Of all the timeless songs penned by The Beatles, “Hey Jude” stands out as one of the most heartfelt, soaring, and universally loved anthems in the band’s catalog. Its simple piano chords, uplifting lyrics, and that iconic, long-building coda make it an emotional cornerstone of 20th-century music.
But beneath the swelling chorus and sing-along finale lies a deeply personal origin story—one rooted not in romance or fame, but in empathy, compassion, and a broken family.
A Song for Julian
In 1968, the Beatles were beginning to fray. John Lennon’s marriage to Cynthia Lennon had collapsed, his relationship with Yoko Ono was becoming public and controversial, and their son, Julian Lennon, just five years old, was caught in the middle of it all.
Paul McCartney, often seen as the “heart” of the Beatles, decided to visit Cynthia and Julian to offer support. On his drive to their home, a melody and a message began to form in his mind.
“I was going out in my car, just vaguely singing this song,” McCartney later told Rolling Stone.
“And it was like, ‘Hey, Jules…’ And then I just thought a better name was Jude. A bit more country & western for me.”
Thus, “Hey Jude” began—not as a Beatles track, not as a hit in the making, but a soothing song for a little boy enduring a painful chapter in his young life.
The early lines—“Hey Jude, don’t make it bad / Take a sad song and make it better”—were meant to tell Julian, “It’ll be okay. Life can still be beautiful, even when it hurts.”
John Lennon’s Interpretation
Interestingly, while the song was written for Julian, John Lennon interpreted it differently.
“He’s saying, ‘Hey Jude — hey John,’” Lennon later claimed.
“Subconsciously, he was saying, ‘Go ahead, leave me.’”
To Lennon, the song symbolized Paul’s veiled blessing or forgiveness over the band’s fractures—particularly John’s relationship with Yoko Ono, which had begun to cause tension within the Beatles. Lennon believed Paul was letting go, even if unknowingly.
Whether Paul meant it that way is uncertain—but it speaks to the song’s emotional depth, that its message can be felt in so many different ways by those closest to it.
Julian’s Reaction
As for Julian Lennon, he didn’t know the song was about him until much later.
“Paul and I used to hang out a bit—more than Dad and I did,” Julian later said.
“He was just trying to cheer me up. The fact that he wrote a song about me at such a young age and it’s still held in such high regard—well, you can imagine how flattered I am.”
Julian would go on to become a musician himself, carrying the legacy of both his famous father and the band that helped raise him—figuratively, if not literally.
More Than Just a Song
“Hey Jude” became The Beatles’ longest single at over seven minutes, a bold move at the time. It spent nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
But beyond its success, it has become an emotional salve for listeners across generations. Its message—of encouragement in the face of sorrow, of healing through music—is universal. Whether it’s about divorce, heartbreak, self-doubt, or letting go, the lyrics speak like a friend whispering hope into your ear.
Conclusion: A Lullaby for the Lost
“Hey Jude” wasn’t written for stadiums or charts. It was written for a child who needed comfort. And in that moment, Paul McCartney captured something bigger than himself or even the Beatles.
He wrote a lullaby disguised as a rock ballad, a song for Julian, a farewell for John, a balm for listeners everywhere.
And maybe that’s why it endures—because sometimes, when life breaks apart, we all need someone to say:
Take a sad song and make it better.