Tom Holland Meets Paul McCartney

**Tom Holland** (0:00)
Hello everyone, it's Tom here with news of A Rest Is History special. I am interviewing none other than the great, the one and only Paul McCartney. He has a new album out, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane. Lots of the songs on that album are about his early years growing up in Liverpool. So I'm talking to him about that, about the context, the history that gave rise to The Beatles.
And we have a world exclusive here because one of the songs from that album, Salesman Saint, will be featuring in the interview. So incredibly exciting. Enjoy the song, enjoy the interview. This episode is brought to you by Lloyds, which has been backing British ambition for over 250 years. Now, when you think about it, every dynasty in history has boiled down to two important elements.
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**Tom Holland** (2:40)
Did you expect me to whisper?

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**Tom Holland** (3:02)
Hello, everyone, and welcome to The Rest Is History. And obviously on this show, we have talked about all kinds of world historical figures, but today is a first because it's the first time on the show that I will actually be talking to a world historical figure.
And this is a man who is the greatest composer of the 20th century. With the Beatles, he was a lightning rod for one of the most transformative decades in modern history. And ever since I was about 8, he has been my personal hero. So this is unbelievably exciting for me. And I am talking about, of course, Paul McCartney.

**Paul McCartney** (3:43)
Well, that's quite an intro.

**Tom Holland** (3:45)
Well, it's not too much for you, I hope.

**Paul McCartney** (3:46)
No.

**Tom Holland** (3:47)
Not excessive.

**Paul McCartney** (3:48)
Hey, come on. Adulation, no mind at all.

**Tom Holland** (3:52)
So we're talking because you've got a new album out.

**Paul McCartney** (3:57)
Yes.

**Tom Holland** (3:57)
And this is an album that it's not continuously about it, but a lot of the songs are focused on your childhood, your teenage years growing up in Liverpool.
And I was wondering, is this telling us something about what made Paul McCartney who he is? In other words, could Paul McCartney, could the Beatles have emerged from any other city apart from Liverpool, do you think? Was there something distinctive about Liverpool?

**Paul McCartney** (4:22)
I think so. Yeah, I was thinking about it recently. I do think the character of Liverpool is a very strong one. I think with the Irish influence, and then coming through the war and having to be happy when bombs were falling. So, there was a lot of music when I was a kid. My dad played the piano at home.