| "Deliver Your Children" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover in the Netherlands, where it charted | ||||
| Single byWings | ||||
| from the albumLondon Town | ||||
| A-side | "I've Had Enough" | |||
| Released | 16 June 1978 | |||
| Recorded | May 1977 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | Parlophone/EMI(UK) Capitol(US) | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Paul McCartney | |||
| Wings singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Deliver Your Children" is a song written byDenny Laine andPaul McCartney that was first issued onWings' 1978 albumLondon Town. It was also released as the B-side of Wings' single "I've Had Enough". In the Netherlands, it received enough airplay to be ranked on the national charts along with its A-side, and joint single reached No. 13.[1] On some charts within the Netherlands "Deliver Your Children" was ranked alone on the single charts, and it reached No. 9 on the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40 chart.[2] Laine also released solo recordings of the song.[3]
Laine wrote most of the song himself and McCartney helped him complete it.[4][5] It was originally written during theVenus and Mars sessions in 1975.[5][6] Laine's original title for the song was "Feel the Love," despite the fact that the song lyrics do not contain the phrase, but McCartney suggested the revised title.[7][8] It was recorded on the yachtFair Carol in the Virgin Islands in May 1977; at the timeLinda McCartney was pregnant with her and Paul's fourth child,James.[6] Laine sings the lead vocal and both Laine and McCartney playacoustic guitar.[9] Laine also plays the Spanish guitar solos.[10] McCartney also playsbass guitar, and both he and Linda McCartney provide backing vocals.[5]
"Deliver Your Children" is anuptempo song.[5] Music professor Vincent Benitez andBeatles biographer Robert Rodriguez describe it as being "folksy."[7][9] It is one of two songs onLondon Town primarily written by Laine with children as its theme.[7] Theverses describe a variety of unlucky experiences the singer has had, including getting caught in a rain storm, dealing with an unfaithful lover, and dealing with an unscrupulous repairman who can't fix his truck.[7][9] Both Benitez and McCartney biographer John Blaney describe the verses as "rambling."[5][9] Therefrain contrasts by exhorting the listener to deliver the children to the good life and make things right for them.[7][9]
According to Benitez, the song sounds as if it is in thekey ofA minor but the guitars are actually played in the key ofD minor with acapo on the seventhfret.[9] Actually, the verses are neither in amajor or aminor key, but in aDorian mode, which emphasizes their harsh imagery.[9] The first two verses, theguitar solo near the end and theoutro are in D-Dorian, while the last verses are in G-Dorian.[9] The refrain is inC major, contrasting the verses and emphasizing its more hopeful lyrics.[9]
Rolling Stone Magazine criticJanet Maslin described "Deliver Your Children" as "wonderful" and one of the best songs onLondon Town.[11] Rodriguez regards it as the best of McCartney's and Laine's collaborations.[7] Beatle biographers Roy Carr and Tony Tyler described it as "minor keyNashville chunkachuck" displaying "superior craftmanship."[12] Music critic Joel McNally regards it as a "good" song, describing it as "an upbeat number that dares to use some acoustic guitars in an electronic age.[13] Author Giuseppe Rausa regards "Deliver Your Children" as one of the few memorable songs onLondon Town, describing it as a pleasant, quick,country music-like song.[14]
