“Some people think John was speaking directly to me [in Now and Then]. And you know what? That is very nice to think about, so I’ll stick with that interpretation.”
— Paul McCartney about being the inspiration for Now and Then to Brazilian journalist Pedro Bial (Dec. 01, 2023) (translated from portuguese version of the interview)
“Now and then, I miss you / Now and then, I want you to be there for me / Always to return to me,” (...)
It’s a passage where Lennon’s yearning for McCartney intertwines with Paul’s mourning for John, a shared grieving for the partnership that defined both their lives. link
"Now and Then" is 81-year-old Paul McCartney finishing a song of John Lennon, who has been gone for almost 43 years.
But it is also 15-year-old Paul finishing a song of the boy who wandered around Liverpool with him, talking about their future and love of music.
It is 18-year-old Paul finishing a song of the guy who picked him as his partner and took him to play nightclubs in Hamburg.
It is 20-year-old Paul finishing a song of the lad who wanted to write song after song with him.
It is 23-year-old Paul finishing a song of the man he made history with.
It is 24-year-old Paul finishing a song of the soulmate who shared his visions.
It is 26-year-old Paul finishing a song of the person who serenaded him eating a cupcake.
It is 31-year-old Paul finishing a song of John, who loved him in his own way.
And it is 39-year-old Paul finishing a song of the friend he just lost.