In the summer of 1976, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, once the closest songwriting partners in the world, sat together one last time—not in a studio, not on a stage, but in the quiet of Lennon’s New York apartment.
There was no guitar between them. No pens. No recording gear. Just two old friends, who had once changed the world together, now talking like regular men about fatherhood, life, and the past they shared but couldn’t quite revisit.
This night wasn’t planned as their final meeting—but it became one.
They laughed. They teased each other about old times. Paul played with John’s son Sean. Yoko made tea. And for a few hours, the tension melted. There was no Beatles, no Apple Corps, no lawsuits — just John and Paul.
They talked about possibly doing something again. Not a Beatles reunion. Just something. But no one made a move. Life had pulled them in different directions — one across the ocean, the other into quiet domesticity in the Dakota building.
That night, Paul said goodbye. He walked out the door. They waved.
He didn’t know he’d never see John again.
Four years later, John Lennon was shot outside that very building. And when the news hit Paul, he didn’t speak to the media. He didn’t write a tribute right away. He just sat alone. Because how do you mourn someone who was once your brother and stranger all at once?
It wasn’t just the end of a life. It was the final note in a song they never finished.
It’s not true, based on John and Paul’s own interview, that they saw each other for the last time that night. Both John and Paul have corroborated each other’s account describing how Paul dropped by John’s Dakota Apt. either the next day or soon after, with guitar in hand and John, being annoyed that Paul came over unannounced while his hands were full taking care of his son etc., told Paul in so many words, he “couldn’t just pop over like it was the old days….”. Paul, being hurt, snorted out something then stormed off in a huff and that, according to those two, was the LAST time they saw each other. Lastly, Paul did talk to the media after John was shot when they cornered him the next day as he was leaving his studio. Paul, trying to keep a stiff upper lip and appear aloof, said “yeah, it was a drag” which he claims years later, he was a huge mistake because it made him sound callous. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one:-)
Thank you for the correction but could you provide me the link of that interview here.