Songs > Hey Jude

Hey Jude

(Lennon/McCartney)

Song background
Written by Paul for John's son Julian after the breakup and subsequent divorce of John and Julains mother Cynthia, John's first wife. Paul has said that the words came to him in the car, while he was driving, going from "Hey Jules" to "Jude". Paul was displeased with the line 'The movement you need is on your shoulder', thinking it to sound like he was singing about his parrot, but John convinced him that it was probably the strongest line in the song. John later commented that it was written for him subconsciously by Paul, saying for John to go ahead and leave him for Yoko.

Recording dates

Release dates

August 26, 1968 (US) ("Hey Jude/Revolution" single)
August 30, 1968 (UK) ("Hey Jude/Revolution" single)
February 23, 1970 (US) (on Hey Jude)
April 2, 1973 (US) (on 1967-70)
April 19, 1973 (UK) (on 1967-70)
March 8, 1988 (UK & US) (on Past Masters Vol. 2)
November 14, 2000 (UK & US) (on Beatles 1)

Recording notes

Chart performance

#1, September 11 - September 18, 1968 (2 weeks), Record Retailer (UK)
#1, September 28 - November 29, 1968 (9 weeks), Billboard (US)

Quotes

"(Paul) said it was written about Julian. He knew I was splitting with Cyn and leaving Julian then. He was driving to see Julian to say hello. He had been like an uncle. And he came up with "Hey Jude." But I always heard it as a song to me. Now I'm sounding like one of those fans reading things into it...Think about it: Yoko had just come into the picture. He is saying. "Hey, Jude" - "Hey, John." Subconsciously, he was saying, Go ahead, leave me. On a conscious level, he didn't want me to go ahead. The angel in him was saying. "Bless you." The Devil in him didn't like it at all, because he didn't want to lose his partner." - John Lennon, Playboy, 1980

Awards

Nominated for the 1968 Grammys for Record Of The Year
Song Of The Year
Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Performance; Duo or Group

Anomolies

Other notes

Notable covers

Duane Allman (from Anthology)
Ella Fitzgerald (from Sunshine Of Your Love)
Grateful Dead (from 2-11-69 Live At The Fillmore East)
Wilson Pickett (from Greatest Hits)
Elvis Presley (from Suspicious Minds)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (from I Second That Emotion)