What does Hey Jude mean?

Beatles: Hey Jude Meaning

Album cover for Hey Jude album cover

Song Released: 1968


Hey Jude Lyrics

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...

  1. anonymous
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    Jan 13th 2011 !⃝

    the 1st interpretation is correct. How or why would anyone get that the song was about drugs?. I am really curious.
    Anyway, love the song! Was driving home from work one night while I was pregnant and the song came on. I knew I was having a boy and was at a loss for a name. Thank you, Paul Mccartney! My amazing, beautiful baby's name is Jude.
    Everytime I listen to the Beatles, it makes me very happy, bc I automatically think of the best thing that has ever happened to me...Jude.

  2. anonymous
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    Dec 28th 2010 !⃝

    Probably about Julian, but why "Jude"? Has an obvious interpretation been missed?

  3. joemartin195752
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    Dec 12th 2010 !⃝

    the song is about bob dylan.jude means jew in german. they were talkin to each other through songs. dylan says your just another group like the rollin stones. and you shouldt let other people get your kicks for you. after meeting, the beatles laughed and imitated dylan all afternoon.dylan at time of hey jude has broken up with band(perform with),havin serious marriage problems(sad song)paul at end is really singing hey jude the jew the jew the jew. lennon publicly critized dylan
    from changing his name from zimmerman(a jewish name) to dylan.dylan also recoverin from motorcycle crash(feel the pain).call me 817-244-6322.

  4. youknowmyname
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    Dec 9th 2010 !⃝

    Incidentally Jude is a very biblical name. Brother of James - Paul McCartney's actual christian name. Although described as a song written for Julian Lennon, it can be argued, the song perhaps, could be about John, written by Paul with a tongue in cheek twist on the Jesus comment made in the Maurine Cleave interview, as Jude, in the new testament is listed between John and James...also brothers of Jesus I believe!
    In conclusion it is better to simply enjoy the song for what it is regardless of the writers meaning as everyone has their own, probably waywardly incorrect lyrical meanings!!!

  5. leon
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    Nov 23rd 2010 !⃝

    jude is actually the dick. If you interpret it as the dick,
    the song make sense, like "go out and get her", "take her
    under your skin" , "let it in and let it out".
    no offence meant.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  6. anonymous
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    Nov 18th 2010 !⃝

    I was looking at old pictures from the Holocaust and saw the word "Jude" for Jew in one of them. I was thinking that although it makes "literal" sense for the song to be for John's son Julian, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a double meaning and it had something to do with the plight of Jewish people in Europe during WWII. The part that especially makes me think that is when Paul sings:

    "and anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
    Don't carry the world upon your shoulders".

    That just makes me think that if he was singing to one Jewish person in one camp somewhere who may be losing hope that they should just keep going for a bit longer.....

    I know the song was written well after WWII but since Paul has always been interested in social causes, it wouldn't surprise me that he commented on the holocaust....

    Thoughts?

  7. anonymous
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    Oct 27th 2010 !⃝

    This song is from Paul to John. John was not feeling good about his split and Paul advised to not "f" this one up, as it was true and to just let it "under your skin".

  8. Liz34
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    Oct 15th 2010 !⃝

    I heard this song when my sister was in the middle of her pregnancy right after we figured out she was having a boy. Then we thought that would be a perfect name for a boy. Now were sitting in the waiting room while she's in delivery waiting and just thinking how amazing this song is and so happy!

  9. anonymous
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    Oct 4th 2010 !⃝

    People who interprets that this song is about Jules and his family is mislead by what they read in any ----pedia information. Chances are they really were not in the Beatles era and perhaps have not even listened attentively to the song over and over again. It is about masturbation. Take it from the oldies.

  10. anonymous
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    Sep 22nd 2010 !⃝

    Ok so maybe it was and maybe it wasnt about heroin but it would kick more bootay if it were.And all who think different, well your wrong ok i said WRONG, and i dont care what any of you say i think it is about heroin i mean this was the 60,s they had to have a cover for it or it woulda never had any play time.THE LYRICS SPEAK FOR THEIRSELVES,wasnt about no dang divorce,Maybe blah blah

  11. mgzaw99
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    Aug 10th 2010 !⃝

    In late 60's Drugs & Sex were major problems for the youth.So Beatles had to face those problems,But Lennon & Harrison"s cause of deaths were not due to Drugs.I don't think majority of Beatles songs are related to Sex & Drugs.Some may have hidden meanings.But let them use the poetic licence freely.No use to create problems of yesterday.Let it be.

  12. anonymous
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    Aug 7th 2010 !⃝

    hahaha. I like the this guy who is from the philippines, He surely was in the Beatles era. Imagine, the catholic church or whoever a religious org wanted Hey Jude to be ban in the airwaves? I believe him. It is what it means. I am a believer. I thought it was for Jules and Yoko. But I am now convinced. The hell with the formal interpretation of this song. The meaning can be interpreted word for word. Moan per moan in the song. I like the climax tune in the end though. Yeah sub tle first then climax. nanananana Success really ! Hey Jude ! Now youve done it for the first time! The movement you need is on your shoulder !

  13. anonymous
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    Aug 7th 2010 !⃝

    Hey Jude is Masturbation 101 from the beginning till the end paragraph per paragraph for Jude or Jules but in a mellowed tone. It is exactly what you do when you start jacking off. Dont believe everything what is written in wikepedia or any encyplopedia. LOL. The song was a hit and even up to now it is a good song when your hear it in the air waves. How old was Jules then? 6 years old? But I doubt it is for Jules they were referring but it is a possibility they were teaching Jules to masterbate. The Beatles have a very open mind. Do not believe whatever they say about the interpretation. You wont admit also if youve written a masterbation song when money kept pouring in. My two cents.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. Awesomedude
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    Aug 3rd 2010 !⃝

    It was written about Julian

  15. anonymous
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    Jul 31st 2010 !⃝

    Two points... 1. Not every song is about just one subject. As a matter of fact, many Lennon/McCartney songs have a second meaning... This one included. 2. The Beatles rarely openly admitted any drug reference, however obvious. And why would or should they. If you don't think "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a not so subtle reference to LSD, well then you've never listened to the song tripping... lol... Love that song. Also, Lennon has said that "Happiness is a Warm Gun" has nothing to do with Heroin. RIGHT! "I need a fix because I'm going down..." Yep, probably about elevators... And I'm sure "Tax Man" was actually about the little tacks school kids use to put up posters...




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