--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ebony and ivory live together in perfect…" description: "\"Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my keyboard piano, oh Lord, why don't we?\" — Paul McCartney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png" --- # Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by… ![“Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my keyboard piano, oh Lord, why don't we?” quote by Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png) > “Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my keyboard piano, oh Lord, why don't we?” [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The lyric urges racial harmony, using piano keys as a metaphor for people of different colors working together peacefully. **In simple terms:** Different people should live together peacefully. Key Takeaway Promote inclusion and respect. Themes equality cooperation diversity Mood hopeful reflective Type song lyric social commentary When to use this quote - workplace - schools - community events - political discourse Key Concepts social harmony metaphor racial unity Questions to Reflect On - How can we move beyond symbolic gestures? - What actions show true inclusion? A Different Perspective May oversimplify deep systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ebony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ebony/) [Ebony Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ebony-ivory-4485913/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory/) [Ivory Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory-live-4485914/) [Keyboard Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keyboard-piano-3749477/) [Keyboards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keyboards/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Oh lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oh-lord/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-harmony/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Rock and roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-and-roll/) [Side by side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-by-side/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) ## Related quotes > [Ebony, Ivory. I missed you girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-dmc/ebony-ivory-i-missed-you-girls/) [Dante (DmC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-dmc/) > [I play the keyboard, piano - I like making beats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbie-cornish/i-play-the-keyboard-piano-i-like-making-beats/) [Abbie Cornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbie-cornish/) > [Skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/skin-white-as-snow-lips-red-as-blood-and-hair-black-as-ebony/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a sense of authenticity that comes with 'Ebony.' There are very few national media outlets that are majority-African-American owned and really speak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/there-s-a-sense-of-authenticity-that-comes-with-ebony-there-are-very/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > ['Ebony' has been more than a magazine; it is a movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/ebony-has-been-more-than-a-magazine-it-is-a-movement/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [When I was growing up, 'Ebony Magazine' was a must read in our household. In those pages I found our news, our stories, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayanna-pressley/when-i-was-growing-up-ebony-magazine-was-a-must-read-in-our-household/) [Ayanna Pressley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayanna-pressley/) > [“Does God know the number of kisses before we fall in love? Yesterday, I was nobody and I believed myself important. Today, I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/does-god-know-the-number-of-kisses-before-we-fall-in-love-yesterday-i/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > ['Ebony' is very inspirational and aspirational to its readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/ebony-is-very-inspirational-and-aspirational-to-its-readers/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [“Black Girls… Stop settling for less than what you deserve. That’s why I stress self-love! There comes a time when you can no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/black-girls-stop-settling-for-less-than-what-you-deserve-that-s-why-i/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [“Ebony? W-what's going o-on?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-the-floatzel/ebony-w-what-s-going-o-on/) [Flannery The Floatzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-the-floatzel/) > [“My lips parted his to absorb even more energy. My stomach rumbled in praise as the Whisperers laughed at the sight. Luke’s tongue danced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-c-doyle/my-lips-parted-his-to-absorb-even-more-energy-my-stomach-rumbled-in/) [Barbara C. Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-c-doyle/) > [We have signed an exclusive licensing agreement with a company called TurnerPatterson, another African-American company, and what I thought would be a great vehicle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/we-have-signed-an-exclusive-licensing-agreement-with-a-company-called/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > ['Ebony' is an integral part of my life, and I think it's very exciting to be able to help to move the brand forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/ebony-is-an-integral-part-of-my-life-and-i-think-it-s-very-exciting/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [I read everything, but particularly, growing up in a household where my mom was black and my dad was white, I remember really loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-welteroth/i-read-everything-but-particularly-growing-up-in-a-household-where-my/) [Elaine Welteroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-welteroth/) > [The air itself was ebony, like the denial, the refutation, of the idea of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/the-air-itself-was-ebony-like-the-denial-the-refutation-of-the-idea/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) ## More by Paul McCartney > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Hamburg totally wrecked us. I remember getting home to England and my dad thought I was half-dead. I looked like a skeleton, I hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/hamburg-totally-wrecked-us-i-remember-getting-home-to-england-and-my/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [The thing you must remember is that I'm the Number One John Lennon fan. I love him to this day and I always did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/the-thing-you-must-remember-is-that-i-m-the-number-one-john-lennon/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I never really got on that well with Yoko anyway. Strangely enough, I only started to get to know her after John's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-never-really-got-on-that-well-with-yoko-anyway-strangely-enough-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I think a domestic situation can change you and your attitudes. I suppose if you did get a bit content, then you might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-think-a-domestic-situation-can-change-you-and-your-attitudes-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Domesticity is the enemy of art. I don't know if that's true. You can write good happy songs. So, I don't think it's necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/domesticity-is-the-enemy-of-art-i-don-t-know-if-that-s-true-you-can/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [...We can work it out. Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/we-can-work-it-out-life-is-very-short-and-there-s-no-time-for-fussing/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I am quite happy that the Beatles came and went. There is even a sort of glory in not having it go on forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-am-quite-happy-that-the-beatles-came-and-went-there-is-even-a-sort/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Buy, buy, says the sign in the shop window; Why, why, says the junk in the yard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/buy-buy-says-the-sign-in-the-shop-window-why-why-says-the-junk-in-the/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [My dad, bless him, was a musician. And his dad had thought that his music was rubbish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/my-dad-bless-him-was-a-musician-and-his-dad-had-thought-that-his/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [I can't manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/i-can-t-manage-without-homeopathy-in-fact-i-never-go-anywhere-without/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Live a little be a gypsy, get around. Get your feet up off the ground, live a little, get around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/live-a-little-be-a-gypsy-get-around-get-your-feet-up-off-the-ground/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [“Paul: 'After recording sessions, at two or three in the morning, we'd be careering through the villages on the way to Weybridge, shouting 'weyhey'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/paul-after-recording-sessions-at-two-or-three-in-the-morning-we-d-be/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [We live in hope of deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/we-live-in-hope-of-deliverance-from-the-darkness-that-surrounds-us/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) [Explore all 314 Paul McCartney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) ## More Ebony quotes > [The air itself was ebony, like the denial, the refutation, of the idea of light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/the-air-itself-was-ebony-like-the-denial-the-refutation-of-the-idea/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I read everything, but particularly, growing up in a household where my mom was black and my dad was white, I remember really loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-welteroth/i-read-everything-but-particularly-growing-up-in-a-household-where-my/) [Elaine Welteroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-welteroth/) > ['Ebony' is an integral part of my life, and I think it's very exciting to be able to help to move the brand forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/ebony-is-an-integral-part-of-my-life-and-i-think-it-s-very-exciting/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [We have signed an exclusive licensing agreement with a company called TurnerPatterson, another African-American company, and what I thought would be a great vehicle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/we-have-signed-an-exclusive-licensing-agreement-with-a-company-called/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [“My lips parted his to absorb even more energy. My stomach rumbled in praise as the Whisperers laughed at the sight. Luke’s tongue danced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-c-doyle/my-lips-parted-his-to-absorb-even-more-energy-my-stomach-rumbled-in/) [Barbara C. Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-c-doyle/) > [“Ebony? W-what's going o-on?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-the-floatzel/ebony-w-what-s-going-o-on/) [Flannery The Floatzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-the-floatzel/) > [“Black Girls… Stop settling for less than what you deserve. That’s why I stress self-love! There comes a time when you can no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/black-girls-stop-settling-for-less-than-what-you-deserve-that-s-why-i/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > ['Ebony' is very inspirational and aspirational to its readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/ebony-is-very-inspirational-and-aspirational-to-its-readers/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [“Does God know the number of kisses before we fall in love? Yesterday, I was nobody and I believed myself important. Today, I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/does-god-know-the-number-of-kisses-before-we-fall-in-love-yesterday-i/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [When I was growing up, 'Ebony Magazine' was a must read in our household. In those pages I found our news, our stories, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayanna-pressley/when-i-was-growing-up-ebony-magazine-was-a-must-read-in-our-household/) [Ayanna Pressley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayanna-pressley/) > ['Ebony' has been more than a magazine; it is a movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/ebony-has-been-more-than-a-magazine-it-is-a-movement/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [There's a sense of authenticity that comes with 'Ebony.' There are very few national media outlets that are majority-African-American owned and really speak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-johnson-rice/there-s-a-sense-of-authenticity-that-comes-with-ebony-there-are-very/) [Linda Johnson Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-johnson-rice/) > [Skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/skin-white-as-snow-lips-red-as-blood-and-hair-black-as-ebony/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Brewster Place became especially fond of its colored daughters as they milled like determined spirits among its decay, trying to make it home. Nutmeg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-naylor/brewster-place-became-especially-fond-of-its-colored-daughters-as/) [Gloria Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-naylor/) > [“Even her beauty had sharp edges. Her long ebony hair was cut like a razor blade. Her face was strong and fine.But her eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-oliva/even-her-beauty-had-sharp-edges-her-long-ebony-hair-was-cut-like-a/) [Laura Oliva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-oliva/) [Browse all 25 Ebony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ebony/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my keyboard piano, oh Lord, why don't we?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul McCartney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect-harmony-side-by-side-on-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ebony" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect-harmony-side-by-side-on-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b66/paul-mccartney-987_ebony_ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect_2957215.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my keyboard piano, oh Lord, why don't we?” — Paul McCartney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul McCartney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ebony and ivory live together in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect-harmony-side-by-side-on-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/ebony-and-ivory-live-together-in-perfect-harmony-side-by-side-on-my/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```