Paul McCartney performs during the London Olympic Games 2012 Opening Ceremony PIC: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

He may have written the song and even played its famous refrain at last Friday Games’ opening ceremony – but Paul McCartney admits he forgets the Hey Jude lyrics.

Macca has been playing the classic for 40 years, since recording it with The Beatles.

“It’s funny. I sometimes forget those. It’s a devilish lyric. I occasionally do forget them. But the great thing is, I used to panic about that, but I realise now that the audiences don’t mind.” said McCartney, 70.

“In fact, they quite like it. They’re at the show where I forgot the words, and it makes that show special,” he told ShortList magazine.

Did you spot any slip-ups by McCartney during his performance at the opening ceremony, last Friday? Tell us below.