The meaning of Paul McCartney's favorite Latin word

(Credits: Far Out / Linda McCartney)

Sat Oct 26, 2024 2:00 PM, UK

In some exceptional circumstances, you don’t need to understand much of a language to know how to adopt certain aspects of a culture’s beliefs and traditions. In Sweden, for example, many people try to live according to the concept of ‘Lagom’, which means not too much, but not too little: a balanced lifestyle. In the same way, Paul McCartney endeared himself to the Latin language by learning just one word and everything it represented.

Although McCartney is knowledgeable about many things, his foray into spirituality largely began when The Beatles embraced Indian philosophy and transcendental meditation. Although each member allowed it to transform their thinking and way of life in different ways, with George Harrison seeing it as a guiding principle more than the others, McCartney always appreciated the finer, more simplistic readings.

The search for enlightenment and greater inner peace was something that struck us in the early days and culminated in various manifestations over time. While John Lennon embodied this mantra by imagining a world filled with immense love and peace, Harrison knew that all he ever needed was his own soul and spirit. On the other hand, McCartney always knew that one single force of humanity would always triumph: love.

In the broader concept of the Beatles-inspired lexicon and philosophy, ‘All You Need Is Love’ could be seen as their definitive cultural teaching, much like the Swedish ‘Lagom’, where respect and admiration for others are the basis of all that is could ever hold. value in our short time on earth. McCartney knew this and kept a close eye on it over the years: “I still believe that love is all you need,” he said. “I don’t know a better message than that.”

But McCartney has always felt enlightened by the many things and people he has met, which says everything about how to open his mind and heart as a person. When Meeting Bob Dylan for the first timeFor example, he could feel himself “climbing a spiral walkway,” as if, by some miracle, the connection with the legendary troubadour set him on an immediate path to “finding out everything, the meaning of life.”

Perhaps this is why, when he first discovered the Latin word “ecce,” something resonated deep within him. In Latin, ‘ecce’ is translated as ‘behold’, which appears in many religious and archaic expressions, usually in relation to the spiritual or the divine. In principle, ‘ecce’ could also be used as an existential mantra about greatness and the lifelong quest of seeking something greater than ourselves, or that superiority comes from within.

The singer once claimed that his “fondness” for the word “originated” when he was on vacation and came across a woman who needed a four-letter Latin word for a crossword puzzle she was doing one morning. Of course, McCartney celebrated the fact that he knew the answer immediately. However, his appreciation for the concept was taken a step further in 2006 with his classic venture, Ecce Cor Meumwhich means ‘Behold my heart’ in Latin.

McCartney initially discovered this phrase above a statue of Jesus in New York City, and it formed the basis of a record loosely inspired by his late wife Linda. Besides being one of his more ambitious efforts, Ecce Cor Meum adopted the idea of ’ecce’ for a broader piece on matters of the heart, focusing on spirituality and emotion. In addition to representing a sense of revelation, ‘ecce’ allowed McCartney to choose an album title that reflects the music’s themes of love, the one thing he will always consider the enduring force of life.

The meaning of Paul McCartney’s favorite Latin word

Subscribe to the Far Out newsletter