A Beatles’ Ballad: “Hey Jules?”

Paul McCartney and Julian Lennon

Listen to "Hey Jude" Here! (My favorite part begins at approximately 3:03)

The beloved Beatles ballad “Hey Jude” is commonly perceived as a love song in which the speaker is offering guidance to a confused young man on the verge of an incredible romantic relationship. Well, I have chosen to dispel that rumor and iterate the actual truth behind this incredible orchestration. At the time the song was composed, John Lennon began a relationship with Yoko Ono, who was viewed by Lennon’s family as the “Other Woman.” Lennon was still married with children when he fell in love with Yoko, provoking a whirlwind of chaos among their closest relations. 

Lennon’s son, Julian, was only 5 years old at the time, naturally feeling an enormous amount of unneeded stress while his own father was leaving his mother for an unfamiliar, eccentric woman. Now, here’s where the song arose: Paul McCartney was visiting Julian and his mother out of worry, simply to ensure that they were coping well with the entire situation. He penned the song before his visit, changing the original title “Hey Jules” to “Hey Jude” because it flowed better in the song’s composition. John Lennon had always assumed that the song was about him, never once pondering the notion that it was, in reality, about his own son. Julian, however, found out that the song was actually about him approximately twenty years after its release. 

So, that’s the story behind “Hey Jude.” Seriously though, look over the lyrics for yourself and one can easily comprehend how the words are more appropriate for Julian than John during the time in which the song was developed. For example, the advice “to let her under your skin” is encouraging Julian to let Yoko under his skin, and open up to her, despite how hesitant he is to do so. 

There are several reasons why I adore this song, and even more for why I can listen to it endlessly without feeling an ounce of boredom. But, above all, I love how McCartney didn’t intend for this song to reach the level of success that it did, he wrote it strictly for Julian, who was struggling during such an awful time. McCartney didn’t care about the reception of this song, he just wanted to let someone he loved dearly know that everything will be okay, which are words we all need to here from time to time, from day to day, or even from second to second. Everything will be okay someday. It will all be okay.

I invite you to peruse the lyrics for yourself to develop a further understanding of its intent for Julian, NOT John (or anyone else)!

"Hey Jude" by The Beatles

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 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
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah

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
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah 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...