Hey, Jude, don't make it bad,
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey, Jude, don't be afraid,
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain,
Hey, Jude, refrain,
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it's a fool
Who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Da da da da da da da da da.
Hey, Jude, don't let me down,
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You're waiting for someone to perform with.
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude you'll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Da da da da da da da da da.
Hey, Jude, don't make it bad,
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better
Better, better, better, better ohhuh!
Hey Jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude
Nah, ... na, na, nananana ... nananana, hey jude

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Hey Jude song meanings

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261 Comments

+9
General Comment
This song was written be Paul to Julian, John and Cynthia Lennon's son. John and Cynthia had just been divorced, and Julian, being young, didn't understand what was happening between his parents, but did feel bad about it. So Paul wrote this song on his way to John's house. So in a way, this song is about divorce. This song was originally titled "Hey Jules" because of Julian's nickname, Jules, but Jude naturally sounded better. Hey Jude was probably one of John's favorite Paul songs.

This song was written be Paul to Julian, John and Cynthia Lennon's son. John and Cynthia had just been divorced, and Julian, being young, didn't understand what was happening between his parents, but did feel bad about it. So Paul wrote this song on his way to John's house. So in a way, this song is about divorce. This song was originally titled "Hey Jules" because of Julian's nickname, Jules, but Jude naturally sounded better. Hey Jude was probably one of John's favorite Paul songs.

Reason:

flamingpieon July 12, 2012 Link
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@flamingpie

Fascinating...thank you. One of the few Beatles songs I REALLY like, and now I know the reason for the song. Kudos!

Jeffreystumpon July 29, 2012

@flamingpie Jude obviously sounds better only because he used it. I'm not saying you don't know what you're talking about but—what on earth does it have to do with little kid? The problem with interpretations is that, well it's not a problem at all, it's almost with all great art people walk away with their own ideas. I'd say that even artists themselves mostly can't relate to something they wrote at the time further down the line. People change. It seems to me this song is about an individual who's isolated and wounded by the past. The past haunts Jude. And John reassures him that he can do it. It's a kind song. It's really quite something else.

matt250679on October 21, 2019
+7
General Comment
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH you all can have your opinions about the song from heroin to jewish people hahahah. but the song was originally titled "Hey Jules" the song was written by Paul to help Julian during his father (john lennon) and mother (cynthia lennon) but you guys are entertaining.

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH you all can have your opinions about the song from heroin to jewish people hahahah. but the song was originally titled "Hey Jules" the song was written by Paul to help Julian during his father (john lennon) and mother (cynthia lennon) but you guys are entertaining.

Reason:

the scenic worldon November 09, 2007 Link
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@the scenic world

@the scenic world
...because surely the Beatles have no experience with drugs, and have never written a song about a drug or a high, and John didn't write a song called Cold Tureky about getting off of, HEROIN!

borsk10899on June 03, 2015

@the scenic world ...Right you are! I watched an interview where McCartney was asked the meaning of Hey Jude....he said explained the meaning exactly the same as you did.... Well Done!

And....to the author of the post...it is not Da Da Da Da Da...it's Na Na NA NA NA NA

Raylonon November 02, 2018
+6
My Interpretation
For me this song is about someone, whos struggling to take the leap towards the life he wants to live and hes made for. He found a girl that he desperately wants to be with and he is afraid to make that step towards her. For he always worries about too many things, he carries the world on his shoulders even tho he is not responsible for every problem in the world. I think hes making things too complicated by thinking too much about them. He is adviced to be himself and not act cool in order to win the girl's heart. Also the change towards the desired life is all on his shoulders, saying he alone has the power to get what he seeks. He just has to take that leap. This is what this song means to me, not what McCartney or anybody said what it is about.

For me this song is about someone, whos struggling to take the leap towards the life he wants to live and hes made for. He found a girl that he desperately wants to be with and he is afraid to make that step towards her. For he always worries about too many things, he carries the world on his shoulders even tho he is not responsible for every problem in the world. I think hes making things too complicated by thinking too much about them. He is adviced to be himself and not act cool in order to win the girl's heart. Also the change towards the desired life is all on his shoulders, saying he alone has the power to get what he seeks. He just has to take that leap. This is what this song means to me, not what McCartney or anybody said what it is about.

Reason:

linewalkeron December 02, 2012 Link
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@linewalker

I absolutely think you are highlighting some great points. About 90-95% of these comments highlight how this is related to divorce or family issues and drugs. While McCartney may have been influenced emotionally by these factors, I think this song was made for a different purposes. And Some people care about the tune (yes it may be catchy of course, but that's not the only thing that matters).

Yes the tune is an iconic one and this song will be forever a historic piece.

But if you look closely at this song, it can have a pretty powerful message. Especially for those who relate to it most. In a smiple straightforward way- Linewalker put it in good words. It is about making steps forward in your own life and letting the strong Love you have potentially found mold you into becoming a stronger person. Being lonely and stuck can be the worst feeling, but using a desire a motivation can be a great thing. Especially if you are lucky enough to find a very special woman/girl. One you would undeniably crave to perform with. One who sticks with you even if you haven't gotten to know her too well. It could be like having a lightbulb through the haze. She might be original (which can be very attractive), may be sharp, creative, calm/peaceful, a free-spirit, loyal, have a lot of depth or (any of these special kind of traits) and sometimes that is what us people truly look for. Companionships are harder to come across these days.

lightspeedon December 09, 2012

And sometimes you have to go on your own personal journey to reach a companionship of some kind.

lightspeedon December 09, 2012

@linewalker That works for me!

hal1185530on April 29, 2016

@linewalker By far this is the best interpretation to me.

Yehudahon March 28, 2021
+3
General Comment
Actually, the song was changed twice from Hey Julian to Hey Jules to Hey Jude. It would have been one of the greatest honors to have the Beatles or just one of them write a song for you.

Actually, the song was changed twice from Hey Julian to Hey Jules to Hey Jude. It would have been one of the greatest honors to have the Beatles or just one of them write a song for you.

Reason:

song4juliaon January 21, 2002 Link
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@song4julia
+3
General Comment
No! 6 minute version is the best!

No! 6 minute version is the best!

Reason:

pkjunon May 06, 2002 Link
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@pkjun

i got the 7 minute version. 7:04 exactly

OneVisionon January 11, 2010
+3
General Comment
This song is advice to be able to love, let love go, and move throuh the world with an open heart, for a man. Maybe advice to julian for living as an open man.

This song is advice to be able to love, let love go, and move throuh the world with an open heart, for a man. Maybe advice to julian for living as an open man.

Reason:

gunwitchon August 05, 2002 Link
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@gunwitch
+3
General Comment
Great Song. John Lennon says fucking hell at around the 2:58 mark which i found preety funny.

Great Song. John Lennon says fucking hell at around the 2:58 mark which i found preety funny.

Reason:

boost291on March 14, 2009 Link
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@boost291

that was actually paul maccartney. if you listen closely, john say you've got the wrong CHORD (chord is the loudest word in that sentence), and then paul says fucking hell

pianton September 09, 2012

It was because a level in a pair of headphones were too high and unfortunately it was lennon who was wairing them. He ripped them off his head when he put them on.

martin1044on October 17, 2014

@boost291 Did you play in backwards?

Raylonon November 02, 2018
+2
General Comment
The thing that sums up this song is the lyrics and anytime you feel the pain hey jude refrain. i dont know what it is but that line sticks in my head after listening to the song

The thing that sums up this song is the lyrics and anytime you feel the pain hey jude refrain. i dont know what it is but that line sticks in my head after listening to the song

Reason:

Grandmasterwodyon May 27, 2002 Link
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@Grandmasterwody
+2
General Comment
It's worth noting that St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes (in the RCC). It could be about having a little hope when a relationship feels like a lost cause.

It's worth noting that St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes (in the RCC). It could be about having a little hope when a relationship feels like a lost cause.

Reason:

hsk712on June 16, 2012 Link
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@hsk712

I agree. Paul McC's Catholicism insinuates itself into many Beatles songs.
"The movement you need is on your shoulder" seems to me like Paul telling John to stop carrying the cross for the entire Anti-war youth movement - as if to say "stop making yourself into the Messiah of the hippy-anti-war left-wing peace thing - it's already been accomplished through Christ.
This goes right along with Lennon's song "Ballad of John & Yoko".
['The way things are going'....etc.]

I probably overthought this but it's just as far-fetched as all the heroin interpretations here !

NomadMonadon September 10, 2012

I agree. Paul McC's Catholicism insinuates itself into many Beatles songs.
"The movement you need is on your shoulder" seems to me like Paul telling John to stop carrying the cross for the entire Anti-war youth movement - as if to say "stop making yourself into the Messiah of the hippy-anti-war left-wing peace thing - it's already been accomplished through Christ.
This goes right along with Lennon's song "Ballad of John & Yoko".
['The way things are going'....etc.]

I probably overthought this but it's just as far-fetched as all the heroin interpretations here !

NomadMonadon September 10, 2012
+2
My Opinion
You're waiting for someone to perform with. To me this song is about finding a good love. Anyone who's been in relationships understand how this works.

You're waiting for someone to perform with. To me this song is about finding a good love. Anyone who's been in relationships understand how this works.

Reason:

Ahourstoryon August 27, 2012 Link
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@Ahourstory

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Hey Jude

The Beatles

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