Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Linda McCartney

Any tip is a good tip in the busking business.

30-year-old musician Charlotte Campbell, however, received an extra special donation earlier this week.

Busking outside of London’s Charing Cross station, she was tipped by none other than Paul McCartney.

Recounting the experience to London news publication Evening Standard Campbell notes she initially noticed someone admiring a performance of one of her original songs from afar.

It was only when the figure stepped forward to place a few coins into her guitar case that she realized who it was.

“To see Paul McCartney and for him to be putting money in my guitar case,” she shared with the Evening Standard, “I was so speechless.”

Dumbstruck upon making the connection, Campbell managed to compose herself and utter “Thanks Paul!” as the former Beatle turned to walk away.

Thinking quickly, the busker then performed the first Beatle number to come to her head.

The song 1964 Beatles single ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, a choice Paul McCartney wholeheartedly approved of.

“I watched him as he was walking away,” Campbell recounts, “and he turned back and smiled and he gave me two thumbs up, put his hands right up in the air.”

“I take that as such a compliment,” Campbell enthuses, “Obviously I wish that I had said to him that he is an inspiration, that I play so many of his songs, that I love so many of his songs that I have grown up listening to his music but I also know that he has probably heard that a million time before.”

But to be honest, I am kind of just happy that he got to hear me play one of my own songs which he dropped the money in for and then one of his songs,” she concludes, “I felt like that in itself was a musical conversation and I was really happy with it.”

Tonight busking at Charing Cross station I had a drop in my guitar case from Sir Paul himself – @PaulMcCartney – I was absolutely speechless, I had so many things I wanted to say but all I managed was “thanks Paul” – I could have fainted to tell you the truth!

— Charlotte Campbell (@Ccampbellmusic) March 11, 2020

Paul McCartney 2020 Tour Dates
05/23 – Lille, FR @ Pierre Mauroy Stadium
05/26 – Paris, FR @ Paris La Défense Arena
05/29 – Nijmegen, NL @ Goffert Park
05/31 – Bordeaux, FR @ Stadium Matmut
06/04 – Hannover, DE @ HDI Arena
06/07 – Lyon, FR @ Groupama Stadium
06/10 – Naples, IT @ Piazza Plebiscito
06/13 – Lucca, IT @ Mura Storiche
06/17 – Barcelona, ES @ Olympic Stadium
06/21- Werchter, BE @ TW Classic Festival
06/27 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival