Hey Jude – The Beatles | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1968
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
By 1968, The Beatles had retired from touring and were concentrating on studio work. During this period, Paul McCartney wrote Hey Jude, one of the group’s most enduring singles.
The song was inspired by McCartney’s concern for Julian Lennon following the separation of John and Cynthia Lennon. Originally titled “Hey Jules,” it was written as a message of encouragement. McCartney later changed the name to “Jude,” preferring its sound and cadence.
Recorded at Trident Studios in London and produced by George Martin, Hey Jude ran over seven minutes, an unusual length for a single at the time. Despite concerns about radio play, it was released in August 1968 and rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for nine weeks. It became The Beatles’ longest-running #1 single in the United States.
The recording begins as a piano-led ballad before building into an extended closing refrain. The repeated “na-na-na” coda turned the song into a communal sing-along and became one of its defining features.
Hey Jude was also the first single issued on Apple Records, the band’s own label. Its commercial success and lasting popularity have secured its place among The Beatles’ signature recordings.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
George Martin
Lyrics Written by:
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Awards:
Nominated for Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Contemporary Pop Performance, Vocal Duo or Group in 1969.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.