Pipes of Peace (song)

Infobox Single |
Name = Pipes of Peace


Artist = Paul McCartney
from Album = Pipes of Peace
Released = 1983
Format = CD single
Recorded = September/October 1982
Genre = Pop
Length = 3:56
Label = Parlophone
Producer = George Martin
Chart position =
#1 (UK)
Reviews =
Last single = "Say Say Say"
(1983)
This single = "Pipes of Peace"
(1984)
Next single = "No More Lonely Nights"
(1984)

"Pipes of Peace" is a song written by Paul McCartney, which was first released on his album also called "Pipes of Peace" on 31 October 1983. It was also released as a single on 5 December 1983 and reached #1 in the UK singles chart for two weeks.

At Chobham Common, Surrey, a video was shot for "Pipes of Peace", depicting the famous 1914 Christmas truce between British and German troops. It portrays a British and a German soldier, both played by McCartney, who meet up in No Man's Land and exchange photos of their loved ones while other soldiers fraternise and play football. When a shell blast forces the two armies to retreat to their own trenches both men realise that they still have each-other's pictures. The video was produced by Hugh Symonds, featured more than 100 extras, and for added realism McCartney had his hair cut short especially for the shoot. The same story is told in the French film Joyeux Noel.

"Pipes of Peace" was originally recorded during September/October 1982.

Despite featuring on 22 UK number one singles (as a member of the Beatles and Wings), this was his only number one as an entirely solo artist. Only two months before, he scored a number one with the song "Say Say Say" in a duet with Michael Jackson and since has had number ones as a member of Ferry Aid and Band Aid 20.