1980 single by Paul McCartney

"Waterfalls" is a Paul McCartney ballad from his first solo album after Wings, McCartney II. The song has a minimalist sound, with McCartney only playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano and a synthesizer and singing, and a short solo performed on acoustic guitar.

"Waterfalls" was released as a single with "Check My Machine" as its B-Side and reached chart position No. 9 in the UK and No. 4 in Ireland.[1][2] In the US, however, it was his first single ever to miss the Billboard Hot 100 chart, only reaching No. 106 despite being the follow-up to the No. 1 hit "Coming Up".[3] In 2013, Rolling Stone rated it the No. 25 all-time Paul McCartney post-Beatles song, describing how it contrasted with Wings` prior single.[4]

Background

Billboard described "Waterfalls" as having "a subtle oriental flavour" and "appropriately sparse" instrumentation, and described McCartney`s vocal performance as "inimitable" and "creamy."[5] Cash Box called it a "whimsical ballad," stating that it has an "almost dirge-like melody."[6] Record World said that "Stately keyboards surround [McCartney`s] boyish falsetto for pop-A/C appeal."[7]

When questioned on singles he wished were more successful, McCartney stated, "There`s quite a few, actually. ... `Waterfalls`, I think is nice." He also commented that TLC`s single "Waterfalls" carries elements of his song.[4][8]

McCartney also said of his song:

Waterfalls’ is basically saying don’t go doing a load of dangerous stuff, ’cause I need you. And that’s a kind of a more mature thought for me than I would have been able to have done 20 years ago, ’cause I just didn’t realize that it’s not all gonna be here forever. That’s the kind of thing you realize when you pass 30.[9]

Charts

Personnel

"Waterfalls"

• Paul McCartney – vocals, Fender rhodes, synthesizer, acoustic guitar solo

"Check My Machine"

• Paul McCartney - vocals, banjo, bass, electric guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, shaker, percussion

Other versions

Sloan recorded a more uptempo version of the song on the McCartney tribute album Listen to What the Man Said.[17]