All those songs where the narrator is longing for communication with someone. Old-school stuff: letters, cards, phone calls.
In most cases, he’s wanting the other party to contact him. In ‘No More Lonely Nights’, he’s the one contemplating making the call and the official video gives us a perfect visual expression of this.
In the video, the song itself is topped and tailed by scenes in a cinema projectionist’s room. Paul plays the projectionist, who, while making himself a cuppa, decides to phone someone (perhaps inspired by the film he’s showing?)
There’s a sense that this is a call he’s made or contemplated making many times. He dials the number - 1663552 (anyone?) - but it rings out. He puts the earpiece to his lips before hanging up.
Some cat and mouse antics ensue, with our hero following the cat up the stairs, brew in hand, to the roof. At this point the song begins.
We get some rooftop views of London and the Thames, followed by scenes from Broad Street. The song ends and we return to the, empty, projection room. As the film reel runs out, the phone rings but our guy’s not there to answer it. What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.
Not all these songs will have the same impulse. Paul’s talked about ‘Call Me Back Again’ as a 50’s style boyfriend/girlfriend lyric, though many have suggested that the timing of the writing of the song reflects Paul’s phone-based relationship with John and the possibility of him joining Paul and Wings in the studio in New Orleans.
‘Anyway’ is a song I’ve seen described as reflecting communication problems with Heather Mills towards the end of their relationship, although I can’t find the original source for this idea. We do have this from Paul:
“ ‘Anyway’ was a little song that became a bigger song. The thoughts in it are quite little, but somehow when you set it down as a song it becomes bigger. And those kind of surprises are what I do music for”.
That is quite telling, I think. A song can be inspired by a contemporary thing going on in his life but can then spread out beyond that. “I’ve been waiting, waiting so long” and “in my soul is constant yearning” speak of a longing that goes much further back, doesn’t it? Songs can develop from one idea and go beyond it.
You need love, write a letter, you need love write away. Get it down, you'll feel better, send it now, write away (Write Away)
If you love me, won't you call me, I've been waiting, waiting too long…in my soul is constant yearning (Anyway)
Give me your number, I'll give you a ring…Oh, man, I know I won't be lonely any more… me and my phone, I'm gonna call your home (I’ll Give You A Ring)
Send a card to me (Rainclouds)
Keep on sending your love in the heat of battle (Save Us)
When you're ready, let me know. I'll be waiting to make arrangements for the trip (If You Wanna)
I can wait another day until I call you. You've only got my heart on a string and everything aflutter (No More Lonely Nights)
I called your house, every night since then. But I ain't never, no no never heard you calling me, come on and call me back again (Call Me Back Again)
When I want ya, do I get ya? All I needed your number. Will you give me your number (The Mess)
Let me be the one you wish for, one you call for, when you're all alone. (Off The Ground)
And I read the note that you never wrote to me (The Note You Never Wrote)
If you want my love, leave your name and address (Name And Address)
All alone, I sit home by the phone, waiting for you, baby" (Say, Say, Say)
Weirdly, even in ‘Lindiana’
If i can be of help in matters such as these, don’'t hesitate to call, I’d only be too pleased to take a look. (Lindiana)
