Paul McCartney brought nostalgia, warmth, and one final surprise to the Season 51 finale of Saturday Night Live on May 16, closing the show with a three-song run that stretched across nearly five decades of his career. Backed by a live band that included Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, McCartney delivered the television debut of “Days We Left Behind,” revisited Wings staple “Band on the Run,” and capped the night with an unexpected encore of “Coming Up” during the episode’s closing credits.
The appearance marked McCartney’s latest return to Studio 8H, a stage tied closely to his post-Beatles solo legacy since his first SNL performance in 1980.
Opening his set with “Days We Left Behind,” McCartney leaned fully into the reflective tone shaping his upcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due May 29 through Capitol Records. The track, released earlier this month as the album’s lead single, traces memories of his Liverpool upbringing through soft piano lines, understated guitar textures, and vivid references to the Mersey shoreline.
Momentum shifted immediately afterward when McCartney launched into “Band on the Run,” transforming the finale into a full-scale singalong. Originally released in 1973 as the centerpiece of Wings’ Grammy-winning album of the same name, the song remains one of the defining records of his post-Beatles catalog.
Then came the surprise. As the cast gathered onstage alongside host Will Ferrell during the traditional SNL goodnights, McCartney unexpectedly launched into “Coming Up,” extending the episode beyond its scheduled musical performances. The moment carried added historical resonance: “Coming Up” was also one of McCartney’s earliest SNL performances during his 1980 appearance alongside Linda McCartney.
Watch the performances below.
Photo: SNL/YouTube
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