Dress Me Up As A Robber
Album This song officially appears on the Tug Of War Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1982
Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1977 (Paul McCartney was 35 years old)
Dream Come True
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Home recordings
Recording "Dress Me Up As A Robber", "The Pound Is Sinking", "Average Person"
Recording "Take It Away", "Average Person"
Overdubs for "Take It Away", "Dress Me Up As A Robber"
Mixing "Dress Me Up As A Robber"
Remixing "Tug Of War" album
Tug Of War - Paul McCartney talks to Andy Mackay
Aug 01, 1982 • From Club Sandwich
Song facts
"Dress Me Up As A Robber" is a song from 1982 album "Tug Of War". Like "The Pound Of Sinking" on the same album, it was written in 1977.
From an interview with Club Sandwich, 1982:
Andy Mackay – "Dress Me Up as a Robber" – is that the one you were talking about that sounds Steve Gaddish?
Paul – Yes, I think that does sound Steve Gaddish in its rhythm, but it's a kinda Latin thing that Steve would do anyway. We did it in Montserrat where we had different people at different times, you know. Dave Mattacks was there drumming on certain tracks and then we was returned to England and nearly overlapping him was Steve Gadd, to kinda take over. And I think for me, I always say today, I can hear him sort of anticipating Steve's arrival and sort of thinking about this. He plays a bit Steve Gadd-y style, which is nice actually, it makes a nice change for us. It sort of keeps a bit of a continuity rather than it just being everyone's very different, they kind of assimilated a bit to each other, sort of thing.
Andy – Are the words anything of great significance?
Paul – Dressed up as a robber — the words are just kinda words, they just came about. You can do whatever you like to me, you can call me what you like. but I'll still be what I am; you can dress me up as a sailor, a robber, a soldier, but it really won't matter, I will still be me. If you dress me up as a soldier I will be the little fellow who goes to Northern Ireland and writes a book about the horrors of it — I won't be a soldier really, or you know what I mean, that kind of thought.
Well you can dress me up as a robber
But I won't be in disguise
Only love is a robber
And he lives within your eyes
Ooh, ooh eee ooh
You can dress me up as a sailor
But I'll never run to sea
As long as your love is available to me
What do I do with a sea of blue?
Ooh, eee ooh
Dressing me up
It doesn't make a difference
Whichever way you look at it
I'm still in love with you
If we go on forever
I may never make a change
And if I don't convince you
You needn't look too far
To see that I'm not lying
'cos I love you the way you are
And what's the point of changing
When I'm happy as I am?
Well you can dress me up as a soldier
But I wouldn't know what for
I was the one that told you he loved you
Don't wanna go to another war
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1982
Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Guitars, Vocal
Electric guitar, Synthesizer
Eric Stewart :
George Martin :
Arrangement, Electric piano, Producer
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Dave Mattacks :
Drums, Percussion
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Mike Stavrou :
AIR Studios, Montserrat
Take It Away
12" Single • Released in 1982
Tug Of War (1993)
2:43 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
Tug Of War - Archive Collection
2:42 • Studio version • B • 2015 remix
Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Guitars, Remixing, Vocal
Steve Orchard :
Remixing
3:40 • Demo
Session Recording & mixing:
Rude Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
Studio version • A
MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol.10
Unofficial album
1:07 • Demo • D1 • Indicated as Summer '77 demo on the liner notes
Unsurpassed Rudeness
3:39 • Outtake
Tug Of Peace
0:34 • Outtake • Studio demo - Opening riffs
See all bootlegs containing "Dress Me Up As A Robber"
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.