Paul McCartney Reflects on the Past in New Album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, Shares First Single “Days We Left Behind”
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Paul McCartney Prepares to Release 18th Solo Record
Paul McCartney Announces First Solo Album in Over Five Years, The Boys of Dungeon Lane
Paul McCartney has revealed details of his first solo album in more than five years, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, scheduled for release on May 29 through MPL / Capitol.
The album, produced with Andrew Watt—who has worked with The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, and Ozzy Osbourne—is being described as McCartney’s most introspective work yet. It promises “a collection of rare and revealing insights into memories never-before shared, alongside newly inspired love songs, from one of the most influential figures in modern music.”
A press statement notes that with The Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney “turns the lens inward, revisiting formative years that shaped his life and the very foundations of contemporary popular culture. Known for timeless storytelling and unforgettable characters, he now shares the most personal story of all—his own.”
The statement continues: “The songs capture McCartney in a candid and reflective state, exploring his post-war childhood in Liverpool, the resilience of his parents, and early experiences with George Harrison and John Lennon, long before Beatlemania took the world by storm. These were quiet, unguarded days that ultimately laid the groundwork for a cultural revolution, remembered not as myths, but as McCartney’s personal experiences.”
Ahead of the full album, the first single, Days We Left Behind, has been released. McCartney describes the track as a “memory song,” explaining that the album title comes from a lyric in this song. “I often wonder if I’m just writing about the past,” he said, “but then I think, how can you write about anything else? The song is full of Liverpool memories, including time spent with John and references to Forthlin Road, where I grew up. Dungeon Lane is nearby, and I also lived in Speke, a working-class area. We didn’t have much, but the people and community made everything rich.”
The album originated in 2021 when McCartney met Watt. During a casual guitar session, the 83-year-old legend stumbled on a chord he didn’t recognize. Experimenting with the chord, he created a three-chord sequence that Watt suggested recording. This session led to the album’s opening track, As You Lie There, marking the beginning of their new creative collaboration.