"Waterfalls" is a song by the English musician Paul McCartney from his third solo studio album, McCartney II. The song has a minimalist sound, with McCartney only playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano and a synthesizer and singing, and a short solo performed on acoustic guitar.
"Waterfalls" was released as a single with "Check My Machine" as its B-Side and reached chart position in the UK and No. 4 in Ireland. In the US, however, it was his first single ever to miss the Billboard Hot 100 chart, only reaching despite being the follow-up to the hit "Coming Up".Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium (Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions, 2000), 250. In 2013, Rolling Stone rated it the all-time Paul McCartney post-Beatles song, describing how it contrasted with Wings' prior single.
Background Billboard described "Waterfalls" as having "a subtle oriental flavour" and "appropriately sparse" instrumentation, and described McCartney's vocal performance as "inimitable" and "creamy." Cashbox called it a "whimsical ballad," stating that it has an "almost dirge-like melody." Record World said that "Stately keyboards surround [McCartney's] boyish falsetto for pop-A/C appeal."
When questioned on singles he wished were more successful, McCartney stated, "There's quite a few, actually. ... 'Waterfalls', I think is nice." He also commented that TLC's single "Waterfalls" carries elements of his song.
McCartney also said of his song:
Charts Chart (1980) PeakpositionLuxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)Radio Luxembourg Singles, 6 June 19804Ireland4
Personnel "Waterfalls" Paul McCartney – vocals, Fender rhodes, synthesizer, acoustic guitar solo
"Check My Machine" Paul McCartney - vocals, banjo, bass, electric guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, shaker, percussion
Other versions Sloan recorded a more uptempo version of the song on the McCartney tribute album Listen to What the Man Said.
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