What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
Paul McCartney · Book
If you loved The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, start with McCartney 3, 2, 1 (2021) — a series on the same thread. Below: 3 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present across media.
If you loved The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, you clearly value how personal narratives reveal the hidden mechanics of musical genius.
Films on the same thread
Man on the Run
Morgan Neville · Film · 2026
Explores: artistic reinvention, creative partnership, intimate home life.
Like The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, this film pulls back the curtain on McCartney's creative reinvention, grounding his legendary songwriting in the intimate reality of his domestic life.
Better Man
Michael Gracey · Film · 2024
Explores: Fame and its consequences, Overcoming addiction, The price of success.
This biographical drama mirrors the reflective nature of The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present by exploring the heavy personal price of fame and the complex emotional labor behind songwriting.
Yesterday
Film · 2019
Explores: Alternative History, Legacy of Music, Fame and Success.
This film captures the same sense of nostalgia found in The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, examining how iconic music shapes the collective memory and personal legacy of listeners.
Series on the same thread
McCartney 3, 2, 1
Series · 2021
Explores: Musical Innovation, Songwriting Process, Creative Collaboration.
This deep dive offers the same granular insight into the creative process as The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, stripping away the mythology to reveal how the songs actually evolve.
The Beatles: Get Back
Peter Jackson · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present: Creative Process.
If you appreciated the archival focus of The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, this series provides a raw, unfiltered look at the band dynamics that informed McCartney's early songwriting.
The Beatles Anthology
Series · 1995
Shares a thread with The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present: Creative process.
This series serves as a vital historical companion to The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, documenting the monumental career arc of the band that anchored McCartney's initial artistic legacy.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes
Susan Lacy · Series · 2025
Explores: Musical Genius, Songwriting Process, Personal Struggles of Artists.
Like The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, this portrait uses personal archives and candid reflection to connect the songwriter's private struggles directly to the evolution of their musical craft.
Podcasts on the same thread
Desert Island Discs
Podcast
Explores: life stories, personal narratives, musical influence.
Much like the curated retrospection in The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, this podcast invites artists to map their personal histories through the specific lens of the music they cherish.
the memory palace
Nate DiMeo · Podcast · 2026
This series echoes the evocative, memory-driven storytelling found in The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, focusing on how specific moments and artifacts carry the weight of our past experiences.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What content is included in The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present?
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present is a comprehensive collection featuring 161 songs. It provides an intimate look at the songwriter's creative process by including his original handwritten texts, personal paintings, and exclusive photographs sourced directly from his private archives.
Is The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present a standard songbook?
No, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present is not a standard songbook. It serves as a detailed celebration of the artist's career, combining song lyrics with archival materials like photography and paintings to offer readers a unique visual and historical context for each featured track.
How many songs are featured in The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present?
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present features a total of 161 songs. Each entry is accompanied by historical documentation from the songwriter's archives, including personal notes, handwritten lyrics, and a variety of visual elements such as photographs and paintings.
What kind of archival materials are in The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present?
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present contains a variety of archival materials directly from the songwriter. This includes the original handwritten texts for 161 songs, along with personal paintings and photographs that document his professional life and creative evolution over several decades.