Hey Jude Meaning

In August of 1968, The Beatles released “Hey Jude” which later came to be their most widespread single. It became a #1 hit at a minimum of 12 countries and sold 10 million copies, combined with “Those Were the Days”, by the end of 1968. On top of such an achievement, the song also became successful on the radio despite the fact it was The Beatles’ longest single lasting a lengthy seven minutes long. By breaking down the song into its story and performance we find its true significance. When Paul McCartney first introduced the song to John Lennon, Lennon sensed a connection between the lyrics and his forming relationship with Yoko Ono. This is plausible as the lyrics are written, “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.” Lennon took this song as McCartney’s approval of his affiliation with Ono. Although Lennon always thought the song was about him, the true inspiration came from McCartney’s idea to comfort Lennon’s son, Julian Lennon, creating the original idea “Hey Jules” rather than “Hey Jude”. Julian was only five during the

McCartney mentioned to Lennon that he had intentions of taking the verse out but Lennon convinced him to leave it. In an interview on the song for Observer Music Monthly, McCartney quoted, “I turned round to John and said, 'I'll fix that if you want.' And he said, 'You won't, you know, that's a great line, that's the best line in it.' Now that's the other side of a great collaborator - don't touch it, man, that's okay" (October 2007). In another interview following, McCartney again told the story and was asked what was the meaning to “movement you need is on your shoulder” was and he explained, “you have the wherewithal to be what you want to be in the near proximity of where you are” (Paul on Writing Hey Jude