Paul McCartney has spent more than six decades telling stories, but his latest one reaches back to the very first moment of his life. In a candid interview about his new album, the 84-year-old Beatles legend revealed he has a "feeling" he can remember being born in Liverpool in 1942. He was quick to laugh it off, and he even supplied the delivery-room details himself. Here's everything you need to know about the memory, the album behind it and what McCartney makes of it all.
Key Facts
- McCartney was born June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, and says he was a forceps delivery.
- He admits the "memory" is probably imagined, calling it "highly dubious" himself.
- He shared it in a Guardian interview tied to his 18th solo album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane.
- The album arrived May 29, 2026, and draws on his childhood in 1940s and '50s Liverpool.
What McCartney Actually Said
The comment came up almost by accident. Asked how far back his earliest sound memories go, McCartney leaned into the question during a chat at his Soho Square office, per the Guardian interview as reproduced by The McCartney Project.
"I have a feeling I can remember being born," McCartney said, before adding that it was "highly dubious." He described the scene as white tiles, chrome instruments and a mix of sounds.
It's a vivid picture, and he wasn't selling it as fact. He went on to say it's "almost certainly" an imagined memory, according to The News International, which also reported that the image has stayed with him for years.
The Forceps Detail
McCartney didn't stop at the tiles. He told the Guardian he was a forceps delivery, then joked about what that meant.
"I think they had to pull me out with some pliers," he said, per BritBrief's coverage of the interview. He admitted he doesn't quite understand the procedure.
That mix of warmth and mischief is classic McCartney. The interviewer noted he paused with a twinkle before delivering the line, which tells you how lightly he holds the whole story. (A note on wording: the "white tiles" are his own description, while the "clanging" of instruments is a fan-favorite paraphrase of his reference to chrome instruments and sounds.)
Can Anyone Really Remember Birth?
Short answer: almost certainly not. Memory researchers generally say that true recollections from infancy are rare to nonexistent, because the brain systems that store lasting memories aren't fully developed at birth.
McCartney seems to agree. His own framing, "imagined memory," suggests he sees the scene as something his mind assembled later from stories, hospital imagery and the way his family described the day. His mother, Mary, worked as a nurse and midwife, so delivery-room details were likely part of family lore.
Either way, the image fits the spirit of the record he's promoting. It's a hazy, affectionate look back rather than a strict historical account.
The Album Behind the Memory
The Boys of Dungeon Lane is McCartney's 18th solo album, and it's steeped in the sounds and places of his boyhood. The record features skylarks, train whistles and the sound of a bus braking, according to the Guardian's description, as summarized by BritBrief.
The title comes from a birdwatching spot near the family's home on Ardwick Road, where they moved in 1950. McCartney recalled "rows and rows and rows of council houses," adding they were great ones, and he credited the indoor toilet as a major upgrade.
Interestingly, he says there wasn't "anything conscious" behind the nostalgic turn. He simply saw a chance to tell stories.
Remembering Lennon and Harrison
The conversation also turned to the people he's lost. McCartney reflected on missing John Lennon and George Harrison, the bandmates who shaped his songwriting, while Ringo Starr remains his surviving Beatles partner.
Talking about grief, he found comfort in the idea that he isn't alone. "Everyone misses them," McCartney said, in remarks highlighted by MusicRadar via inkl.
It's a heartfelt moment in an interview that's otherwise full of jokes. He has also said he can still imagine Lennon's reaction when he writes, a habit that keeps his old friend close to the creative process.
What McCartney Is Doing Now
McCartney has stayed busy. Beyond the album, he recently appeared on BBC's Tracks of My Years, where he compared the worldwide fame of Taylor Swift to the Beatles' own. He said he sees the parallel but doesn't think she needs advice, per The News International.
He also made headlines last year for a blunt exchange with Apple CEO Tim Cook, telling him he didn't want any software updates, as reported by MusicRadar.
Looking back at early life is a theme in pop right now. Harry Styles recently opened up about his own early-fame fears, proof that every generation of British stars eventually revisits where it all began.
The Family Behind the Legend
McCartney's family has always been central to his story, from his Liverpool upbringing to the family he built with his late wife, Linda McCartney. Their daughters include designer Stella McCartney, and the family's roots in Liverpool still shape his songwriting.
The new album proves how much those early years still matter to him. Even a possibly imagined glimpse of the delivery room is, in its way, part of the same story.
Closing
Whether or not McCartney truly remembers his first minutes on Earth, he has once again shown why fans adore him: he can turn a "highly dubious" thought into a warm, funny moment. Keep reading and stay tuned to Bigwritehook for more on McCartney and The Boys of Dungeon Lane.
