After The Ball

Written by Paul McCartney

Album This song officially appears on the Back To The Egg Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1979

Master release


Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions


"Back To The Egg" sessions #2

September 11 to 29, 1978

Related interviews


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Song facts

We moved Steve’s drums into a side room, which created a more focused sound. That opened up the Great Hall, which gave us a grander piano tone, as well as a bigger electric guitar sound than we were able to achieve in the Scottish barn. The hymn-like echoes of “Amazing Grace” are counter-balanced by the rocking electric guitar solos at the end. My acoustic slide parts were played on the Ovation Adamas.

Laurence Juber, in Guitar With Wings, 2014

[…] Paul gave me a great deal of latitude on Back to the Egg. There I’d offer up an idea and he’d either nod or he’d kind of raise an eyebrow and then I’d tweak it. I remember very specifically when we were mixing “After the Ball,” I’d played an acoustic slide part and sat there just thinking, “I’d like to get my hand on that fader.” I’d never been an engineer at that point and Paul noticed my discomfort and said, “Laurence, you run that fader.” Not only did he accept my contribution but encouraged me to put it to the forefront.

Laurence Juber, interview with DAYTRIPPIN’ BEATLES MAGAZINE, 2010

After the Ball. The slide is played on an Ovation. On the electric stuff I played a Gibson 335, Denny a Les Paul and Paul an Epiphone.

Laurence Juber, from Club Sandwich N°14, April / May 1979

Last updated on March 7, 2020

Lyrics

After the ball, after the ball
You were the one, out in the hall
You were the one, the one who would love me
After the ball

After the ball, after the ball
You were the one, out in the hall
You were the one, the one who'd love me
After the ball

Well I arrived, looked around
But the room was full of strangers
Nowhere was a friendly face to be found

Later on I awoke, but the party It was over
There you were Waiting to bring me round

After the ball, after the ball
You were the one, out in the hall
You were the one, the one who'd love me
After the ball

After the ball, after the ball
You were the one, out in the hall
You were the one, the one who'd love me
After the ball

Officially appears on


Back To The Egg

Official album • Released in 1979

4:01 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Organ, Tambourine
Denny Laine :
Electric guitar
Laurence Juber :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
Steve Holley :
Drums, Tambourine
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Phil McDonald :
Recording engineer
Chris Thomas :
Producer

Session Recording:
September 11 to 29, 1978
Studio :
Lympne Castle, Kent

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Back To The Egg (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

4:01 • Studio versionA

Session Recording:
September 11 to 29, 1978
Studio :
Lympne Castle, Kent

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

Bootlegs


MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol.12

Unofficial album

2:31 • Studio version


Eggs Up

Unofficial album

4:00 • Outtake


Rockestra Session

Unofficial album • Released in 1995

1:12 • Studio rehearsal • Video Outro


Oh, Mistake (Back To The Egg Outtakes)

Unofficial album • Released in 1997

3:55 • Studio version


Back To The Egg Sessions

Unofficial album • Released in 2013

4:00 • Studio version • Million Miles


Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Going further


Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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