sweet ballad spotlighting McCartney’s falsetto later landed on his 1984 “Give My Regards to Broad Street” soundtrack.

53. ‘With a Little Luck’ (1978)
Another from the Paul-is-Eternal-Optimist canon, the list says the lyric’s earnestness almost overshadows prominent synthesizers painting the song’s swirly splendor.

52. ‘Silly Love Songs’ (1976)
The list addresses the criticism directly, saying the song is lightweight and—perhaps—commercial. But it argues it’s unfairly maligned because McCartney is “completely in on the ridiculously catchy joke.”

51. ‘Off the Ground’ (1993)
Handclaps and stinging electric guitar are complemented by a sweet chorus. The song’s “la la la’s” are described as giving it a weightless vibe.

50. ‘I’ll Follow the Sun’ (1964)
McCartney is said to have noted The Beatles’ “aversion to repeating ourselves.” The list credits McCartney’s explanation in “The Lyrics” for how this sweet, simple strummer was created, positioning it as begging for optimism amid the clouds.

49. ‘Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five’ (1974)
The potent piano chords opening the song are cited for bringing energy. Lyrically, the final track on Wings’ “Band on the Run” album is described as subscribing to the same theme of emotional claustrophobia as the title track.

48. ‘Despite Repeated Warnings’ (2018)
The list says that anyone who thinks McCartney’s edges have dulled with age should give this nearly seven-minute epic a spin. It’s characterized as one of the final tracks on “Egypt Station. ” layered and musically complex as anything The Beatles created in their most inventive period. while offering pointed commentary on global warming and politics.

47. ‘Birthday’ (1968)
Some may find the repetition and overt minimalism annoying. The list counters that those listeners will concede the guitar riff is an undeniable earworm.

46. ‘My Brave Face’ (1989)
Among songs co-written with Elvis Costello for 1989’s “Flowers in the Dirt” album, the list says this beauty opens with a constellation of harmony vocals that lead the song down its poppy path. It highlights an especially Costello-ish bridge.

45. ‘All My Loving’ (1963)
The list credits George Harrison and Lennon’s intricate guitar work and a set of double-tracked vocals with helping create a new sound in 1960s British pop. For trivia, it notes this was the opening song of The Beatles’ “Ed Sullivan Show” debut in February 1964.

44. ‘Helen Wheels’ (1973)
Named for the Land Rover McCartney and Linda used to travel around Scotland, this guitar-rocker is described as letting listeners travel the countryside with nods to Liverpool, Birmingham, and London.

43. ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ (1967)
The list adds a detail often lost in summaries: McCartney wrote the song when he was about 14 years old, calling it “an insane amount of foresight.”

42. ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ (1963)
Described as The Beatles’ first U.S. No. 1, the song is pictured in wide-eyed youth with bowl-haircut energy, cheerfully nodding their heads as they proclaim their innocent intention.

41. ‘Mistress and Maid’ (1993)
Another co-write with Elvis Costello from the underappreciated “Off the Ground” album, described as a gorgeous waltz paired with devastating lyrics about a woman in a passion-devoid relationship.

40. ‘Listen to What the Man Said’ (1975)
The gliding soft-rocker is described as a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Wings. It’s also characterized as a creamy love song with memorable lyrical imagery: “soldier boy kisses girl/leaves behind a tragic world.”

39. ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ (1967)
The list frames it as a genuine Lennon-McCartney collaboration and notes it’s sung by Ringo Starr. It’s described as a swaying avowal of camaraderie with shifting time patterns and sing-along-ability.

38. ‘Eight Days a Week’ (1964)
Another iconic guitar opening from early-era Beatles leads into double-tracked vocals and a phrase/chorus said to have insinuated itself into the lexicon.

37. ‘Drive My Car’ (1965)
The list calls it not the only Beatles song about sex, but perhaps the most subtle.

36. ‘Days We Left Behind’ (2026)
Described as sounding like a goodbye, this beautiful, pensive ballad from “The Boys of Dungeon Lane” is framed as McCartney, his voice sandpapered by age, reminding listeners of the passage of time.

35. ‘Coming Up’ (1980)
Part of McCartney’s new wave/disco phase of the times that initially included sped-up vocals. The list says that in the U.S., the live version with normal vocals became the No. 1 hit, much like “Maybe I’m Amazed.”

34. ‘I’ve Got a Feeling’ (1970)
Back in the headlines due to McCartney using Lennon’s isolated vocal tracks to duet with him on his current tour. The list describes the song as a meshing of two unfinished tracks—McCartney’s “I’ve Got a Feeling” and Lennon’s “Everybody Had a Hard Year.”

33. ‘Let ’Em In’ (1976)
The list says not many radio hits can claim success through use of a doorbell chime, a vibraphone, flutes, and a marching beat. It credits McCartney with scribbling on the blueprint.

32. ‘Ob-la-di, Ob-la da’ (1968)
It says Lennon reportedly despised the bouncy bop that borrowed heavily from Jamaican ska and utilized a phrase from Nigerian musician Jimmy Scott, a friend of McCartney’s. The list calls it lightweight fun.

31. ‘Fixing a Hole’ (1967)
The addition of a harpsichord is said to have infused the song with a baroque-pop sound that countered the relative apathy of the lyrics: “And it really doesn’t matter if I’m wrong or right/where I belong I’m right.”

30. ‘Jet’ (1973)
The list says explanations about the song’s origins vary—either about McCartney and Linda’s Labrador puppy, a pony McCartney owned at some point, or meeting Linda’s father for the first time—then closes with a simple invitation: just enjoy the music.

29. ‘Here Today’ (1982)
The list calls it an emotionally piercing heart-melter written by McCartney following Lennon’s shocking murder, saying it moves listeners to share their own affirmations of love with the most important friends in their lives.

28. ‘The Fool on the Hill’ (1967)
Recorded during the “Magical Mystery Tour” film sessions, the list says the seesawing ballad was deeply motivated by The Beatles’ meditation teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and refers to a guru who McCartney felt suffered unfair detractors.

27. ‘Take It Away’ (1982)
Described as featuring a squishy bass line leading into Ringo Starr’s identifiable drumming and a surprising blast of horns. It urges the song from a midtempo head-nodder to a comfortable gallop.

26. ‘She’s Leaving Home’ (1967)
The narrative of parents realizing their daughter had absconded in the early-morning hours is called a lyrical heartache. McCartney, with a vocal assist from Lennon, is described as delivering it with reflective sensitivity.

25. ‘Getting Better’ (1967)
The list says it was written primarily by McCartney. The sunshiny “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” offering. it argues. thoroughly exemplifies the contrasting personalities of McCartney and Lennon: McCartney endlessly positive (“I’ve got to admit. it’s getting better/a little better all the time”) and Lennon chiming in with cynical “It can’t get no worse.”.

24. ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’ (1971)
The list calls it an unlikely hit given its piecemeal arrangement, vocal effects, and bird chirps. It adds that the inventiveness helped earn McCartney’s first Grammy Award as a solo artist—best arrangement accompanying vocalists in 1971.

23. ‘For No One’ (1966)
Described as lyrically brutal—“And in her eyes you see nothing/no sign of love behind the tears”—the emotional blow is said to be cushioned by a mesmerizing cadence.

22. ‘Junior’s Farm’ (1974)
McCartney’s storytelling instincts are credited as he delivers characters to envision—the poker man, the Eskimo, the grocer—while prodding listeners to join what sounds like an incredible party on Junior’s farm.

21. ‘No More Lonely Nights’ (1984)
Accented by a spotless guitar solo from Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. the centerpiece of the “Give My Regards to Broad Street” soundtrack is described as part hopeful prayer (“May I never miss the thrill/of being near you”) and part open-hearted pledge (“You’re my guiding light/day or night I’m always there”).

20. ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ (1967)
Described as a bit of psychedelia with a cache of trumpets and a dollop of cheesy razzle-dazzle, with the list noting The Beatles starred in a TV movie of the same name.

19. ‘Lady Madonna’ (1968)
The list highlights fervent piano with a boogie-woogie vibe and lyrics that subtly nod to McCartney’s mother, Mary, a midwife during his childhood. It calls it one of The Beatles’ most R&B-leaning offerings.

18. ‘Live and Let Die’ (1973)
Now regarded for the eardrum-popping pyro that accompanies the live rendition—which McCartney is still performing—the list notes the oft-covered symphonic rocker could have become the first James Bond theme to win an Oscar but lost to Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were.”.

17. ‘The End’ (1969)
At just over two minutes, the mostly instrumental platform is described as a tiny blip for most bands. But the list emphasizes that The Beatles’ status means even a single lyric can be etched in perpetuity: “The love you take is equal to the love you make.”

16. ‘Paperback Writer’ (1966)
Called a clever, zippy power popper with prominent McCartney bass as the song whooshes by.

15. ‘Hey Jude’ (1968)
The words of comfort written for young, gloomy Julian Lennon are described as becoming the definitive singalong at McCartney’s live shows. The list also calls it seven-plus minutes of grand piano with the most famous coda this side of “Layla.”

14. ‘Get Back’ (1969)
The list points to The Beatles’ “Get Back” documentary, saying viewers’ jaws drop as the essence of the song tumbled out of McCartney’s head, eventually being fashioned into the sprinting guitar-rocker that would live in music lore.

13. ‘Band on the Run’ (1974)
The brooding opening is described as capturing impending dread—“if we ever get outta here”—before a sunburst of acoustic guitar and sublime chorus carry the listener through the great escape.

12. ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (1967)
The opening track to the album of the same name and its reprise are described as a gleeful dismantling of traditional song structure, with instrumental bridges mesh with refrains, bumping into verses.

11. ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ (1966)
The list says it’s no secret McCartney says he was inspired by The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” when he wrote this delicate musical poem about realizing what you have when you have it.

10. ‘Blackbird’ (1968)
Musically inspired by Bach’s lute piece “Bourrée in E minor” and lyrically inspired by the civil rights struggle in the U.S., the list calls the tranquil guitar ballad a metaphoric stunner.

9. ‘The Long and Winding Road’ (1970)
Released a month after The Beatles’ breakup. the list describes it as a soaring piano ballad akin to “Let it Be.” It says McCartney was in a particularly pensive mode. whether referencing the Phil Spector orchestrated version or the more straightforward original.

8. ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’ (1966)
McCartney explains in “The Lyrics” that what many take as a pleading, you-make-my-life-complete sentiment is actually his ode to discovering marijuana.

7. ‘Let It Be’ (1970)
The Beatles’ final single before McCartney departed for a solo career is described as grand. The list adds it’s the only known Beatles song to feature backing vocals from Linda McCartney.

6. ‘I Will’ (1968)
The clip-clopping rhythm is described as an ideal balance to honeyed but never cloying lyrics: “And when at last I find you/your song will fill the air/sing it loud so I can hear you.”

5. ‘Yesterday’ (1965)
One of the most covered songs in music history, the list says the tally is more than 2,200. McCartney has said it came to him in a dream, and it remains classic due to its sparseness and honesty.

4. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ (1966)
The list credits McCartney’s flair for character creation for making the melancholy palpable as he sings about a lonely old woman laid to rest by an equally lonely minister, Father McKenzie. It says the sawing strings add bleak beauty.

3. ‘Two of Us’ (1969)
While the lyrical sentiment contains romantic implications, the list says the love affair is really between McCartney and Lennon—their friendship and creative partnership.

2. ‘Penny Lane’ (1967)
The list tells readers to forget the astute narration—barbershops, bankers, and roundabouts—and to listen to the supple bass line that dances throughout as its own character.

1. ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ (1977. live)
Initially released on his 1970 self-titled solo album. the list says the apex of McCartney’s luminosity arrived years later on Wings’ live “Wings Over America” album. when the song became a hit. It calls the original a gratifying valentine. but the live version unleashes McCartney with ragged. feral vocals—barring his utter devotion.

The birthday ranking doesn’t pretend to settle a debate. It turns the scale of McCartney’s output into the point: the man’s catalog is so enduring that even a carefully described “84” still feels like it could stretch further. What remains consistent. across every number from “Souvenir” to “Maybe I’m Amazed. ” is the same message the list keeps returning to—McCartney still treats his songs like living things. not museum pieces.

Paul McCartney Ringo Starr Got Back tour Beatles Wings music ranking Maybe I'm Amazed Blackbird Hey Jude June 18 84 songs