“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” is a song by Paul McCartney from his 1971 album Ram. It is one of McCartney’s first major hits after the breakup of The Beatles, and it showcases his flair for quirky, multi-part song structures. The track blends a whimsical, nostalgic tone with a more experimental style, full of orchestration and playful shifts in melody.
The song’s lyrics are a mix of humorous, surreal storytelling and personal reflection, where “Uncle Albert” is believed to be a reference to McCartney’s real-life uncle. The second part of the song, “Admiral Halsey,” adds an upbeat, catchy section, with memorable lines like, “Hands across the water.”
The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and it won a Grammy for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists.
