Music That Matters
The Beatles – Hey Jude
Not really a “Beatles album†as much as it was a collection of B-sides and singles that were never on a proper LP, this 1970 release includes some of my favorite Beatles tunes, including the very underrated George Harrison composition “Old Brown Shoe†and of course, “Hey Jude.â€
Said But True
“I got to, uh, jump outta the plane with the, uh, Golden Knights, and it was a real trip, man, I liked it.â€
– Joan Jett, describing her trip to Afghanistan as part of a USO tour
Hey, much respect to our blackhearted friend for showing such, uh, heart and entertaining the troops. But flipping through the channels tonight, and catching her interview on “The O’Reilly Factor,†was priceless…
It Was Thirty-Six Years Ago Today
1968 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney complete “Hey Jude†during a writing session at Paul’s home. The song hits No. 1 in the U.S. a month later. – Billboard.com
Three dozen years ago, the greatest rock songwriting team of all time wrote one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Over seven minutes long at a time when pop tunes were usually no longer than three minutes, and very rarely over five, “Hey Jude†is sweet, infectious and relentless. It is a unique song not only due to its length but also its timelessness, and one that affects any true music fan in a personal nature.
The Beatles – “Hey Judeâ€
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.
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.
Hey Jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you’ll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude…
Credit: SeekLyrics.com
I always thought this song was written by Paul about John’s son Julian Lennon, and originally entitled “Hey Jules,†but there are of course several theories on the tune’s meaning. I’ve heard that it’s somewhat of a prayer to St. Jude, the saint of lost causes… Some feel that he’s writing the song for John, encouraging him to continue his relationship with Yoko Ono; some think that he wrote it as a personal account of his moving on and beginning life with Linda Eastman…
Wait a minute. People seriously think Paul would ever encourage John to CONTINUE a relationship with Yoko?! What the hell was McCartney thinking here? Doesn’t this go against the grain of every Beatles rumor, every bit of lore we’ve associated to the legendary band? If this is true, it’s got to be Paul’s biggest lapse in judgment outside of “Biker Like an Icon†– especially considering how that whole situation ended up screwing with The Beatles’ existence.
Anyway, the reason the song really touches me is simply this: I’m a sucker for large groups of people, getting together over a like cause, similar interests, or passion for something that moves them. And every live version of “Hey Jude†that I’ve heard always ends with about five to ten minutes of Paul encouraging the crowd to sing along with the final “Na na na nananana, nananana, hey Jude†vamp. There’s one in particular, from a benefit show at Wembley Stadium in the late 1980s, where Paul just goes nuts. “AND THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE!†“AND THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, NOW!†You feel like you’re there. Seriously. There aren’t too many chances you’ll get to hear 60,000 people singing along every lyric of a song (let alone be there live to experience it), and I simply love every bit of it.
Till My Head Falls Off…
I like to close each column with a quick thought or three that tie music into “the real world†in one way or another – and hopefully lead to some feedback. Let’s try this one out:
– “Let’s not let the Supreme Court pick the next President, and let’s not let this President pick the next Supreme Court!†Hey, it’s Democratic National Convention time, how can I not mention Al Gore’s line of his career. Why do these politicians always wait until they lose before showing any personality? And don’t the Dems just HAVE to invite Linda Ronstadt to serenade their candidate this week?
– All of a sudden, Bill Clinton – and N Sync – are back in the spotlight? Just when we finally stopped hearing all of the corny comparisons between now and the 1990s (“A Bush was in office, we were at war with Iraq, and Michael Jackson released a new album…â€), we have to take another time warp? Hey, don’t get me wrong, Clinton – and as Ron Reagan will remind you over and over again, his father – were the two best-spoken U.S. Presidents since probably FDR (and the two greatest in my lifetime, making the Bushes look worse than they probably are). And that would be great for the Democratic Party if, well, he was running. Or if John Kerry was somewhat close to as talented an orator as the former president. But, I wonder if this will end up hurting the Democratic Party in the long run, as I pray this doesn’t mean we have to brace ourselves for some sort of “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow†remix.
– “Entourage†is just a great show – HBO doing it yet again. And to think, it’s executive produced by Marky Mark??
Until next time…
peace. love. moe.
– Matthew
