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" but I say, "Go, go, go"
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"
I say, "High", you say, "Low"
You say, "Why?" And I say, "I don't know"
Oh no
You say, "Goodbye", and I say, "Hello, hello, hello" (hello, goodbye, hello, goodbye)
I don't know why you say, "Goodbye" (hello, goodbye)
I say, "Hello, hello, hello" (Hello, goodbye, hello, goodbye, 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"
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, "No" (I say, "Yes", but I may mean, "No")
You say, "Stop", I say, "Go, go, go", (I can stay still 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-wow, oh hello"
Hela, heba, helloa hela, heba, helloa hela, heba, helloa
Hela, heba, helloa (hela) hela, heba, helloa hela, heba, helloa
Hela, heba, helloa
Hela, heba, helloa
Hela, heba
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 © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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
@logananderson8395
It’s because color was invented
Duh
@jhonathan3618
lmao
@frglee
Charted as number 1 in the UK for 7 weeks from 6th December 1967.
Which is why, as a 13 year old that year, I can clearly remember singing it to myself, cycling the 8 miles through the wintry Devon countryside to visit a schoolfriend after Christmas to show him my new bicycle!🙂 The Beatles provided the soundtrack to my life in those days.
@danieleinnamorati8622
I was 10 years old in 1967 and I didn't own any bicycle but I sang this song anyway
@kira2u.k868
中学2年生の時
ビートルズの初めて聴いた曲…
うぅぅ……💦 ビビビビッと来た
あの頃部屋で聴いた瞬間は忘れられない。
19歳で初めて行ったロンドン
ヒースロー空港で口ずさんでたら
現地のブロンドのお姉さんが一緒に歌ってくれたのよねー❤
@supamalleo64
Amazing! @@kira2u.k868