The Beatles - Hey Jude

Written by Paul McCartney, "Hey Jude" is the first single released by the Beatles' record label Apple Records. Released in August of 1968, it was the longest single to ever top the British charts at just over seven minutes in length. Originally only released as a single it later appeared on the "Hey Jude" compilation album released by Capitol on February 26th, 1970.

What you will find on this lens.

1. Hey Jude Song Facts - Quick facts about the Beatles' song "Hey Jude".
2. Hey Jude - Song History - Information about the song's origins, recording, awards and other notes of interest.
3. Hey Jude Song Origins - The song's origin according to Paul and others.
4. Hey Jude Lyrics - Lyrics to the song transcribed.
5. Hey Jude Trivia Quiz Game - How much do you know about the song "Hey Jude"? Find out here.
6. Hey Jude Song Poll - How does "Hey Jude" rate?
7. Hey Jude - 1968 Rehearsal - Video of the Beatles rehearsing "Hey Jude".
8. Hey Jude Trivia Facts - Quick trivia facts about the song "Hey Jude".
9. Hey Jude Videos - Watch the Beatles performing "Hey Jude".
10. Hey Jude (The Beatles Again) Album - Track listing and other album related facts.
11. Hey Jude Cover Videos - Videos of "Hey Jude" performed by various artists.
12. Hey Jude Guitar Chords and Piano Instruction Videos - Learn how to play "Hey Jude" on guitar or piano.
13. Beatles Sheet Music - Beatles sheet music at Amazon.
14. Trivia Links - Other trivia sites of interest.
15. Hey Jude Guestbook - Take a minute and share your thoughts about the song and/or the Beatles.

Song Writer: Paul McCartney

Lead Singer: Paul

Length: 7:05

Recorded: July 31st, 1968

Studio: Trident Studios, London

Released: August 26th, 1968

Album: Released as single.

Single: B Side - Revolution

US Chart: Number 1 - September 28th 1968, 9 weeks

UK Chart: Number 1 - September 11th 1968, 2 weeks

Producer: George Martin

Listen to/Buy Hey Jude Album

Hey Jude Ringtone

Print Hey Jude Sheet Music

Origin and Recording

According to Paul, he wrote this song for John Lennon's son Julian. John was currently going through a divorce with Julian's mother and Paul wanted to do something to help ease the pain. Originally titled Hey Jules it was later changed to Hey Jude because it was easier to sing.

John once stated in an interview that he assumed that the song was about him. He thought that Paul was referring to the distance being created between him and Paul by his new relationship with Yoko Ono. Julian himself claimed that it was not until twenty years later that the song had been written for him.

The band first began recording the song on 29th July 1968 and did 6 takes on that day at Abbey Road. The following day they did an additional 19 takes or rehearsals of the song. On July 31st they completed the recording in 4 additional takes.

Release

The Beatles themselves thought that the song "Hey Jude" was so good that they decided to release it as a single with "Revolution" taking the b side. The song was not to appear on an album until 1970 when Capitol Records released a Beatles compilation album entitled "The Beatles Again", later to be renamed to "Hey Jude".

Accolades

- "Hey Jude" was a number one song in more than 12 countries.

- The song spent 9 weeks at number one in the United States.

Noteworthy

"Hey Jude" was the first song that the Beatles released on their Apple label. It also is the longest single the Beatles ever released.

What Paul McCartney and John lennon Had to Say About The Song

John Lennon and his wife Cynthia separated in 1968. Paul decided soon after the breakup to visit Cynthia and Julian (John and Cynthia's son) and, according to Paul, this is when the song came about.

Paul, when asked about the song, had the following to say:

"We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life. [During the drive to Cynthias] I started with the idea 'Hey Jules', which was Julian, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Hey, try to deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces ... I had the idea [for the song] by the time I got there."

Julian as a child remembers having a much closer relationship with Paul than with his father. "Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit-more than Dad and I did. We had a great friendship going and there seems to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing together at that age than there are pictures of me and my dad."

Even though Paul has stated specifically that the song was written for Julian Lennon, John thought that it may have actually been written to him.

John had the following to say when asked about the song:

"But I always heard it as a song to me. If you think about it... Yoko's just come into the picture. He's saying. 'Hey, Jude-Hey, John.' I know I'm sounding like one of those fans who reads things into it, but you can hear it as a song to me ... Subconsciously, he was saying, Go ahead, leave me. On a conscious level, he didn't want me to go ahead."

Northern Songs

Hey Jude don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better

Hey Jude don't be afraid

You were made to go out and get her

The minute you let her under your skin

Then you begin to make it better

And any time you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool

By making his world a little colder

Da da da da da

da da da da

Hey Jude don't let me down

You have found her now go and get her

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better

So let it out and let it in

Hey Jude begin

You're waiting for someone to perform with

And don't you know that it's just you

Hey Jude you'll do

The movement you need is on your shoulder

Da da da da da

da da da da Yeah

Hey Jude don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her under your skin

Then you'll begin to make it better

Better, better, better, better, better, Yeah,Yeah,Yeah

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Click Here for More Beatles Trivia

• The ending fade out section for the song "Hey Jude" lasts longer than 4 minutes.
• The single "Hey Jude" has sold over eight million copies.
• While recording, Harrison and McCartney had a disagreement over "Hey Jude". Harrison wanted to play an answer on his guitar to every line of the vocal. McCartney did not like the arrangement and disallowed it.
• "Hey Jude" ranked number 8 on the Rolling Stone's 2004 500 greatest songs of all time list.
• According to Broadcast Music Inc., "Hey Jude" is the 11th best jukebox single of all time.
• In 1996, Julian Lennon paid £25,000 for the recording notes to "Hey Jude" at an auction.
• "Hey Jude" is the Beatles' most commercially successful single.
• Capitol Records pressed a shortened version of the song specifically for airplay in the United States.
• John Lennon reportedly wanted "Revolution" to be the A-side of the single, but the other Beatles did not agree.
• During the recording of the master take of "Hey Jude", John shouted "Oh!" followed by "F***ing hell!" at 2:56 and 2:58, respectively, into the song.
• The song's original title was "Hey Jules".

Beatles - Hey Jude Album Facts

Released: February 26th, 1970 (U.S.) May 11th, 1979 (UK)

Recorded: Abbey Road and Trident Studios 1964-1969

Length: 32:25

Label: Apple

Producer: George Martin

Track Listing

All songs credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.

Side one

"Can't Buy Me Love" (1964) - 2:19

"I Should Have Known Better" (1964) - 2:39

"Paperback Writer" (1966) - 2:14

"Rain" (1966) - 2:58

"Lady Madonna" (1968) - 2:14

"Revolution" (1968) - 3:21

Side two

"Hey Jude" (1968) - 7:06

"Old Brown Shoe" (1969) (Harrison) - 3:16

"Don't Let Me Down" (1969) - 3:30

"Ballad of John and Yoko" (1969) - 2:55

Bonus Outtakes found on some imports

You know my name

Hey Jude (Early take)

Revolution (Rough stereo mix)

Paperback Writer (Rough stereo mix)

Lady Madonna (Take 4)

Don't let me down (Alternate version)

Rain (Stereo remix)

Old Brown Shoe (Unedited version)

You know my name (Complete version)

Listen to/Buy Hey Jude Album

Hey Jude Ringtone

Print Hey Jude Sheet Music

If you are a Beatles fan, this is a must have! Starting from the very beginning, all the way to the present. Interviews with Paul, George and Ringo (and footage of interviews with John), it really gives a personal point of view to go along with photos, images and footage of the fab four.