Hey Jude
Song by The Beatles • McCartney
The White Album (1968) — Each track its own room. Minimal. Sprawling.
★ Marquee entry — extended editorial essay
Background
Written by McCartney as a comfort to Julian Lennon, then five years old, during John's break-up with Cynthia. Originally 'Hey Jules', changed because 'Jude' was easier to sing. Lennon later assumed (or claimed to assume) the song was about him.
What's distinctive
At 7:11 it's among the very longest tracks in the canon (≥99th percentile). One of 65 UK songs led primarily by Paul. Recorded approximately 13 of 34 into the The White Album (1968) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'julian-lennon' — no other UK song shares it.Opening line — "Hey Jude, don't make it bad…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Recording
Sessions began at EMI on 29–30 July 1968 (rehearsal/demos) and were completed at Trident Studios in Soho on 31 July and 1 August — the Beatles' first work on Trident's new 8-track Studer machine. A 36-piece orchestra was assembled for the four-minute coda; the players were paid double-scale on the condition that they stand and sing 'Na, na, na' on the run-out. (Half the orchestra refused, took the single fee, and went home.)
| Studio | EMI Studios + Trident Studios (Soho — first Beatles 8-track sessions: 'Hey Jude' onward) |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Studer A80 8-track (Trident), 4-track at EMI until late 1968 |
| Console | REDD/TG12345 prototype; Trident A-Range |
| Microphones | U47/U48, AKG C12, U67 introduced |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124, EMT 140 & 250 (Trident), Fairchild 660, ADT, tape flanging, fuzz, wah (Vox/CryBaby) |
| Guitars | Epiphone Casino, Fender Strat (Rocky), Gibson J-200 acoustic, Martin D-28, Fender Telecaster Bass |
| Amplifiers | Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Bassman, Vox UL730 |
| Producer | George Martin (with Chris Thomas covering) |
| Engineer / 2nd | Ken Scott (early), Geoff Emerick walked off — replaced • John Smith, Mike Sheady, Barry Sheffield (Trident) |
Pattern analysis
Legacy & release history
Released 30 August 1968 as the first single on the Apple label. The first 7-minute-plus pop single ever to top the UK and US charts. Nine weeks at US number one — the band's longest-ever streak. The 'Na, na, na' coda became a pop singalong template — paraphrased by Wilson Pickett, Phish, Glee, and many others.
Mono & stereo
- Both mono and stereo mixes were prepared; the UK mono White Album (PMC 7067/8) has many distinct edits, mixes and effects vs. the stereo (PCS 7067/8) — collectors prize the mono.
Documented alternate versions
- Anthology 3 (1996) — alternate take or demo
- Mono Masters (2009 box) — Allan Rouse / Guy Massey remaster
- White Album 50th Anniversary (2018) — Giles Martin stereo remix
Released on
- Hey Jude — Single, 30 August 1968
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (julian-lennon, seven-minute-single, four-minute-coda, classic, nah-nah-singalong)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
julian-lennonseven-minute-singlefour-minute-codaclassicnah-nah-singalong