→ Hey Jude at 50

"Hey Jude" was released 50 years ago!

The single was a smash as soon as they released it on August 26th, 50 years ago — their biggest hit, topping the U.S. charts for nine weeks. It’s the Beatles at their warmest, friendliest, most open-hearted. John, Paul, George and Ringo sound utterly in sync, building to that power-drone “na na na na” chant.

One of their biggest hits for very good reason—it's a fantastic, catchy song. I'm sure most Beatles fans know it already, but the song was written for John's son Julian. John had met Yoko and walked out on Cynthia, his first wife, and their son Julian. Paul felt sorry for Julian and that was the genesis of the song.

“I started with the idea ‘Hey Jules,’ which was Julian, don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Here, try and deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces.” He knew the pain of losing a parent as a little boy. “He’d been like an uncle to him,” John recalled years later. “Paul was always good with kids.”

But it was also about so much more.

Cynthia and Julian thought “Hey Jude” was for them. John heard it as the ballad of John and Yoko. But neither side was wrong — countless people around the world have heard this homily speaking to them. “The movement you need is on your shoulder” — John was so right about that line, and as Paul says, he thinks of John every time he sings that part. “Hey Jude” is a tribute to everything the Beatles loved and respected most about each other. Even George, who plays the most low-profile role in this song, tipped his cap with the na-na-na-na finale of “Isn’t That a Pity,” which you can hear as a viciously cheeky parody, an affectionate tribute or (most likely) both.

Listen to the song to refresh your memory, then go read the fantastic piece by Ron Sheffield.

LINK: ‘Hey Jude’ at 50: Celebrating the Beatles’ Most Open-Hearted Masterpiece

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