Hey Jude

As I mentioned in my post on the Beatles' White Album, they made an additional contribution to the music of 1968, "Hey Jude," the biggest hit of their career. It was something a bit revolutionary as well, running seven minutes and six seconds, the longest 45 by far in rock music. It also began with a vocal, which meant disc jockeys didn't dare talk up the record, as they did with songs that had musical intros.

The song, as explained by its composer, Paul McCartney, was written as consolation for Julian, John Lennon's son, who was then in the midst of his parents' divorce. But the song goes beyond comforting a little boy, such as when Paul sings, "You have found her, no go and get her. The minute you let her into your heart, then you start to make it better," which suggests a love song. This is why Lennon always thought the song was about him, and it was Paul's blessing of his relationship with Yoko Ono. Some think Paul was singing about himself, as his engagement to Jane Asher had ended and he embarked on an affair with Linda Eastman.

"Hey Jude" was recorded during the White Album sessions, but as was customary with British pop, singles were put out before the album's release and not included on the final product (as such as with "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane," before Sgt. Pepper). It was backed by John's Revolution (he thought it should have been the A side), and eventually sold eight million copies. It did end up on an album, a collection of single and B sides that was originally called The Beatles Again, but later became known as simply Hey Jude (there was no title on the cover nor was the Beatles' name mentioned).

It was that album that first made me aware of the Beatles. My father brought it home--he said that "Hey Jude" was a song that you couldn't help but tap your foot to. I listened to the whole record incessantly. They also performed the song live on the David Frost Show, their penultimate live performance (the last was their rooftop concert).

So why is the song so great? (Rolling Stone name it song number eight on the best 500 songs of all time, the highest showing for the Beatles). I find it to be an alluring song; one is drawn in bit by bit, as if entering a dream world. Paul's vocal, never better, begins with piano alone, and then on the second verse tambourine and acoustic guitar join in, along with backing vocals. Then comes Ringo on the drums. Paul teases the fade-out by ending the subsequent verses with a "Na na na na na na na na na."

The chorus-bridge section lasts only a little over three minutes, but then comes the fade out, which lasts longer than that, over four minutes. It repeats 19 times, with brass and then strings accompanying. When the strings come in I just melt (I'm a sucker for orchestral rock). Paul, channeling Little Richard, punctuates the fade out with yowls and "yeah yeah yeahs." In reading about the song, I have yet to discover why Paul thought to have such a long coda. Like many of the Beatles choices, it was just alchemy, I guess.