Hey Jude

By John T. Marck

When John and Yoko began living together in 1968, divorce proceedings began between John and his wife Cynthia. Paul McCartney, who was very close to John and Cynthia's son, Julian, was concerned over John's marriage breaking up, and in support of Cynthia and Julian, wrote this song. Originally titled "Hey Julian," it later developed to "Hey Jules," then finally "Hey Jude," because it was thought Jude was a stronger sounding name.

The song is merely a message to Julian, then five years old, of encouragement while his parents went thru their separation and divorce. Although Julian at this young age knew what the song was about, he did not learn the facts first hand from Paul until 1987 when the two happened to run into each other at a New York hotel. This had been the first time in years that the two had an opportunity to sit down and talk with each other. Paul and Julian had a wonderful friendship and closeness as Julian grew up, and Julian recalled that there went lots of pictures of he and Paul, more so than there were on him with his father, John.

"Hey Jude" turned out to be the most successful song The Beatles ever released. It was recorded in two days at Trident Studios, London, on July 31 and August 1, 1968, using a 36-piece orchestra, and by the end of that year had sold more than five million copies.

Why was "Hey Jude" so important and popular? One of the reasons was at that time it was the longest song ever released as a single at seven minutes and eleven seconds. The other reason is that its lyrics were easy, and developed into a community type anthem with its sing-along chorus.

John Lennon added a four-letter word hidden deep in the song around the three-minute mark, and the intro in green below, was spoken by John and Paul. In a jestful manner, John spoke of the "black country," which was the name of the old smoke-stack industrial region in the middle of England, and Paul answered with his mention of "Boston place," which is a small London street where The Beatles' company Apple had just installed an electronics laboratory. In a more familiar scene, Boston street was that street in which The Beatles ran for the title sequence of their film A Hard Day's Night. This introduction can be here on the version included on The Beatles Anthology 3.

From the heart of the black country:

When I was a robber in Boston place

You gathered round me with your fine embrace

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 The you begin to make it better

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude refrain

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders For now you know that it's a fool who plays it cool

By marking 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 get 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 Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her under your skin Then you can begin to make it better

better, better, better, better, better, oh

Da, da da da da da da, da da da da, Hey Jude

Da, da da da da da da, da da da da, Hey Jude

Da, da da da da da da, da da da da, Hey Jude

NOTE: All lyrics contained herein are © Copyright Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. The lyrics contained herein are for the sole use of educational reference for the readers of this article. All other uses are in violation of international copyright laws. This use for educational reference, falls under the "fair use" sections of U.S. copyright law. Copyright © 2000-2022 by John T. Marck. All Rights Reserved. This article and their accompanying pictures, photographs, and line art, may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission from the author, or the registered copyright holders. Except as otherwise stated above, all information contained in this article, EXCEPT song titles, lyrics, and photographs © John T. Marck.