For a band with only a decade-long career, The Beatles managed to produce an extraordinary number of timeless songs.
From their early love-centric singles to the more mature, introspective works of their later years, John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s songwriting abilities seemed limitless.
Among their many masterpieces, one standout hit from 1968, ‘Hey Jude’, took on a life of its own.
Originally intended to appear on The White Album, ‘Hey Jude’ was written by McCartney during a pivotal, if tumultuous, period for the band.
Fresh off their life-changing trip to India, tensions between Lennon, Yoko Ono, and the rest of the band were simmering.
Yet, despite the growing discord, The Beatles continued to produce some of their most remarkable work, with ‘Hey Jude’ being a shining example.
Rehearsed extensively at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) before recording the master track at Trident Studios, the sessions reflected the rising strain within the group.
However, it wasn’t personal disagreements or creative clashes that nearly derailed the recording of ‘Hey Jude’, but rather an unexpected trip to the toilet by Ringo Starr.
As McCartney recalled, “We recorded it in Trident Studios in Soho, London, and Ringo had just gone to the toilet, which was just through the studio.”
Due to the studio’s layout, McCartney couldn’t see Starr’s now-empty drum booth. Unaware that the drummer had left, McCartney began playing the song’s iconic piano intro.
“I didn’t know, I hadn’t seen him go out,” McCartney recounted, “I thought he was back in his drum booth, which was hidden from us.”
Fortunately for Starr, ‘Hey Jude’ has a lengthy piano introduction, giving him some time to return. As McCartney worked through the intro, he noticed Starr creeping back toward the drum kit.
“As I’m halfway through, I see this figure creeping along behind me—it’s Ringo,” McCartney remembered, laughing. “He’s just finished and is trying to get to the drum kit.”
The challenge for Starr was getting back to his drums without interrupting the take. The bathroom was located on the opposite side of the studio, forcing Starr to navigate through equipment while the band was recording.
“He realises we’re on a take; he doesn’t want to break it because it looks like it’s going good—this was the one, this was the take,” McCartney said.
In the end, Starr managed to sit down just in time, making the final recording flawless. “Dear me, that man is blessed,” McCartney remarked.
Had Starr been even a few moments later, the intro to ‘Hey Jude’ might have been much longer, or worse, entirely drumless.
The brilliance of the final version, along with the song’s legendary status, is not only a testament to The Beatles’ greatness but also a reminder of how the smallest disruptions can shape music history.
