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Paul McCartney Uses Humor to Debunk 'Wonderful Christmastime' Witchcraft Theory

He says the track celebrates Liverpool holiday parties, with the lyric correctly heard as "the mood is right."

Overview

  • McCartney addressed the online rumor in a Dec. 18 Vevo Footnotes video, joking he was a “head wizard” before calling the claim “complete nonsense.”
  • He wrote that the song was written to capture a festive party feel from Liverpool family gatherings, reiterating the correct lyric “the mood is right.”
  • Released in 1979, the single reached No. 6 in the UK, and its video—directed by Russell Mulcahy—was filmed at the Fountain Inn in West Sussex and the Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne with members of Wings.
  • He has performed “Wonderful Christmastime” live only about a dozen times, most recently in Manchester in December 2024, according to Rolling Stone reporting cited by outlets.
  • Some coverage cites roughly $400,000 in annual royalties and reports he is tipped for a new album next year, though those figures and plans are unconfirmed.