Sir Paul McCartney has opened up about facing his own mortality in a rare and emotional admission as he prepares to release new music. The Beatles legend, now 83, is returning with his first album in six years, and early signs suggest the project is deeply personal, shaped by memories, loss and his enduring legacy. McCartney has now confronted the reality of ageing head-on, weaving the theme into his new track Days We Left Behind - the first song from his upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due out in May.

The stripped-back acoustic ballad, reminiscent of his classic work, carries a quiet but unmistakable message about life moving on. In the song, he sings: "Nothing stays the same, and no one needs to cry. No one can reclaim the days we left behind."

The lyrics show a shift for the music icon, known for his upbeat hits, as he turns to more reflective themes about ageing and change. McCartney's voice noticeably sounds fragile and cracking on the track - a surprising shift that underscores the emotional weight behind the words.

At the centre of the song is a look back at his early life, including memories of growing up in Liverpool and the formative years that would eventually lead to the creation of The Beatles.

He references moments with bandmate John Lennon, recalling nights in "smoky bars and cheap guitars"-a nod to the raw beginnings of one of the most famous partnerships in music history. Now, decades on from those early days, McCartney appears to be taking stock.

The new material takes a more reflective tone, with the album title The Boys of Dungeon Lane referencing a street near his childhood home in Speke. It points to a focus on his early life and the experiences that shaped his career.

The release also comes amid renewed global fascination with The Beatles, with documentaries, books and films continuing to revisit the band's story from fresh angles. From Peter Jackson's Get Back series to recent biographies and retrospectives, the narrative around the group has shifted in recent years - focusing not only on conflict but also on the deep creative bond between the four famous members.

A press release described the 14-track record as McCartney's most introspective album yet, a "collection of rare and revealing glimpses into memories never-before shared, along with some newly inspired love songs"

The musical styles are said to span his entire career, including "Wings-style rock, Beatles-style harmonies, McCartney-style grooves, understated intimacy, melody-driven storytelling, character songs".

McCartney debuted the song on BBC Radio Merseyside. "I want the people of Merseyside to hear my brand new song," he said in a message read out by presenter Helen Jones.

In a statement about the song, McCartney said: "This is very much a memory song for me. The album title comes from a lyric in this track. I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind, and I do often wonder if I'm just writing about the past, but then I think: how can you write about anything else?

"It's just a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John [Lennon] and Forthlin Road, which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there."