Some songs feel like a window into the soul of their creator, and “When Winter Comes” is one of those rare treasures. Released in 2020 as part of McCartney III, the track was originally recorded in the early 1990s with George Martin producing — a detail that makes it feel like a bridge between eras of McCartney’s life.
At its heart, the song is simple: just Paul, his acoustic guitar, and his voice. Yet within that simplicity lies extraordinary intimacy. There are no studio flourishes, no band arrangements, just the quiet warmth of a man reflecting on life, work, and love. The lyrics describe the everyday tasks of tending land and caring for animals: “When winter comes and food is scarce, we’ll warm the cotton on the farm…” These lines could seem ordinary, but in Paul’s delivery they become poetic, a meditation on stewardship, responsibility, and the cycles of life.
What makes the song deeply moving is its tone of acceptance. McCartney doesn’t sing about fame, glory, or even nostalgia here; he sings about living with care — mending fences, planting trees, providing for family. It’s the kind of grounded wisdom that only comes with age and experience, and Paul offers it not as a lecture, but as a gentle sharing of perspective.
Musically, the song recalls his earliest acoustic moments with the Beatles, echoing the honesty of “Blackbird” or “Mother Nature’s Son.” His voice, weathered yet tender, carries a vulnerability that makes the song resonate even more. It feels less like a performance and more like a private moment captured — Paul sitting alone with his guitar, allowing us to listen in.
In the context of McCartney III, “When Winter Comes” serves as a kind of closing reflection — the quiet after the storm, the moment of stillness after a lifetime of melody. It is not about dazzling arrangements or pop hooks; it is about authenticity, presence, and gratitude.
In the end, “When Winter Comes” is more than just a “lost” McCartney song finally released. It is a reminder of what has always made him so enduring: the ability to find beauty in the ordinary, to turn the simplest details of life into music that speaks to the heart. It feels like a whispered truth — that in tending the world around us with love, we also tend to ourselves.