The song that made Paul McCartney cry after John Lennon' death: the story behind Carl Perkins' 'My Old Friend

In 1981, Paul McCartney was reeling from the loss of John Lennon.

Lennon's death in December 1980 had shaken McCartney to the core. He poured his grief into music, working on what would become Tug of War — an album that saw him reconnect with familiar faces from his Beatles past: George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and legendary producer George Martin.

While recording at Martin’s AIR Studios in Montserrat, McCartney reached even further back into his musical roots. He invited rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins, one of his early influences, to join him for a visit and a potential collaboration. What resulted was not just a song, but a moment of healing.

Eight Days in Montserrat

Perkins stayed with Paul and Linda McCartney for eight days, enjoying their hospitality, bonding with the family, and immersing himself in the creative energy of the sessions. Together, they recorded a playful duet titled “Get It.” But as the trip came to an end, something deeper emerged.

On his last night, sitting alone on the patio, Perkins found himself overwhelmed with gratitude. Too sentimental to express his feelings aloud, he turned to the one language he trusted: music. And from that quiet moment, the song My Old Friend was born.

“I knew I was going home the next morning,” Perkins later recalled. “I’m kind of sentimental, and I can’t say certain things out loud. But sometimes I can sing it.”

A Line That Cut Deep

The next morning, Perkins played the new song at breakfast. One line in particular hit Paul hard:

“If we never meet again this side of life… My old friend, won’t you think about me every now and then?”

Tears streamed down McCartney’s face. He stood up and quietly stepped outside.

Confused, Perkins stopped playing. But Linda McCartney approached him and explained everything. That exact phrase — “Think of me every now and then, my old friend” — had been the last thing Lennon said to Paul before his death.

Perkins was stunned. He had no idea. He later wondered if the song had come from somewhere beyond him — maybe even from Lennon himself.

Into the Studio

Paul insisted they record the song right away. The session happened on February 25, 1981. Perkins sang and played guitar. Paul added bass, drums, organ, rhythm guitar, and harmonies. George Martin later arranged strings. It was done in under an hour.

The two men spent one more afternoon together, sailing on a yacht. Paul asked Carl to sing his new song again. Perkins began, “Though I never shall forget…” and promptly forgot the next line. Paul laughed, saying it was the perfect moment — having just sung about never forgetting, he blanked.

The Song’s Journey

Though recorded in 1981, My Old Friend remained unreleased for years. It finally appeared in 1996 on Perkins’ Go Cat Go! album — a collection of duets with famous artists.

In 1997, while filming a retrospective documentary, Perkins retold the story. Right after singing the refrain on camera, his wife interrupted: Paul McCartney just called.

Perkins stared in disbelief. “You tell me this boy has not got a connection to the spirit world,” he said, visibly shaken.

He passed away exactly one year later, to the day.

A Gift, A Goodbye, A Message

Carl Perkins once said My Old Friend meant more to him than even Blue Suede Shoes. It captured his personal appreciation for the McCartneys, his love of music, and — whether by fate or intuition — helped a grieving friend process the loss of another.

The song that started as a thank-you became something much greater: a bridge between two legends, and a moment of comfort when it was needed most.