I Will

Is there anything better than Paul McCartney singing about love? Paul was never the coolest Beatle. He was cute and sweet and above all else, earnest, which is one of the most uncool things to be. If he were a pair of sunglasses, he would be those wrap-around monstrosities only sold on TV. Paul has been so famous for so long that he’s become easy to mock, easy to take for granted. “I Will,” track 16 of the White Album, is a potent reminder of the incredible talent that made him ubiquitous in the first place. Nestled among some of their most experimental songs, “I Will” is one of the simplest in the Beatles’ entire catalog. Three verses and a bridge, all finished in less than two minutes. Save for a short riff, the guitar chords are rudimentary, and the drums sound like someone idly tapping along on a table. Paul uses one of his catchiest melodies to pledge his undying love, offering up all his heart. It’s not dramatic or serious; he makes it sound like a breeze. “I Will” is basic enough to make you think you could write it, and while you’re at it you can offer yourself to someone forever. That’s the genius of Paul McCartney: He takes something as complicated as love and makes it sound as easy as a campfire sing-along.

Originally published on NDSMCObserver