Though the songwriting credit is Lennon/McCartney, it was written only by Paul McCartney.
Alistair Taylor, who worked for the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, had asked McCartney how he wrote his songs, and McCartney took him into his dining room to give him a demonstration on his harmonium. He asked Taylor to shout the opposite of whatever he sang as he played the instrument—black and white, yes and no, stop and go, hello and goodbye. Taylor later said, "I wonder whether Paul really made up that song as he went along or whether it was running through his head already."
Under the working title "Hello Hello", the Beatles recorded the backing track on 2 October 1967, and added vocals and a guitar overdub on the 19th. After further overdubs of bass guitar and viola, recording was completed on the 2nd November, and mixing on the 6th.
The final lines of the song, where the entire band sings "Hela, hey-ba hello-a" came spontaneously in the studio. McCartney said "I remember the end bit where there's the pause and it goes 'Heba, heba hello'. We had those words and we had this whole thing recorded but it didn't sound quite right, and I remember asking Geoff Emerick if we could really whack up the echo on the tom-toms. And we put this echo full up on the tom-toms and it just came alive."
Hello Goodbye
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say stop and I say go go go ooh no
You say goodbye and I say hello hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
You say why and I say I don't know oh no
You say goodbye and I say hello
(Hello, goodbye, hello, goodbye) Hello, hello
(Hello, goodbye) I don't know
Why you say goodbye, i say hello
(Hello, goodbye, hello, goodbye) Hello, hello
(Hello, goodbye) I don't know
Why you say goodbye, i say hello
(Hello, goodbye)
Why why why why why why do you say goodbye?
Goodbye, bye bye bye bye oh no
You say goodbye and I say hello hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
You say yes (I say yes)
I say no (But I may mean no)
You say stop (I can stay)
And I say go go go ('Till it's time to go)
Oh, oh no
You say goodbye and I say hello hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello, hello
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello
Hello, hello i don't know why you say
Goodbye, I say hello, oh, oh
Hello
Hela, heba helloa
Hela, heba helloa, cha cha cha
Hela, heba helloa, woo!
Hela, heba helloa, hela!
Hela, heba helloa, cha cha cha
Hela, heba helloa, woo hoo!
Hela, heba helloa, cha cha cha
Hela, heba helloa, cha cha cha
The song "Hello Goodbye" by The Beatles is a classic example of their unique style of music that combines simple yet catchy melodies with thought-provoking lyrics. The song is essentially about the conflicts and misunderstandings that arise between two people who are trying to communicate with each other. The lyrics are filled with opposites such as "yes" and "no", "stop" and "go", "high" and "low" and they convey the idea that one person saying one thing can be perceived in completely different ways by another person.
At first, it seems like a conversation between two people who are trying to make sense of each other's words. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the conflicts between the two voices are not just misunderstandings but also a reflection of their personalities. One person is more impulsive and ready to take risks while the other is more cautious and measured. Despite their differences, both voices are saying hello and goodbye at the same time, suggesting a sense of confusion and detachment.
The repetitive nature of the lyrics also adds to the theme of communication breakdown, as if the two voices are locked in an endless loop of misunderstanding. The chorus, which consists of the words "hello, goodbye" repeated over and over again, is a symbol of how communication can be as simple as saying hello or goodbye, but also as complicated as the emotions and conflicts that lie beneath them.
Line by Line Meaning
You say, "Yes", I say, "No"
You and I have opposite opinions
You say, "Stop" but I say, "Go, go, go"
You are asking to stop, but I want to keep going
Oh no
Expressing concern or fear of the situation
You say, "Goodbye", and I say, "Hello, hello, hello"
You are leaving, but I am greeting you enthusiastically
I don't know why you say, "Goodbye", I say, "Hello, hello, hello"
I don't understand why you are leaving, but I am excited to see you again
I say, "High", you say, "Low"
We have different preferences or ideas
You say, "Why?" And I say, "I don't know"
You want an explanation, but I don't have one
Why, why, why, why, why, why, do you say, "Goodbye, goodbye, bye, bye"
Asking repeatedly why you are leaving
You say, "Yes", I say, "No" (I say, "Yes", but I may mean, "No")
I may say yes but disagree with you, or I may not understand what you are asking
You say, "Stop", I say, "Go, go, go", (I can stay still it's time to go)
I am eager to move or do something, even though you may be asking me to stop
Oh, oh no
Continuing to express concern or fear
Hela, heba, helloa hela, heba, helloa hela, heba, helloa
Nonsense syllables, possibly meant to emphasize the confusion or misunderstandings between the two speakers
Hela, heba, helloa (hela) hela, heba, helloa hela, heba, helloa
Continuation of nonsense syllables
Hela, heba, helloa
More nonsense syllables
Hela, heba, helloa
Continuation of nonsense syllables
Hela, heba
Final nonsense syllables
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vincentlpp08
This whole video just radiates “This was Paul’s idea” energy
@dyanapomp
😂😂😂😂😂
@5seb
drugs.
@lepetitchat123
John and George look painful lol
I agree this song can be very annoying with that repetitive hello goodbye refrain
@FKMDC
1967-1969 Paul was in control
(This was a joke)
@maxwelledison9954
@@FKMDC The good and bad years
@joeschmo7834
Beatles in 1964: ⚪️⚫️
Beatles in 1967: 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣
@jaydenjewett3796
lol
@mixald
Ah yes, red square square square blue square
(I know its a problem with my phone's text style)
@angelvillalobos6776
Tomorrow never knows man, <3