"Mamunia" is a song written by Paul and

Linda McCartney Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney ( Eastman; September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, animal rights activist, vegetarian cookbook author and advocate, and entrepreneur. She was the keyboardist in th ...

that first appeared on Wings' 1973 album ''

Band on the Run ''Band on the Run'' is the third studio album by the British–American rock band Paul McCartney and Wings, released in December 1973. It was McCartney's fifth album after leaving the Beatles in April 1970. Although sales were modest initially ...

''. It was also released as the B-side of the "

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" single in the US, but was replaced by " Let Me Roll It" when "Mamunia" was being considered as a possible future A-side.

Music and lyrics

"Mamunia" was written in

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early in 1973. The title was inspired by the hotel

Mamounia Mamounia is a town and commune in Mascara Province, Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordina ...

in which the McCartneys were staying at the time. Mamounia means "safe haven" in Arabic. According to author John Blaney, McCartney used the term as a "metaphor for rebirth." "Mamunia" is one of several songs on ''Band on the Run'', including the title track and " Bluebird," which espouse a theme of escape and freedom. The song's verses use rain as a metaphor for the difficult times people face. The song's message is not to complain about difficult times because everyone faces tough times and it's better to focus on your "safe haven" during those times. "Mamunia" was the first song recorded for ''Band on the Run'' in Lagos, Nigeria. Paul McCartney sings the lead vocals and plays guitar and

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, Denny Laine plays guitar and sings backing vocals, and Linda McCartney provides backing vocals as well. One of McCartney's roadies plays

bass drum The bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch. The instrument is typically cylindrical, with the drum's diameter much greater than the drum's depth, with a struck head at both ends of the cylinder. Th ...

. Like "Bluebird," "Mamunia" is primarily acoustic. Music critic

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

described the song's intro as "Afro-soul." The song and the

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in poetry — the "chorus" of a song. Poetic fixed forms that feature refrains include the vi ...

are in the key of

A major A major (or the key of A) is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor. The key of A major is the only k ...

and the verses are in the key of

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and ...

. Authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter describe the song as "so lightweight it'll float off" but note that it is "relentlessly melodic."

Personnel

* Paul McCartney – lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar *

– backing vocals, keyboards * Denny Laine – backing vocals, guitar

Critics comments

Professor Vincent Benitez described it as a "typical example of McCartney's style of pop music." Blaney describes it as "a bright and breezy pop song, celebrating the good things in life and equally as delightful. '' Mojo Magazine'' described it as "a pearl of naive wisdom." Authors Robert Dimery and Michael Lydon described "Mamunia" as a "solid side-two track." Paul McCartney biographer Peter Carlin claimed that "Mamunia" "takes a more laid-back approach to the sentiment in he Beatles' song">Beatles.html" ;"title="he Beatles">he Beatles' song' Rain.'" Author Tim Riley concurs the song's relationship to "Rain," calling it a "pale rewrite of John Lennon">Lennon's "Rain," but praises its "smart two-key framework."

Music video

A music video was made for "Mamunia" in July 1974. Jim Quick was the producer. The video is mostly animation">animated, and Paul McCartney does not appear. It was first shown on The Dave Cash Radio Show." It appears on the 2007 video set ''The McCartney Years''.

Covers

Don Fleming (musician), Don Fleming covered "Mamunia" on his 2003 ''

'' remake. Larry Page covered the song on his mid-1990s albums ''John Paul George Ringo'' and ''Imagine''.

References

{{Authority control 1973 songs Paul McCartney songs Paul McCartney and Wings songs Songs written by Paul McCartney Songs written by Linda McCartney Song recordings produced by Paul McCartney 1973 singles Apple Records singles Music published by MPL Music Publishing Folk ballads