‘Hey Jude’: The Anthem of UEFA Euros 2024
‘Hey Jude’: A Football Anthem for a New Generation
‘Hey Jude’ is one of the most iconic anthems in history. Its relevance has recently resurged thanks to Jude Bellingham, 20, who is proving himself to be the Paul McCartney of football talent today. Bellingham scored his (and England’s!) first official goal of the tournament against Serbia on 16th June, a moment that brought fans to their feet singing The Beatles’ classic to celebrate and energise the team.
Last Sunday, England secured 3 points on the leader board, climbing to the top of Group C with a 1-0 win against Serbia. In the thirteenth minute, Kyle Walker expertly advanced the ball around the Serbian defence, Bukayo Saka crossed it, and Bellingham finished it off with a header in true “wolf” style. As soon as he scored, fans erupted into song, turning to ‘Hey Jude’ to celebrate Bellingham’s goal.
This serenade inspired a deeper dive into the history of the song, exploring why it was written and its cultural significance today.
The Origins of ‘Hey Jude’
Paul McCartney wrote ‘Hey Jude’ as a letter to Julian Lennon, John’s son that he had with his first wife, Cynthia. When John left Cynthis for Yoko Ono, McCartney wanted to reassure the then-young Julian that despite difficult life changes, hope lies ahead. During this emotional turmoil, Paul visited Julian and Cynthia, creating songs on the way down to his surrogate nephew. Singing in his Aston Martin, it wasn’t long before McCartney created the line, “Take a sad song/And make it better”.
Originally called ‘Hey Jules’, Paul brought the song to the studio, later changing the title to better suit the music. Released in August 1968 under The Beatles’ Apple label, ‘Hey Jude’ reached number one in 12 countries, selling 5 million copies within the first six months. It was the top-selling single of 1968 in the UK, US, Canada and Australia. The anthem is regarded as McCartney’s masterpiece, with its poignant lyrics, structure and message.
Cultural Significance and Impact
Initially, McCartney had doubts about the line “The movement you need is on your shoulder”, but Lennon insisted it was the best lyric in the song and he had to keep it in. Over the years, this line has become one of McCartney’s favourites, emphasising that the change you want in life comes from within.
Just before John Lennon’s tragic death in 1980, he revealed in an interview that although he knew the song was written for Julian, he always interpreted the song as a personal message to himself, one that signified a blessing from Paul to John and Yoko. This interpretation, while poetic, highlights John’s complex personality and his strained relationship with Julian.
Their relationship was further complicated by the birth of John’s second son, Sean Ono Lennon, in 1975 with Yoko Ono. Unlike Julian, who “came from a whiskey bottle”, Sean was his cherished ‘Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)’. In later years, Julian recalled McCartney’s visits fondly, noting that Paul was “more of a father figure than [his] real dad”. ‘Hey Jude’ stands as a remarkable testament to that relationship, proving that family bonds can extend beyond blood relations.
In his will, John left everything to Yoko Ono as the sole beneficiary of his £220 million estate, leaving Julian with nothing. After years of litigation, Julian finally received a settlement in 1996, estimated to be around £20 million - a small fraction of Lennon’s estate, but advised by his lawyer to avoid excessive legal fees.
Enduring Legacy and Modern Resonance in Football
‘Hey Jude’ has accumulated over 585 million streams on Spotify and continues to grow with The Beatles’ 36 million monthly listeners. As the UEFA Euros 2024 kicks off, another Jude takes centre stage - or rather, center pitch.
Given the history of trolling, racism and hooliganism in English football, it’s important to use the song’s uplifting message to unite rather than tear down and divide. On Thursday, England drew 1-1 against Denmark, with Harry Kane scoring for England. Having only scored two goals so far in the tournament, concerns have been raised about player performance, Gareth Southgate’s management and general team cohesion. Despite these worries, England remains at the top of Group C with 4 points. Let’s hope Bellingham’s play can rally the team for a decisive victory against Slovenia this coming Tuesday.
Good luck, boys!