7:11
September, 1968.
Debuts on the U.S. “charts” and goes to #1 in two weeks. Spending 19 weeks on the charts and 9 at #1, Hey Jude sold over 8 million copies world-wide, making it the top selling Beatles’ single of all time. It held the #1 spot longer than any other Beatles single in the U.S. and is the longest song to occupy the #1 slot — 7 minutes, 11 seconds.
Hey Jude was recorded in 25 takes in two nights at the Abbey Road Studios — July 29th & 30th, 1968. The song was completed on August 1st, adding the 36 piece orchestra providing the long refrain, that was actually written by George Martin, their Apple producer. Here is some rehearsal video from the making of Hey Jude.
Hey Jude Rehearsal Video
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
Well don’t you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey, Jude! Don’t let her 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
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
Na, Na, Na, Na Na Na Na Na, Na, Na, Na, Na….Hey Jude….
As explained by Paul McCartney himself in the Beatles’ Anthology (@ 4:35 mark), Hey Jude was written for and about Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s then 5 year old son. Paul felt for the lad as his parents were going through a divorce. This song was written by Paul on a drive up to see Julian and his mother, Cynthia. It was meant to be a message of hope….not to give up. McCartney said the song was “a hopeful message for Julian: ‘Come on, man, your parents got divorced. I know you’re not happy, but you’ll be OK.'” The song was originally “Hey, Jules” for Julian, but McCartney felt that Jude was a stronger name. Initially, the famed line of “the movement you need is on your shoulder” was to be taken out as Sir Paul didn’t feel that it fit and was redundant (he uses shoulder previously in the song). Lennon strongly opposed taking it out saying “it’s the best line in the song and I get it what it means”. Presumably, Lennon thought that the song was more directed at him and Julian was the needed movement on his shoulder, i.e., to pay attention to his child as much as his causes.
Beautifully written lyrics and music, made for the perfect mix and the right “movement”. There are many theories about the lyrics and who “her” is. I think Paul meant that to be Cynthia Lennon, telling the little boy to “let her into your heart”…his Mom, that is. Others have said that he was speaking of Yoko Ono, but I don’t think so. The recording was completed in early August, 1968 and was released as a single on August 26th.
Here is the promotional video of The Beatles’ performing Hey Jude on David Frost’s show.
Hey Jude – David Frost 1968
Hey Jude is often thought of as having been a part of The White Album, but in fact, is not on that compilation even though it was recorded during the time The White Album was being recorded. Amazingly, the only two albums that Hey Jude appear on is Hey Jude, which was renamed from Beatles Again and released in the U.S. only. This album included other songs like Don’t Let Me Down and Lady Madonna. In 1973, Hey Jude was also included in the Greatest Hits album 1967-1970.
The cover art for Hey Jude was from the last official photo shoot of The Beatles. In so many ways, Hey Jude was the beginning of the end.
TODAY’S TRIVIA: The “B” side of Hey Jude is Revolution.
Lennon felt that Revolution should also be released as a single as he felt that it’s message was of strong meaning, a way for them to “say” something about the tumultuous times. The other three felt that Revolution was “too slow” and therefore relegated the song to the B side of Hey Jude.
Hey Jude is probably my favorite Beatles’ tune. I saw Paul McCartney 13 or 14 years ago at The Superdome in New Orleans and he did many Beatles’ tunes, but he (and the crowd) took it to a new level on Hey Jude. Rolling Stone named it #8 on the Top 500 singles of all time. It holds a special place for me and is certainly one of my “Top 10”. My son’s middle name is Jude (for the saint, not the song– well, maybe just a little) so the song has extra-special meaning for us now. There are some really awesome versions and covers of this song out there, so I thought I’d include a few.
Royal Albert Performance for Monserrat with Various Artists including: Elton John, Sting, Phil Collins, Carl Perkins, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, Marc Knopfler & others.
Ella Fitzgerald at Montreux 1969
Duane Allman & Wilson Pickett in Muscle Shoals
Duane Allman convinced Wilson Pickett to record this in Muscle Shoals while they were waiting for workers to come back from lunch in town where neither were welcomed during those times. Pickett went on to perform Hey Jude with the Bee Gees, as well.
Phantom Planet & Maroon 5
Elvis?
and finally, a couple of humorous versions…..
Japanese Version
Hugh Laurie….yes, “House”
TODAY’S TRIVIA PART DEUX: Interestingly, Hey Jude never garnered any major music award, despite being The Beatles’ biggest hit. The song was nominated for three Grammys, losing out to Up, Up, & Away by The Fifth Dimension.