Paul McCartney Gets Personal On Introspective New Album ‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’

Living legend Paul McCartney will release The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, his first solo album in over five years, through MPL/Capitol on May 29. The former Beatle previewed what is described as “his most introspective album to date” by sharing its reflective lead single, “Days We Left Behind.”

Produced by Andrew Watt, the 14-track forthcoming LP marks Macca’s 18th studio album credited solely to Paul McCartney. The project was recorded over a five-year span during sessions held in Los Angeles and Sussex, England. McCartney played most instruments himself in a throwback to his eponymous 1970 debut solo album.

McCartney looks back on his pre-Beatles Liverpool days on The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, which takes its name from a road that leads from his hometown to the Speke shoreline mentioned in “Days We Left Behind.” Dragon Lane is not only a real place but serves as a symbolic portal into McCartney’s memories.

Several of the songs find Paul reflecting on early adventures shared with John Lennon and George Harrison before Beatlemania catapulted them to superstardom. Her references afternoons by the Mersey, “smoky bars and cheap guitars” and time spent birdwatching.

The Boys Of Dungeon Lane also features new love songs penned by the iconic musician. Paul McCartney married Nancy Shevell, his third wife, in 2011.

Out today is the deeply personal “Days We Left Behind.” McCartney shared the following in regards to the song:

“This is very much a memory song for me. The album title, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, comes from a lyric in this track. I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind and I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else? It’s just a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there. I used to live in a place called Speke which is quite working class. We didn’t have much at all but it didn’t matter because all the people were great and you didn’t notice you didn’t have much.”

Stream Paul McCartney’s new single, “Days We Left Behind,” below:

The Boys Of Dungeon Lane Tracklist

1. As You Lie There
2. Lost Horizon
3. Days We Left Behind
4. Ripples in a Pond
5. Mountain Top
6. Down South
7. We Two
8. Come Inside
9. Never Know
10. Home to Us
11. Life Can Be Hard
12. First Star of the Night
13. Salesman Saint
14. Momma Gets By