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Paul McCartney offered fans a rare and deeply personal look at his friendship with the late John Lennon , revisiting the business disputes that strained their relationship during the final years of The Beatles while making clear that the memories which remained strongest were the good ones.

In a new interview with NME, the music legend reflected on a bond that was far more complicated and far more human than the headlines of The Beatles' breakup ever suggested. Paul McCartney on his friendship with John Lennon

McCartney pointed to lyrics from his recent song 'Days We Left Behind' as a window into the depth of their connection. "In one of the songs, 'Days We Left Behind,' I talk about 'we met at Forthlin Road,' which is where I used to live in Liverpool, and 'we wrote a secret code to never be spoken,'" he said.

Despite the very public falling out over management decisions, McCartney insisted that his memories of Lennon remained those of a close friend rather than a rival. "I don't feel like I have to be respectful," he said. "He's just a mate. It's just this guy who I met, and we wrote songs together, so I don't feel a sense of responsibility. I hope it is responsible."

How Lennon's public criticism affected McCartneyMcCartney was candid about the pain caused by Lennon's public remarks during the period of their estrangement. "It was very hurtful, like sticking little daggers in me," he admitted. But with the passage of time, he found a way to contextualise it. "Wait a minute, this is John. This is the guy I've known since I was 16. That's just what he does," he said.

The moment the two reconnectedPerhaps the most poignant detail McCartney shared was the moment the two found their way back to each other. "It was good to hear John say, 'I think Paul might have been right' begrudgingly," he recalled with evident warmth.

For fans of The Beatles, McCartney's reflections offered yet another glimpse behind one of music's most celebrated and complicated partnerships, a reminder that even the most legendary of friendships could bend, break and ultimately find their way back.