Paul McCartney responds to viral claim beloved festive hit Wonderful Christmastime is about WITCHCRAFT
Some say he was simply having a wonderful Christmastime – while others have suggested Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney was actually appealing to the occult.
But now the Fab Four rocker has finally responded to viral claims about encouraging witchcraft in his 1979 festive hit.
A new video shared by Sir Paul’s team, amid the release of a new official book about his post-Beatles band Wings, gives behind-the-scenes clips.
And Sir Paul, 83, addresses jokes about the lyrics to the song which he only started playing live again in December 2009 at London’s O2 Arena.
Wonderful Christmastime starts by saying: ‘The mood is right, the spirit’s up, we’re here tonight – and that’s enough.’
Commenters online have suggested the verse could refer to people holding a witchcraft session only to be caught in the act and hurriedly covering their tracks.
Sir Paul has now directly addressed the internet speculation in a Vevo video about the making of the track.
He said of the witchcraft rumour: ‘There is a theory online that the song is about people practising witchcraft, getting found out and trying to cover it up.
Sir Paul McCartney performs at London’s O2 Arena during his Got Back tour last December 18
‘This is completely true and in actual fact I am the head wizard of a Liverpool coven.
‘Either that… or it’s complete nonsense. And you know it’s the latter!’
Wonderful Christmastime reached number six in the UK charts in 1979.
It has become a mainstay of festive season TV and radio airplay – reportedly earning Sir Paul $400,000 in royalties each year, to add to his $1.2billion fortune – while also being parodied by comedian Peter Serafinowicz as a more risque version.
Sir Paul and fellow former Beatles have been subject to plenty of misdirected speculation since becoming a worldwide sensation in the 1960s.
A ‘Paul Is Dead’ hoax in the late Sixties – originally attributed to US student newspaper pranksters – was something he described at the time as ‘bloody stupid’.
Sir Paul has been tipped to release a new album next year, which would be his first since 2023 McCartney III which he described as his ‘rockdown’ LP, recorded during Covid-19 pandemic restrictions at his home in Peasmarsh, near Rye in East Sussex.
A source was quoted as saying: ‘Paul has been working on the album all year and initially hoped it would be out by the end of this year but as with most things plans change.
‘It’s not quite finished but the majority of the album is done and Paul is really proud of it.’
A new video has explored the making of Paul McCartney’s 1979 hit Wonderful Christmastime
Sir Paul, 83, reached number six in the UK charts with the festive track in 1979
The ex-Beatles legend addresses joking online speculation that the song is about witchcraft
Reports have also suggested he could bring a tour back to the UK – having last performed here at London’s O2 in December 2024.
Sir Paul recently appeared – and won rave reviews, amid mixed appraisals of the film – in rock mockumentary sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.
When asked on screen what keeps him going, along with the love of music and the love of performing, he replies: ‘Yeah – and the drugs.’
But he has also spoken lately of his healthier real pre-performance rituals.
Sir Paul said: ‘I always get called an hour before the show, well, an hour before I’m going to be needed.
‘In that time, I do certain things – I have a gargle with salt water, then I do my teeth, then I figure out what I’m going to wear and then I have a kind of Chinese syrup solution you put hot water in.
‘It’s supposed to be good for your throat – if you’ve ever seen pictures of me before the show with a cup, that is what’s in it.’
This year has been busy for new Beatles and post-Beatles releases – with a new version of 1995 documentary series Anthology shared on Disney+, accompanied by a 191-track album collection.
Paul and Linda McCartney, seen here in the Wonderful Christmastime video, were among the members of his post-Beatles group Wings
Paul McCartney and his late first wife Linda are pictured here in 1989
Paul and Linda McCartney married at Marylebone Registry Office in London on March 12 1969
Sir Paul is tipped for a 2026 UK tour – here he is at the London 2012 opening ceremony
The Beatles, seen here in November 1963, were subject of a recent new release of series Anthology – left to right, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison
Sir Paul later formed Wings with his wife Linda and ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine
Three double-CD sets were released in the 1990s with a fourth now added – though after criticism, label Apple backtracked to allow the fourth to be available on its own.
Fans have also been calling for the long-awaited release of near-mythical experimental track Carnival Of Light, recorded in 1967 but never made public.
Sir Paul’s post-Beatles band Wings were the focus of another new book and reocrd release rounding up their classic tracks including Band On The Run and Jet.
Speculation about potential new Beatles output in 2026 include talk of a remastered version with possible extras of 1965 LP Rubber Soul.
Albums which followed in the 1960s have been given elaborate reboots in recent years, including Revolver, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Beatles, popularly known as ‘The White Album’.
