Hey Jude [Single] - Beatles (The) (Cassette 1991)

In 1968, the Beatles had settled into a life away from the concert stage. They still found time to make movies and records, but their personal lives also featured prominently in their music. That year, John Lennon divorced his first wife, Cynthia. Paul McCartney about the aftermath which was directed at John and Cynthia's son, Julian, who was just five years old at the time. The song was "Hey Jude," which has become one of the most acclaimed songs of the band's career. It spent nine weeks at the top of the US charts, making the single the Beatles' biggest in terms of chart success. It was, at the time, also the longest in running length, at just over seven minutes.

The message at the heart of "Hey Jude" is a simple one: things will get better. Divorce will change a relationship between parents, but two loving parents will always love their children. "Take a sad song and make it better," McCartney urges in his lyrics. The song starts with McCartney playing piano, and slowly being joined by his band mates. As they join the song, they add their voices of encouragement. The record practically invites listeners to sing along with a very long fadeout, which is the second half of the song. It is one of the most endearing of Beatles tunes because of its optimistic outlook. A marriage may have ended, but a strong, caring bond still exists.

The other track on the "Hey Jude" CD single is "Revolution," which had been a B-side on vinyl. It is, in tone, the exact opposite of "Hey Jude." Following an explosive guitar introduction, Lennon asserts, "You say you want a revolution." He also cautions to have a reason to revolt, and to just not jump on the bandwagon calling for a change. Lennon could see the unrest in the world, and stated that everybody wanted change. He wanted plans of action that didn't include violence, and advocated against other extreme changes, such as Communism. Instead of trying to change everything, Lennon suggests, "Free your mind instead." Lennon reminds listeners change will come in due time. The best change one can make is with oneself. In a time where Billboard still counted chart activity on both sides of a record (that ended in 1969), the Beatles also had a hit with "Revolution," which climbed all the way to #12 in the US.

The "Hey Jude" single highlights two of the Beatles' best songs. This single is also a prime example of a band whose members were in the process of developing their own musical styles. Within two years of the release of "Hey Jude," the Beatles were no more. Each member of the band had embarked on a solo career. These songs show two of the many ways that the band viewed the world and turned their views into universal expressions and experiences. The Beatles were a band that changed the music scene. The songs on this single may have been based on personal experience, but the tunes endure because they still speak to anyone who listens.

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Thanks Tom.