Songwriters utilize music as a form of expression, and songs can be written for many different purposes. Songs may be written in a general sense to address a people and send them out a message, or it can be written on a more personal and dedicated to a certain person, group, or issue that the speaker feels strongly about. Many pieces of music have been written and dedicated to a certain individual (whether they are real or fictitious) with the purpose to send a message to them. Songs such as these often prove to be inspirational to the listener as well, and allow the listener to develop their own meaning for the song. “Hey Jude”, written by Paul McCartney for his son, Jules, to console him, serves to be an optimistic song that inspires not only Jules McCartney, but also the listener.
“Hey Jude” is an encouraging ballad that’s purpose is to lift the spirits of ‘Jude”, a young man in despair, and inspire him to go after the girl he’s in love with. The speaker begins by saying, “Hey Jude, don’t make it bad”, trying to inspire Jude not to focus on the negatives, and instead on the positives by taking “a sad song and make[ing] it better”, or taking a bad situation and making the best of it. The speaker wants Jude to let the girl that he loves “into [Jude’s] heart” so that he can “start to make it better”. Once Jude has his love in his life, he will become a happier person and make his life better. The speaker assures Jude not to be afraid, and that he was “made to go out and get her”, insinuating that he believes Jude and the girl he loves are soul mates and meant to be together. The speaker insists that the minute that Jude and his lover become close, when he “lets her under [his] skin”, his life will be better and happier. In the next verse, the speaker tries to advise Jude not to let things build up and stress him out. He sings, “Anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain” and tells him “don’t carry the world upon your shoulders”. He then tells Jude that he is a fool for pretending he is fine when he really is not (“for well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder”). The next verse serves as a piece of motivation for Jude, and the speaker tells Jude, “Don’t let me down”. He then says, “You have found her, now go and get her”, motivating him to go after the girl who could very well be the one who is meant for him. The speaker then repeats, “Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better”, which hints to Jude that by getting to know her, his life will be better. The next verse begins, “So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin”, and the speaker tells Jude to take deep breaths and just calm his thoughts. Then he points out, “You’re waiting for someone to perform with”, meaning that Jude has been solo for so long, and he has been waiting for a companion to spend his life with. He asks Jude, “Don’t you know that its just you?” meaning that Jude is the only one for her. According to the speaker, the “movement [Jude] need is on your shoulder”, the movement being a shrug. Jude needs not to carry the stresses of the world on his shoulder, and instead needs to shrug it all off and live for himself. This song is trying to get the message out that one shouldn’t carry the burdens of the world upon their shoulders, and that love in any form cures anything.
There are many different poetic devices used in “Hey Jude”, all of which enhance the listening pleasure of the song and make it fit in with all of the other catchy Beatles classics. Repetitions of sounds are found frequently in the song, and alliteration, consonance, and assonance are used. In the first verse, alliteration with the consonant “s” is present: “sad song”. Assonance is also used in the song various times with the phrases: “anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain”, “for well you know that’s it’s a fool who plays it cool”, and “don’t you know that its just you, hey Jude, you’ll do”. Epistrophe, a repetition of words and phrases, is also evident within the song. The song says, “make it better” at the end of the second and fourth line in the first verse. These poetic devices increase the song’s catchiness and give it the signature Beatles sound.
This song, “Hey Jude”, fits into the theme of Optimism and Inspiration for many reasons, and is a perfect example of an inspirational ballad. This song was originally written to be inspirational to the songwriter’s son, and succeeded in fulfilling not only its original purpose, but also it inspired listeners around the world. It is very optimistic, and tries to lift the spirits of the listener, or “Jude”, by telling him or her to “take a sad song and make it better”, or make the best of the situation. This song serves to be not only inspirational for its original recipient, Jules McCartney, but also to the average listener who just needs a pick-me-up to lift their spirits when in despair.
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 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.
Da da da da da da, da da da, hey Jude...
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.
Da da da da da da, da da da, hey Jude...
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.
Da da da da da da, da da da, hey Jude...
