“I would always turn the radio off and try and make up songs, just in case… I started singing: ‘Hey Jules–don’t make it bad–take a sad song, and make it better.” —Paul McCartney1
In June of 1968, Paul McCartney went to visit John Lennon, his wife Cynthia, and their five year old son Julian. While hanging out and visiting, John and Cynthia announced to Paul that they were getting a divorce. Paul, who Julian considered more his father than John due to their closer connection, thought about how it would affect Julian. It was rumored that the reason why John and Cynthia were getting a divorce was because of John’s infidelity with an artist named Yoko Ono. In a letter written by John to Cynthia, he addressed the fact that John knew that their marriage was long over before the events that happened with Yoko Ono.2
Paul McCartney said, “I thought, as a friend of the family, I would motor out to Weybridge and tell them that everything was all right: to try and cheer them up, basically, and see how they were. I had about an hour’s drive. I would always turn the radio off and try and make up songs, just in case… I started singing: ‘Hey Jules – don’t make it bad, take a sad song, and make it better…’ It was optimistic, a hopeful message for Julian: ‘Come on, man, your parents got divorced. I know you’re not happy, but you’ll be OK.”3
“Hey Jude” was recorded at Abbey Road on July 29-30, in 1968. John and Paul finished the final touches for the song in Paul’s house. They recorded it with Ringo and George that following Monday at Abbey Road. While they were figuring out how to play the song, they brought out an orchestra, and one of the other orchestra men, didn’t thinking that the song would be a huge hit at the time, walked out saying that he wasn’t “going to clap [his] hands and sing Paul McCartney’s bloody song.”4
The Beatles only took one take to record their hit song. While recording the song, Ringo Starr had to go to the bathroom, got up and left, and didn’t let anyone know. He came back, and nobody realized what had happened, for the first couple of seconds in the song. Paul liked how there was no drums and ended up sticking with it.
The final song is 7 minutes and 11 seconds long, and nobody intended on it being that long. “Hey Jude” was released as a single, that later was put into a collection of singles release by The Beatles. The song was released in the Unites States on August 26, 1968 and in the UK on August 30, 1968. “Hey Jude” had a permanent residence at #1 on the Billboards Top 30 for 8 weeks. All in all, it spent 18 weeks in the Top 30. Within the initial release of the song, there were five million sales in the first six months, and 7.5 million in 4 years. 5
When John first heard the song, he though it was about him and Yoko, and telling him “to go out and get her.” “Well, when Paul first sang ‘Hey Jude’ to me… or played me the little tape he’d made of it… I took it very personally. ‘Ah, it’s me,’ I said, ‘It’s me.’ He says, ‘No, it’s me.’ I said, ‘Check. We’re going through the same bit.’ So we all are. Whoever is going through a bit with us is going through it, that’s the groove.”6
In 1987, after the song was released, Paul reached out to Julian and said that the song was about him, and that Julian always felt a better connection to Paul, than his dad, John. The recording notes were auctioned off by Julian in 1996, and then Cynthia Lennon tried to auction off the original handwritten lyrics, but Paul took it to court preventing it from even happening.7
People and critics believe that throughout all the rough, creative, and changing time in America, “Hey Jude” gave people a sense of “letting go of your childhood innocence,” by giving them a message of reassurance, and trying to help them make the step to move forward with their lives. “The process of singing the song testifies that uplifted spirits are earned, not just willed; no peace is possible without struggle.”8
To this day, the Beatles are one of the most well-known bands in the world. They were part of “The British Invasion” and created an international legacy that will never die. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also inducted as solo artist.
- Andrew Leonard, “Hey Jude,” The Beatles Bible. 7 June 2018. Accessed September 09, 2018. www.beatlesbible.com/songs/hey-jude/ . ↵
- John Lennon to Cynthia Twist, November 15, 1976, in Steve Marinucci, “John Lennon Disputes Yoko Ono Ending His marriage In Unearthed Letter to First Wife,” Billboard, August 8, 2017. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7896840/john-lennon-yoko-ono-cynthia-lennon-divorce-letter. ↵
- Andrew Leonard, “Hey Jude,” The Beatles Bible, 7 June 2018. Accessed September 09, 2018. www.beatlesbible.com/songs/hey-jude/. ↵
- Guesdon, Jean-Michel. All The Songs, The Story Behind All The Beatles Release. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2013. ↵
- Dmitry Murashev, “Beatles History,” DM’S Beatles Site, 2012. Accessed 13 November 2018. ↵
- John Lennon, interview by Jonathan Colt, in Rolling Stone Magazine, November 23, 1968, reproduced in Dmitry Murashev, Beatles History – 1968 Year. Accessed November 10, 2018. http://www.dmbeatles.com/interviews.php?interview=67. ↵
- Andrew Leonard, “Hey Jude,” The Beatles Bible, 7 June 2018. Accessed September 09, 2018. www.beatlesbible.com/songs/hey-jude/. ↵
- Encyclopedia Of Great Popular Song Recordings, 2013, s.v. “Hey Jude (1968)—The Beatles.” ↵
92 comments
Julissa Cantu
It is very widely known exactly what transpired between the Beatles and the actions of the individuals in breaking up the famous band. However, Zapata did a swell job in transcribing the events that occurred during the making of the hit song, “Hey Jude.” Zapata did well in humanizing the international stars, however, if anything, I would have made the writing more engaging for the audience in order not to lose their interest.
Gabrien Gregory
The Beatles have been a group that I have been able to relate to musically. Their music has been so impactful since their becoming. It is incredible to find that a song that is still popular today, was written for John’s son yet has been an anthem for many around the world. This article touches upon the importance of the stories that are behind songs such as “Hey Jude”. Paul has always been such an inspiring figure, his passion for music drove many to fall in love with every member of the group. The song is incredible, the message is incredible, the story behind their music is inspiring. Great article.
Natalie Thamm
This was a really neat article. I had not realized that the song was originally created for John’s son Julian, by Paul. Knowing that, it definitely gives insight into the song’s original purpose, and I think that that makes the final product even more meaningful. It really shows that any number of things can bring about inspiration for great artists.
Dylan Sanchez
It’s so neat to find out that the song was created for John’s son. I wonder how he felt about it in the later years. Also, the absence of the drums in the song was so coincidental. Just shows how so many good things come out from what seem to be inconveniences. The beatles truly were ahead of their time.
Daniela Martinez
the Beatles are one of the few bands that were able to change the music scene forever. their ability to write beautiful lyrics accompanied by well planned out music made them special. all members were equally talented and brought something to offer to the group that if the thought of one of them would missing would nearly be impossible. I think that this is one of the few bands I would absolutely love to seen play live and follow their development over time. While I currently listen and love the songs from the Beatles I think that experiencing them live would’ve affected the way the music sounded and their whole aesthetic and appeal oveall.
Madeline Torres
Although, I didn’t grow up in that beautiful era, I grew up listening to The Beatles with my dad and grandpa. They are a great band and I would have known the sad story behind their song. This was a great article and I really enjoyed reading how this song was created and how Paul McCartney wrote this for his friend, Great article!
Rosa Castillo
This article is great! I think the backstory to such an iconic song is very personal and makes the song that more personable. I enjoyed this descriptive article because it provided great insight into the history of the Beatles era, particularly one of their most famous songs. I went back to listen to this song after reading the article and now knowing the backstory it makes it much more personal for the reader
Jennifer Salas
The Beatles are one of my favorite bands and it was interesting to see how “Hey Jude” Was created for Julian, John’s son. Paul McCartney cared deeply for Julian and he wanted to make a song for him to let him know that although his parents were getting divorced, at the end of the day everything was going to be alright. I admire how Paul McCartney took the time to write a song for Julian, and it ended it becoming one of their most famous songs.
Faten Al Shaibi
I did not live in the 60’s but I think it was a beautiful period The name of Beatles band has been repeated frequently during my lifetime. the article was nice as he explained the story of the best song for this band. After the article I listened to this song more than once. i believe every that sad story is behind successful song.
Arieana Martinez
I enjoyed this article very much. I knew the back story behind this song, but I loved seeing the personal touches such as John’s letter to Cynthia which gave me a glimpse in to their world as well as John’s point of view during this time. I wish this article would have gone into more depth on the personal relationship between Julian and Paul, but other than this, the article was a great blast from the past as well as nostalgic to help the people always know that there is always hope in the darkness.