Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🎨

Hey Jude

arts Maturity 7-9 war conflict Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

"Hey Jude" is a very famous song by the English rock band, the Beatles.

Beatles "Hey Jude" promo clip
Beatles "Hey Jude" promo clip

It was released in August 1968 as a single. The song is known for its message of hope and staying positive during hard times. It was a massive hit all over the world. It reached number one in many different countries. In the United States, it stayed at the top of the charts for nine weeks. This was a record that lasted for nine years. Many music experts even call it one of the greatest songs ever made.

Memo called Paul McCartney's 'Hey Jude' lyrics
Memo called Paul McCartney's 'Hey Jude' lyrics

Paul McCartney wrote the song to help a young boy named Julian Lennon. Julian was the five-year-old son of John Lennon.

Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon

At that time, John Lennon and his wife, Cynthia, were separating. McCartney wanted to comfort the boy during this sad time. He originally called the song "Hey Jules." He later changed the name to "Hey Jude" because he thought it sounded better. The lyrics encourage the listener to find love and pursue new opportunities. Even though it started from a sad moment, the song feels very optimistic.

The Beatles recorded the song using special tools at Trident Studios in London.

The former Trident Studios building, St Anne's Court, Soho, London 2018
The former Trident Studios building, St Anne's Court, Soho, London 2018

This was the first time the band used eight-track recording equipment. This new technology helped them add many layers of sound. First, the band recorded a basic track with piano, vocals, guitar, and drums. Then, they added extra sounds called overdubs. They included backing vocals and a tambourine. They even added a huge orchestra with 36 musicians. This orchestra had violins, trumpets, flutes, and many other instruments to make the music sound grand.

Recording the song was not always easy for the band members. During the sessions, Paul McCartney and George Harrison had a heated argument. They disagreed about how the guitar part should sound. The band was also going through a period of change and tension. Even during the recording, Ringo Starr had to leave the room for a moment. He had to tiptoe back in so he could play his part perfectly. Despite these hard moments, the final song captured a feeling of togetherness. This is seen in the music video where a studio audience sings along with the band.

The song is famous for being very long, lasting over seven minutes. After the main verses, it moves into a long section called a coda. This coda features a "Na-na-na na" refrain that lasts for more than four minutes. This special part inspired many other musicians to write similar songs in the early 1970s. In 2013, a magazine named it the 10th biggest song of all time. Paul McCartney still performs the song in concerts today. He often leads the whole audience in singing the famous "Na-na-na na" part together.

462 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Memo called Paul McCartney's 'Hey Jude' lyrics.jpg
Memo called Paul McCartney's 'Hey Jude' lyrics.jpg
File:The former Trident Studios building, St Anne's Court, Soho, London 2018.jpg
The former Trident Studios building, St...
File:Beatles "Hey Jude" promo clip.jpg
Beatles "Hey Jude" promo clip.jpg
File:Julian Lennon.jpg
Julian Lennon.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.