Did Paul McCartney Pay Tribute to Chris Farley with HisSNL50Performance?

Mar. 15, 2025

Paul McCartney’s performance duringSNL50: The Anniversary Specialincluded a nod to Chris Farley.The Beatles member, 82, wrapped up the anniversary special with a performance of the final three songs onAbbey Road: “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End.““The End” includes the poignant lyrics, “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make” — which have been mentioned on Studio 8H over 30 years prior.During McCartney’s appearance on the show forThe Chris Farley Showsketch in 1993, Farley nervously asked the legendary musician: " ‘In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.’ Is that true?” referencing the song’s final lines.Chris Farley and Paul McCartney in New York City in February 1993.Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty"Yes Chris, in my experience, I find the more you give, the more you get,” McCartney confirmed. Throughout the skit, Farley also asked, “Remember when you were with the Beatles?” nailing the delivery of a starstruck fan.Fans noticed this bittersweet nod to the late comedian.One wrotethat the special was “ending it full circle with one of the best.” “Having Sir Paul McCartney perform the medley from Abbey Road is a fantastic callback to the Chris Farley Show!“another fan agreed.“Poetic at #SNL50thAnniversary that Paul McCartney performed ‘The End’ with the line ‘and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make,’ “a third said. “Which was a callback to a sketch he started in with the late great Chris Farley!“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Farley died in 1997 from an apparent drug overdose. He was 33 years old. TheTommy Boyactor appeared onSNLfrom 1990 to 1995.Adam Sandler, who was part of theSNLcast the same years as Farley,also paid tribute to Farleyduring the anniversary special. Sandler, 58, performed a song about the show turning 50, naming cast members and iconic moments throughout the years.“Six years of our boy Farley and five of our buddy Norm,” he sang, mentioning Farley andSNLalumNorm McDonald, who died of cancer in 2021.Paul McCartney in New York City on Feb. 16, 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC via GettyMcCartney has appeared onSNLnine times. He was a musical guest in 1980, 1993, 2010 and 2012. He also performed during theshow’s 40th anniversary special in 2015while also making cameos in 2006, 2013 and 2015.SNL50: The Anniversary Specialalso featured musical moments fromPaul Simon with Sabrina Carpenter performing “Homeward Bound"along withMiley Cyrus and Brittany Howard covering Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

Paul McCartney’s performance duringSNL50: The Anniversary Specialincluded a nod to Chris Farley.

The Beatles member, 82, wrapped up the anniversary special with a performance of the final three songs onAbbey Road: “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End.”

“The End” includes the poignant lyrics, “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make” — which have been mentioned on Studio 8H over 30 years prior.

During McCartney’s appearance on the show forThe Chris Farley Showsketch in 1993, Farley nervously asked the legendary musician: " ‘In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.’ Is that true?” referencing the song’s final lines.

Chris Farley and Paul McCartney in New York City in February 1993.Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“Yes Chris, in my experience, I find the more you give, the more you get,” McCartney confirmed. Throughout the skit, Farley also asked, “Remember when you were with the Beatles?” nailing the delivery of a starstruck fan.

Fans noticed this bittersweet nod to the late comedian.One wrotethat the special was “ending it full circle with one of the best.” “Having Sir Paul McCartney perform the medley from Abbey Road is a fantastic callback to the Chris Farley Show!“another fan agreed.

“Poetic at #SNL50thAnniversary that Paul McCartney performed ‘The End’ with the line ‘and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make,’ “a third said. “Which was a callback to a sketch he started in with the late great Chris Farley!”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Farley died in 1997 from an apparent drug overdose. He was 33 years old. TheTommy Boyactor appeared onSNLfrom 1990 to 1995.

Adam Sandler, who was part of theSNLcast the same years as Farley,also paid tribute to Farleyduring the anniversary special. Sandler, 58, performed a song about the show turning 50, naming cast members and iconic moments throughout the years.

“Six years of our boy Farley and five of our buddy Norm,” he sang, mentioning Farley andSNLalumNorm McDonald, who died of cancer in 2021.

Paul McCartney in New York City on Feb. 16, 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

McCartney has appeared onSNLnine times. He was a musical guest in 1980, 1993, 2010 and 2012. He also performed during theshow’s 40th anniversary special in 2015while also making cameos in 2006, 2013 and 2015.

SNL50: The Anniversary Specialalso featured musical moments fromPaul Simon with Sabrina Carpenter performing “Homeward Bound"along withMiley Cyrus and Brittany Howard covering Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

source: people.com