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Hey Jude

Paul McCartney: Vocals, piano, bass guitar
John Lennon: Acoustic guitar, vocals
George Harrison: Lead guitaar, vocals
Ringo Starr: Drums, tambourine, vocals

Uncredited:

10 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, 2 doublebasses, 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 1 basoon, 1 contrabasoon, 4 trumpets, 2 horns, 4 trombones, 1 percussion.

Recorded July 29, 30, 31 and August 1 1968.

Available on:
The Beatles 1967-1970(The Blue Album)
Anthology 3
The Beatles 1
Past Masters Volume Two
Hey Jude

Paul went to visit Cynthia Lennon one day in June 1968, after John had moved out of the couples' house in Weybridge. John was now living with Yoko Ono in Ringo's flat in Montagu Square, London. Paul was on the way to Weybridge in his car when he started to hum a melody to himself. At the same time, he was thinking about what to say to John and Cynthia's 5-year old son Julian. He knew Julian was hurt by his parents' divorce.

Then the words came to him:

"Hey Jules, don't take it bad. Take a sad song and make it better."

When Paul got home later that day he recorded a demo version of the song on the piano. He changed the name Jules to Jude in order to make it less personal, and to make it "a bit more country and western." This was 1968, and country had a big influence on rock at the time, especilly with groups such as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Byrds and Bob Dylan.

McCartney then presented the song to Lennon, but told him that the lyrics were just a skecth and not to be considered finished. But Lennon was having none of it. He asked Paul not not change a single word! In fact Lennon later said Hey Jude was one of Paul's best songs. Perhaps he though the song described his own situation in life, his divorce and his new romance with Yoko Ono. But the song could also be about Paul himself, who was divorcing Jane Asher at the time. Paul was now living with Linda Eastman, who was to be his second wife.

Hey Jude was the first Beatles song to be recorded on an eight track recorder instead of the usual four track. The song was partly recorded at Trident Studios in Soho, because this studio had an eight track recorder. Abbey Road was still using the old four track model.

At 7 minutes and 11 seconds, Hey Jude was the longest Beatles single ever. It broke the unwritten rule that pop singles should last no longer than 3 minutes.

The Beatles brought in a full classical orchestra during the recording. The musicians names have been lost, but one of the three cellists was Bobby Kok, and Bill Jackman (who played tenor sax on Lady Madonna) played flute. The orchestra were told to play the end chorus of the song (nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah, Hey Jude) over and over. Later they were also asked to contribute with handclaps and backing vocals over the same chorus. In return they would be paid a double fee. All apart from one agreed.

Paul McCartney has since revealed that George Harrison suggested to play an answering guitar phrase after each "Hey Jude" vocal, but this idea was turned down.

Hey Jude did not escape the consipracy theories though. Some have pointed out that "Jude" is the German word for "Jew." Could the song be about Beatles manager Brian Epstein who was jewish, and who had died the year before? Probably not. Some have also speculated if the song really is about shooting drugs (The moment you let her under your skin, then you begin, to make it better). There is, however, little evidence to support this theory.

Hey Jude was released as a single, and never considered for the White Album, in which the Beatles had started working on.

It was released in the US on August 26 1968, where it topped the charts for nine weeks. The single was released in the UK on August 30 1968, and stayed at number one for two weeks.

Hey Jude

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 well you know that it's a fool
who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Na na na na na
na na na na

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
Na na na na na
na na na na 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

Na, na na na na na na
na na na na, hey Jude
Na, na na na na na na
na na na na, hey Jude
Na, na na na na na na
na na na na, hey Jude