Paul McCartney Addresses 'Wonderful Christmastime' Encouraging Witchcraft: 'I Am the Head Wizard'

people.com

Paul McCartney Addresses 'Wonderful Christmastime' Encouraging Witchcraft: 'I Am the Head Wizard'

McCartney's Christmas classic was released in 1979

By Ilana Kaplan

Staff Editor at PEOPLE

December 24, 2025

NEED TO KNOW

• Paul McCartney reflected on "Wonderful Christmastime" encouraging witchcraft
• "I like the idea of Christmas songs purely because they only come around at Christmas!" the Beatles vocalist writes in a "Vevo Footnotes" video
• "Wonderful Christmastime" was released in 1979

Paul McCartney is reflecting on his most festive hit.

In a "Vevo Footnotes" video shared on Thursday, Dec. 18, the Beatles vocalist reflected on the online "theory" that the video for his 1979 Christmas classic "Wonderful Christmastime" encourages witchcraft.

"There is a theory online that the song is about people practicing witchcraft, getting found out and trying to cover it up," McCartney, 83, writes. "Thank goodness they found me out. This is completely true and in actual fact."

He continues, "I am the head wizard of a Liverpool coven. Either that...or it's complete nonsense."

McCartney then adds that "you know it's the latter."

Paul McCartney in the "Wonderful Christmastime" music video in 1979.

Credit : Paul McCartney/YouTube

Per a 2022 interview he did with PaulMcCartney.com, he clarified that the lyrics were "the mood is right" and not "the moon is right," which fans may have misheard.

"The thing is about this stuff, it’s so easy to convince half the people in the world. You do have to be a little bit careful!" he said at the time.

In the Vevo Footnotes video, McCartney reveals he was trying to showcase the excitement of the holiday season.

"When I was writing 'Wonderful Christmastime' I was trying to capture that party aspect," he writes of the video. “I’m thinking about Liverpool Christmas parties, that’s really all I’m doing with that song."

Adds McCartney, "‘The mood is right, let’s raise a glass, the spirit’s up’ — you know, all the stuff you do at Christmas. Particularly with my old Liverpool family parties.”

Paul McCartney in the "Wonderful Christmastime" music video in 1979.

Credit : Paul McCartney/YouTube

Directed by Russell Mulcahy and filmed at the Fountain Inn in West Sussex and The Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, the music video features members of McCartney's band Wings.

In the video, McCartney also addresses how popular the track has become over the years.

“Sometimes people will go into a shop and hear the song a little too much, but I don’t care!” he writes. “I’m happy!”

In December 2024, the music legend surprised fans with a rare performance of "Wonderful Christmastime" in Manchester, England, featuring backing vocals from children who attend the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy.

According to Rolling Stone, McCartney has only performed "Wonderful Christmastime" live roughly a dozen times throughout his career.

Prior to his 2024 performance of the track, the last time McCartney had played it was during a trio of concerts in England in December 2018.

He also previously joined in a rendition of the song alongside Jimmy Fallon and the cast of Sing during a 2016 episode of The Tonight Show.

BONUS :