Julian Lennon Expresses Gratitude for Paul McCartney's 'Hey Jude' but Admits It's a Pet Peeve
Julian Lennon expresses gratitude towards Paul McCartney for writing 'Hey Jude' during his parents' separation, but admits the song sometimes frustrates him
Julian Lennon and Paul McCartney Dave Benett/Getty Images for MPL Communications
55 years later, Julian Lennon has finally reconciled with the song "Hey Jude."
In a recent interview, Julian, now 60, discussed the origins of the song, originally titled "Hey Jules," which was written by Paul McCartney to comfort him and his mother, Cynthia Lennon (née Powell), during his parents' divorce from John Lennon. "It was 'Hey Jules' at first, but that didn’t quite sit well rhythmically," Julian explained. "‘Hey Jude’ was a better interpretation. Paul wrote it to console Mum, and also to console me."
Julian conceded that the song, despite its family ties, has become somewhat tiresome for him. “It's a lovely sentiment, and I'm grateful for it, but it has also driven me crazy," he explained. "Depending on the circumstances, it can be either a good or slightly frustrating thing. But in my heart, I can't say anything bad about it. 'Hey Jude' was released as a non-album single in 1968 and reached No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The track, known for its repetitive outro, is one of the 81-year-old McCartney's most famous songs."
Julian added that the audience sometimes finds it cute to quote 'Hey Jude' to him, but that they don't understand the deep emotional pain behind the song. It reminds him of his mother Cynthia separating from John, the loss of love, and the fact that he rarely saw his father before his death. "I saw him maybe a couple of times before he died," he said.
John was famously assassinated on December 8, 1980, when Mark David Chapman shot the "Imagine" singer outside The Dakota apartment building in New York City. Lennon was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at the age of 40.
Cynthia passed away in 2015 at the age of 75 after fighting cancer.
Fifty years after the release of "Hey Jude," Julian commented that the song's lyrics are still relevant today. "They are about improving life and relieving the burden on my shoulders, particularly as I followed in my father's footsteps as a musician," he explained.
Julian launched his music career in 1984 with his debut album, Valotte. Although he hasn't achieved the same level of success as his father, his first single, "Too Late for Goodbyes," made it to the Top 10 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and U.K. Singles Chart.
Since then, Julian has released six more albums, with his most recent being 2022’s Jude. In an interview with Esquire, he explained, “After 30 years of making music, I decided it was time to pursue some other dreams I had, like photography and other things. I've chosen a tough path, but it's what I felt compelled to do.”
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Music will always be a part of me, thanks to Dad and the Beatles,” Julian said. He also mentioned his strong relationship with Sean Lennon, John’s son with Yoko Ono. “It’s ridiculous how the press tries to create a feud between us,” he added. “We’ve never had a single argument.”
