“Ebony and Ivory” is a soulful, uplifting duet by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, written by McCartney and produced by George Martin. It was released in March 1982 as the lead single from McCartney’s album Tug of War. The song became an instant classic, known for its powerful message of racial harmony and unity.
Ebony and Ivory uses the metaphor of black and white piano keys working together to symbolize racial equality and peaceful coexistence. The chorus—”Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony, side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don’t we?”—delivers a simple but profound message of togetherness and breaking down racial barriers.
The song is a soft pop ballad with elements of soul and R&B, featuring a smooth melody, gentle piano, and warm harmonies. Stevie Wonder’s soulful delivery blends beautifully with McCartney’s softer vocals, creating a song that is both soothing and inspirational.
The song was a massive commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., where it stayed for seven weeks, and topping charts in multiple countries, including the UK, Canada and Germany. It became one of McCartney’s biggest solo hits and Stevie Wonder’s most commercially successful collaborations.
The music video features McCartney and Wonder performing together on a symbolic piano keyboard, reinforcing the song’s theme of harmony and unity.