“Give Ireland Back to the Irish”, the first Wings' single

In February 1972 Paul McCartney reacted to a horrific event by writing and releasing “Give Ireland Back to the Irish.” It seemed to be an act of honesty, but was there more to it?
On Jan. 30, 1972, British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians in Derry, Northern Ireland, killing 13 on the scene.
Images from the scene provoked Paul McCartney into an action that could have put his fledgling post-Beatles career on the line. His song “Give Ireland Back to the Irish” was written the next day, with assistance from wife Linda, then recorded by his band Wings the day after, and released four weeks later, on Feb. 25 (28 in the U.S.). Musically, it’s hardly groundbreaking. It might even pass for a pub rock band ditty, if it wasn’t for some of those impossible-to-ignore sparks of brilliance that demonstrate genius at work.

Wings, formed in 1971 by McCartney and Linda, also included guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Denny Seiwell and Northern Irish guitarist Henry McCullough. They all agreed the song was worth recording and releasing – and they were ready for the backlash, which began almost immediately.

Broadcasting authorities in the U.K. issued a blanket ban across TV and radio. Even the popular non-regulated station Radio Luxembourg refused to play it. When it was mentioned in the singles chart it was simply referred to as “a record by the group Wings.” McCartney tried to buy airtime on British commercial TV but regulators refused to permit it.
Nevertheless, it did chart – reaching No. 16 in Britain, No. 21 in the U.S. and No. 1 in the Republic of Ireland and Spain.

McCartney, whose work reflects a belief in popular art reflecting life, maintained that it had to be done. “‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish’ wasn’t an easy route, but it just seemed to be the time,” McCartney said. “It was the first time people questioned what we were doing in Ireland.”