"I'm Carrying" is a song written by Paul McCartney that was first released on Wings' 1978 album London Town. It was also released as the B-side of the "London Town" single.[2] In 2003 it was later released on the soundtrack to the film The In-Laws.[2]
"I'm Carrying" is a gentle love song.[2][3] Although Linda McCartney, Paul's wife, was a member of Wings, the song was not inspired by her but rather by a former girlfriend of Paul McCartney's.[3][4][5] The song has a simple structure, with two verses and a refrain.[3] In the first verse, McCartney sings that he will come to his lover's room after an absence bringing gifts and a carnation.[3] In the second verse, he sings that he has been away for a long time and wonders if his return will lack style.[3] The refrain simply notes that he is carrying something for his lover.[3]
"I'm Carrying" is in the keyofE major and based on four chords.[3] McCartney originally recorded the song accompanied by just his acoustic guitar during the London Town sessions aboard the stern of the yacht Fair Carol in the Virgin Islands on 5 May 1977.[2][4] The song was recorded in one take and according to engineer Tom Anderson, McCartney was "enclosed in a wooden ‘isolation’ area we built out of plywood."[6] In December 1977, he overdubbed orchestral strings and he also overdubbed his own playing of an electric guitar using a Gizmo.[2][3][4] The Gizmo is a device invented by 10cc members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, which allows a guitar to be played by vibrating the strings rather than plucking them.[2][3]
Author John Blaney notes that "I'm Carrying" expresses sentiments similar to those McCartney sang on the Beatles' "Yesterday," noting that "I'm Carrying" is "less adventurous melodically but no less welcoming."[2]Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls it "nice" and "understated."[7]George Harrison chose "I'm Carrying" as his favorite song from London Town, describing it as "sensational".[4][8]CD Review described the song as a "silly love song that's sweet, simple, and tuneful."[9]Billboard Magazine's Timothy White considers the song one of McCartney's post-Beatle peaks.[10] Jim Beviglia of Culture Sonar described the melody as being "as romantic as a moonlit slow dance."[11]
Sham Rock covered "I'm Carrying" on their 2004 album The Album.[16] Guitarist Phil Keaggy played the song with Paul McCartney at the wedding of Linda McCartney's sister Laura Eastman.[17]
^ abcdefghBlaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 123–125, 264. ISBN978-1-906002-02-2.
^ abcdefghiBenitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. p. 81. ISBN978-0-313-34969-0.
^ abcdMadiger, C.; Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 232. ISBN0-615-11724-4.
^Harry, B. (2003). The Paul McCartney encyclopedia. Virgin. p. 442. ISBN9780753507162.
^Perasi, Luca (2023). Paul McCartney Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 (1st ed.). Milan, Italy: L.I.L.Y. Publishing. p. 268. ISBN978-88-909-122-9-0.
