The writing and recording of "Hey Jude" coincided with a period of upheaval in the Beatles. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon's young son Julian, after Lennon had left his wife for the Japanese artist Yoko Ono. The lyrics espouse a positive outlook on a sad situation, while also encouraging "Jude" to pursue his opportunities to find love. After the fourth verse, the song shifts to a coda featuring a "Na-na-na na" refrain that lasts for over four minutes.
"Hey Jude" was the first Beatles song to be recorded on eight-track recording equipment. The sessions took place at Trident Studios in central London, midway through the recording of the group's self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album"), and led to an argument between McCartney and George Harrison over the song's guitar part. Ringo Starr later left the band only to return shortly before they filmed the promotional clip for the single. The clip was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and first aired on David Frost's UK television show. Contrasting with the problems afflicting the band, this performance captured the song's theme of optimism and togetherness by featuring the studio audience joining the Beatles as they sang the coda.
At over seven minutes in length, "Hey Jude" was the longest single to top the British charts up to that time. Its arrangement and extended coda encouraged many imitative works through to the early 1970s. In 2013, Billboard magazine named it the 10th "biggest" song of all time in terms of chart success. McCartney has continued to perform "Hey Jude" in concert since Lennon's murder in 1980, leading audiences in singing the coda. Julian Lennon and McCartney have each bid successfully at auction for items of memorabilia related to the song's creation.
Hey Jude
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Camel sunshine
Hey, hey, he-he-he-hey
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
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
Oh-oh-oh, 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
Na
Hey Jude, don't let me down
She has found you, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Better, better, 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
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, mm
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
The minute you let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Better, better, better, better, better, whoa, yeah
Na, na, na-na-na, na
Na-na-na, na
Hey Jude, oh, Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Na-na-na, na
Hey Jude, oh, Jude
You'll make it, Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Oh, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Na-na-na, na
Sing it, Jude
Yeah, yeah
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Sing it, Judey-Jude
Na-na-na, na
Hey Jude
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Na-na-na, na
Oh, yeah
Na-na-na, na, na
Oh yeah, Jude
Sing it to me
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Na-na-na, oh yeah
Oh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Na-na-na, na
Hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na, oh-oh
Na-na-na, na
Hey Jude, Jude, Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na, na
Sing it, Jude, sing it
Oh, oh, oh, whoa
Na, da-da, ah, la-di-di-da
Oh, whoa, whoa
Na, na, na
Na, na, na-na, na-na-na, na
The lyrics to "Hey Jude" by the Beatles were written by Paul McCartney with the intention of comforting John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce. The song begins with McCartney addressing Jude to not let life get to him and instead, take a sad song and make it better. He then encourages Jude to "let her into your heart," presumably referring to a new romantic interest. McCartney reminds Jude that he was made to go out and get the girl he desires, as well as not to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. The chorus is used as a call to action to make things better.
Throughout the song, McCartney repeats the phrase "na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na," which has since become an iconic part of the track. The lyrics encourage listeners to sing along and release their emotions. The song then closes with McCartney urging Jude to keep going, as he has the necessary strength within to make everything better. The lyrics are poignant, yet uplifting, and have since become an iconic message of hope and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Hey Jude, don't let any negativity get to you
Take a sad song and make it better
Take something negative and turn it into a positive
Remember to let her into your heart
Remember to let love in
Then you can start to make it better
Once you let love in, you can start to improve things
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
Hey Jude, don't be scared to chase after what you want
You were made to go out and get her
You were born to pursue what you desire
The minute you let her under your skin
As soon as you start to truly feel those emotions
Then you begin to make it better
Things will start to improve for you
Oh-oh-oh, and anytime you feel the pain
Whenever you experience hardship
Hey Jude, refrain
Hey Jude, hold back from letting that hardship control you
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
Don't let the weight of the world burden you
For well you know that it's a fool
You know it's unwise
Who plays it cool
To act like you don't care
By making his world a little colder
By distancing himself from the warmth of love
Hey Jude, don't let me down
Hey Jude, don't disappoint me now that you have a chance at happiness
She has found you, now go and get her
The one you love is already here; go and win her over
So let it out and let it in
Allow your emotions to surface
Hey Jude, begin
Hey Jude, it's time to start
You're waiting for someone to perform with
You're waiting for someone to share your life with
And don't you know that it's just you
You should realize it's up to you
Hey Jude, you'll do
Hey Jude, you will find your way
The movement you need is on your shoulder
The power to change things is already within you
Hey Jude, oh, Jude
Hey Jude, my friend
You'll make it, Jude
You will succeed, Jude
Sing it, Judey-Jude
Sing it from your heart, Jude
Hey Jude
Hey Jude
Oh, whoa, whoa
Oh, oh, oh
Na, na, na
Na, na, na
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Mother Nature's Son
A really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Night Before
A really splendid Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on P.S. I Love You
Now this is a really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on There's a Place
A seriously underrated Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Do You Want to Know a Secret
A fantastic song by The Beatles.
Philip Kassabian
on When I'm Sixty-Four
A very tuneful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
An excellent Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm Looking Through You
A beautiful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Honestly The Beatles can't stop producing good songs.
Philip Kassabian
on Michelle
A fantastic Beatles song and absolutely beautiful.