Friday Sessions #76: ‘You got to give the other fellow hell’ – ‘Live and Let Die’ Paul McCartney & Wings

Paul McCartney & Wings recorded ‘Live and Let Die’, for the James Bond film starring Roger Moore in 1973. Of course, listening to the track has to raise the popular debate, who is your favourite James Bond? And which is your favourite title track?…

While you decide, we can check the following lyric:
You got to give the other fellow hell

A strange but common expression in English, we use this to say that:
you have to give someone else a hard time

In the world of James Bond, that could mean anything from fighting to torture, but we can also use the same expression in different everyday situations. Check the following examples:

“I forgot about an important meeting yesterday and the company directors gave me hell.“
(to shout or express anger at someone)

“I lifted some heavy boxes and now my back’s giving me hell.”
(to be in a lot of pain)

“These accounts are giving me hell, they’re so complex and I’ve been working on them all week.”
(to challenge or present problems)

And we can also use the same expression in a positive way:

“I know you are nervous about the pitch, but you can do it!! Give them hell.” (or, Give ’em hell.)
(To encourage or motivate someone to win or give their maximum effort.)

Lyrics:

When you were young and your heart was an open book
You used to say live and let live
(You know you did, you know you did, you know you did)
But if this ever changing world in which we’re living
Makes you give in and cry

Say live and let die
(Live and let die)
Live and let die
(Live and let die)

What does it matter to you?
When you got a job to do
You got to do it well
You got to give the other fellow hell

You used to say live and let live
(You know you did, you know you did, you know you did)
But if this ever changing world in which we’re living
Makes you give in and cry

Say live and let die
(Live and let die)
Live and let die
(Live and let die)

Paul McCartney & Wings / ‘Live and Let Die’