There’s a quiet intimacy in “When Winter Comes” that feels like stepping into Paul McCartney’s private world. Recorded with producer George Martin in the early 1990s but only released decades later on McCartney III (2020), the song carries a simplicity and warmth that makes it one of the most personal pieces in his later catalog.
Built around just Paul’s acoustic guitar and voice, the song paints images of everyday life — mending fences, caring for animals, preparing for the changing seasons. At first glance, the lyrics may seem modest, but beneath their plainspoken surface lies something profound. They are not just about chores or routines, but about responsibility, stewardship, and the quiet love that sustains life.
Paul’s voice, softened by age but still unmistakably his, brings a tenderness that makes the song feel like a conversation. He doesn’t sing with grandeur or flourish; he sings as if reflecting out loud, turning small details into meditations on time and care. There is an honesty in this simplicity — as though McCartney is reminding us that love isn’t always in the dramatic gestures, but in the daily acts of tending, nurturing, and being present.
The title itself, “When Winter Comes,” feels like a metaphor. It’s not only about the literal change of seasons, but about the cycles of life — preparing for hardships, protecting what matters, and finding peace in the knowledge that life moves forward. Winter, in McCartney’s song, is not something to fear, but something to meet with quiet strength and compassion.
What makes the song so moving is its understated nature. It isn’t trying to be a hit; it simply exists as a moment of truth, a glimpse into McCartney’s heart as both artist and man. After decades of writing some of the world’s greatest anthems, “When Winter Comes” feels like Paul whispering to us: life is fragile, but it’s also beautiful, and the smallest acts of care are what give it meaning.
In the end, the song lingers not because of its scale, but because of its soul. “When Winter Comes” is Paul McCartney at his most human — reflective, gentle, and deeply connected to the simple joys and duties that keep love alive.