Paul McCartney performs at the United Center in Chicago during the final stop of the Got Back Tour on Nov. 25, 2025.
“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
These lyrics were the final words sung by Paul McCartney during the final song of the encore of his final tour stop of the Got Back Tour in Chicago on Nov. 25, the second of a pair of sold-out shows at the United Center.
Prior to this chill-inducing moment, Sir Paul’s final Got Back Tour encore included a fun-filled rendition of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” that seamlessly transitioned into the face-melting, rock mania that is “Helter Skelter” – McCartney’s powerfully mad howl sounding as urgent as ever – among other classic Beatles hits. The encore opening number, “I’ve Got a Feeling,” was among the most emotional segments of the entire show as it found McCartney – and his talented band comprised of multi-instrumentalist Wix Wickens, Rusty Anderson (guitar), Abe Laboriel Jr. (drums), Brian Ray (bass, guitar), and the trio Hot City Horns – jamming with John Lennon in a virtual duet featuring footage from The Beatles’s iconic rooftop concert.
Throughout the night, McCartney took time out to honor his late-former-bandmates. “Here Today” was dedicated to Lennon and “Now and Then,” the Lennon-penned ballad that was released as a single in 2023, featured footage of John, Paul, George, and Ringo in the sixties intermingled with images of McCartney and Starr today. “Something,” written by Harrison, ended with bombastic intensity, but McCartney began the song as a solo number, simply and tenderly strumming a ukulele gifted to him by “The Quiet Beatle.”
“This ukulele is a very special one for me. It was given to me by George. Let’s hear it for George,” said McCartney to a sea of cheers before explaining that he and Harrison played this very version of “Something” together back in the day.
Paul McCartney performs at the United Center in Chicago during the final stop of the Got Back Tour on Nov. 25, 2025.
Of course, McCartney’s solo hits and Wings classics were also fan favorites shared throughout the night. “Let Me Roll It,” complete with a “Foxy Lady” snippet in appreciation of the artistry of Jimi Hendrix, “Jet,” “Band on the Run,” and a laser-filled, plucky “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” all had fans singing along. “Maybe I’m Amazed” proved to be one of McCartney’s most impressive piano interludes of the night as he tickled the ivories with intensity and care while “My Valentine” invited the crowd into a special connection as the song was dedicated to McCartney’s wife Nancy Shevell, who inspired the delicate love song and was in attendance for that evening’s concert.
“Got to Get You into My Life,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face,” and “Help!,” the last of which opened the show, were further highlights of this epic live music experience. And while fans were there to witness one of the best performers to ever take the stage at the United Center, they also got in on the fun by belting out the vocals whenever possible, most notably on “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “Let It Be,” and “Hey Jude,” the “Na na na nananana” portion inspiring smiles, hugs, and even a few tears during the closer of the pre-encore set.
Paul McCartney performs at the United Center in Chicago during the final stop of the Got Back Tour on Nov. 25, 2025.
The concert was comprised of countless highlights, some fueled by fire and relentless riffs – as was the case for a larger-than-life performance of “Live and Let Die” – others driven by a particular brand of nostalgia that can only be derived from songs that have been holding space in people’s hearts and souls for decades, like “Getting Better” and “Love Me Do.” It’s hard to nail down one moment as the moment of the show, but if one such moment existed in the final night of the Got Back Tour, it was McCartney’s performance of “Blackbird.”
Sir Paul played the song as a solo number, just him and an acoustic guitar standing atop a rising platform that elevated this legendary songwriter practically into the rafters. A brief slip-up on the guitar only enhanced the moment, showing that this towering figure in the world of rock history is human after all.
“I do know it,” McCartney joked falling right back into this beautiful song about the fight for Civil Rights in America in the sixties. After the song ended, he explained that it was written with the intention of giving people hope during a time when the Fab Four were getting push-back for refusing to play segregated shows in the American South, which led them to adjust their contract to state preemptively that they would never play to a segregated audience.
“We were hearing a lot of troubles coming over on the news from certain states in America about civil rights,” said McCartney. “And I wanted to try and write a song that, if it ever got back to the people going through those struggles, it might just give them a little bit of hope.”
From the end to the beginning, the beginning to the end, and every moment in between, McCartney brought everyone in the venue together through songs that speak of hope, the power of love, and the importance of connection. And those final lyrics shared by McCartney, mentioned at the top of this feature, were not actually the final words spoken. Before saying goodnight and reflecting on an incredible tour, he left fans with a promise, saying, “All remains to be said is, we’ll see you next time.”
Check out photos of McCartney’s Nov. 25 show in Chicago below and click here to see who will be performing at the United Center in the future. More information can be found at Paulmccartney.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
