"I've Had Enough" is a song by the British–American rock band Wings, released as a single from their 1978 album '' London Town''. It reached on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, in Canada and in the UK. In the Netherlands, the 2-sided single "I've Had Enough" combined with its B-side "

Deliver Your Children "Deliver Your Children" is a song written by Denny Laine and Paul McCartney that was first issued on Wings' 1978 album '' London Town''. It was also released as the B-side of Wings' single " I've Had Enough". In the Netherlands, it received en ...

" reached .

Writing and recording

"I've Had Enough" was written and sung by Paul McCartney. The music and an improvised

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

were recorded on board the boat ''Fair Carol'' in the Virgin Islands prior to the departure of Wings' lead guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Joe English. According to McCartney, they did not have any of the words until the band returned to London from the ''Fair Carol'' recording sessions. He then wrote "a few" words and overdubbed the lyrics in London.

Lyrics and music

The lyrics of "I've Had Enough" primarily vent the singer's frustration in the face of various circumstances. McCartney referred to it as "just one of those 'fed up' songs." Wings' label

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

described it as "a driving rock 'n' roll tune that lyrically describes an artist's ultimatum to the taxman, a self-serving manager, or both." Syndicated columnist Joel McNally regarded the song as containing political commentary. The song is in the

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

of D major. Music professor Vincent Benitez describes the song as a musically simple "guitar-dominated rocker," with alternating verses and chorus following the introductory section. According to McNally, "it is done in the

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

styles of the '50s, '60s and '70s. All at the same time." ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' found the song structure to be similar to early songs McCartney wrote for the

Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developme ...

Reception

'' Rolling Stone'' critic Janet Maslin claimed that "I've Had Enough" hints "at a minor mean streak, which "spices up" the ''London Town'' album "with a welcome note of discord." McCartney biographer Peter A. Carlin claimed the song reflects "the righteous outrage of a man who can't find his slippers." Tom Waseleski of '' Beaver County Times'' praised McCartney's "raspy, boyish vocal" as a throwback to his early days with the Beatles. Author Tim Riley calls it a "simplistic screamer." Beatles' biographer John Blaney claims that it is "not very effective," despite "a half decent riff and a snappy arrangement," and suggests that the "negative" chorus may reflect McCartney's dissatisfaction with the band at the time. On the other hand ''

Kingsport Times-News The ''Kingsport Times News'' is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Kingsport, Tennessee, and distributed in six counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The Times News is published by Six Rivers Media, LLC., which publish ...

'' critic Michael Clark regarded "I've Had Enough" to be the best song on ''London Town'', calling it "guitar-riff oriented in Paul's best Beatle tradition" and stating that the lyrics evoke "

Get Back "Get Back" is a song recorded by the British rock band the Beatles and Billy Preston, and written by Paul McCartney though credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. It was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969 and credited to ...

" and similar Beatle songs "without drawing specifically from the same sources." ''

'' suggested that "McCartneÿ s growling vocal and an insistent beat" make the song "a decisive statement in release of pent-up frustrations." ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' suggested that it could follow "With a Little Luck" to the top pf the charts and called it "a jaunty, shuffle-rocker," saying "the tune rides a crisp handclap beat and simple guitar chording." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said that "McCartney in top pop vocal form" and that "the back beat is strong and the hook instantly singable." In 2013, '' Rolling Stone'' rated it the #35 all-time Paul McCartney post-

song, describing how it contrasted with Wings' prior single, the "easygoing" " With a Little Luck" with "tough talk and guitars to match." In that review, ''Rolling Stone'' suggested that the song's "sarcastic snarl" was influenced by

Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus Order of the British Empire, OBE (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award in ...

. McCartney biographer Martin A. Grove, writing at about the time the single was released described "I Had Enough" as a "hard–rocking" song, which he (as it turned out over-optimistically) predicted may become a hit.

Weekly charts

References

External links

Lyrics from Paul McCartney's official site
{{Authority control Paul McCartney songs 1978 singles Paul McCartney and Wings songs Songs written by Paul McCartney Capitol Records singles Parlophone singles Song recordings produced by Paul McCartney Music published by MPL Music Publishing 1977 songs