It happened again. Just a few months ago, in late 2025, Paul McCartney walked onto a stage in California and did something he hasn’t done in thirty-five years. He played "Help!"
Not just a snippet. Not a part of a medley. The whole thing.
If you’re a Beatles fan, you know Paul usually sticks to his own side of the fence. He plays the songs he wrote. He leaves John’s songs to the records. But there he was at the Santa Barbara Bowl, 83 years old, screaming out those iconic lyrics about needing someone. Honestly, it felt less like a concert and more like a public conversation with a ghost.
Watching Sir Paul McCartney pays tribute to John Lennon isn’t just a gimmick for a stadium tour. It’s become his late-career mission. Whether it’s the virtual duets or the way he talks about John in interviews now, there’s this sense that he’s trying to finish a dialogue that got cut short on a sidewalk in NYC back in 1980.
The Digital Ghost: "I've Got a Feeling"
The most famous way Paul honors John these days is through the "virtual duet." During the Got Back tour—which has been rolling through 2024 and 2025—Paul performs "I’ve Got a Feeling."
Behind him, a massive screen flickers to life with footage from the 1969 rooftop concert. Peter Jackson (the Get Back director) isolated John’s vocals so they’re crystal clear. When John’s voice booms through the arena speakers, Paul turns around to face the screen. He sings to John.
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It’s kinda haunting. You’ve got the 20-something John Lennon, frozen in 1969, and the 80-something Paul McCartney, standing there in the present. Paul has mentioned that it’s incredibly moving for him to hear that voice "in the room" again. It’s not just a video; it’s a synchronization of two lives that were once inseparable.
Breaking the 35-Year Silence with "Help!"
The 2025 tour kickoff was a shocker because of the setlist. Paul opened with "Help!"
Think about that. The last time he played that song in full was the Flowers in the Dirt tour in 1990. Why now?
Basically, it seems like Paul is leaning into the shared legacy more than ever. "Help!" was John’s "fat Elvis" period song—a genuine cry for help hidden inside a pop hit. By reclaiming it on stage, Paul isn’t just playing a hit; he’s acknowledging the vulnerability his best friend felt. Fans at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert reported that the energy shifted the moment those first three chords hit. It wasn't just nostalgia. It was a statement.
The "Now and Then" Factor
You can't talk about these tributes without mentioning "Now and Then," released in late 2023. Paul called it "the last Beatles song."
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It started as a rough demo John recorded at the Dakota in the late 70s. For decades, it was "too messy" to fix. But thanks to AI (the good kind, the kind that cleans up old tapes), Paul and Ringo were able to finish it.
- The Piano: Paul added new piano tracks.
- The Strings: He oversaw a string arrangement that felt very "Eleanor Rigby."
- The Guitar: He even played a slide guitar solo in the style of George Harrison.
In the music video, you see Paul interacting with younger versions of John and George. It’s a bit trippy, but it’s deeply earnest. Paul has said in interviews that while recording it, he kept thinking, "Would John like this?" He still uses John as his internal compass. That’s a 60-year-old habit he can’t quit.
Why "Here Today" Still Makes Him Cry
Even after playing it a thousand times, "Here Today" is the emotional anchor of every show. Paul wrote it in 1981, less than a year after John was killed. It’s an imaginary conversation.
The lyrics go: "And if I said I really knew you and was related to your song..." Then he answers himself as John: "You’d probably laugh and say that we were worlds apart."
During the 2024 European dates, there were nights where Paul’s voice visibly cracked during this song. He’s been open about how John was a "Northern Man," and they didn't really say "I love you" to each other back then. That wasn't what guys from Liverpool did in the 60s. This song is his way of saying it now, every single night, to a crowd of 50,000 people.
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The Reality of the "McCartney-Lennon" Bond
It’s easy to paint their relationship as purely a feud or purely a brotherhood. Honestly, it was both. They were competitive. They were petty. They sued each other.
But as Paul gets older, he seems to have scrubbed away the bitterness. He spends a lot of time now making sure people remember the good John—the funny, warm guy, not just the "angry" John from the post-breakup years.
He recently told a story about a dream he had where John was just sitting there, laughing. He woke up feeling happy because they were "just mates" again. That’s the version of John he’s trying to keep alive through these tributes.
What This Means for Fans
If you’re planning to catch the remaining 2025 or 2026 tour dates, expect the John tributes to be the highlight. It’s not just about the music. It’s about witnessing the last man standing holding onto the legacy of his partner.
How to Connect with the Tribute:
- Watch the "Now and Then" Short Film: It’s on YouTube and gives the best look at how Paul feels about working with John’s "ghost" voice.
- Listen to "Tug of War": This is the album where "Here Today" first appeared. It captures Paul’s rawest grief.
- Check the Setlists: If you're going to a show, look for "I've Got a Feeling" in the encore. That’s the moment the "virtual John" appears.
Paul isn’t just playing the hits. He’s keeping a person alive. As long as he’s on stage singing those harmonies, John Lennon hasn't quite left the building yet.
Next Steps:
To fully appreciate the depth of this connection, watch the Get Back documentary on Disney+. It shows the exact moment the "I've Got a Feeling" rooftop footage was filmed, providing the original context for the virtual duet Paul performs today. You can also track the latest 2026 tour setlist updates on Paul McCartney’s official website to see if "Help!" remains a permanent fixture.