John Lennon's son Julian admits there's one Beatles song he can't listen to

The Beatles' iconic track Hey Jude is more than just a classic tune for Julian Lennon — it's a personal anthem with mixed emotions.

Julian, whose parents are John Lennon and his first wife Cynthia, acknowledged the 1968 hit's heartfelt message, but admitted listening to it can sometimes be challenging due to its intimate connection to him.

Paul McCartney wrote Hey Jude during the collapse of John and Cynthia's marriage. "It was 'Hey Jules' at first, but that didn't quite sit well rhythmically," Julian recounted.

• JK Rowling takes swipe at Pedro Pascal after he addresses 'heinous loser' remark

• Antiques Roadshow guest found centuries-old gold ring in badger hole

In a candid conversation with Esquire in 2023, he added, "'Hey Jude' was a better interpretation. Paul wrote it to console Mum, and also to console me."

McCartney, who had a close bond with Cynthia and young Julian during that period, confirmed the song was written as a comforting gesture for Julian amid the turmoil caused by his father's romance with Yoko Ono.

Despite the song's widespread acclaim and its themes of optimism, Julian admitted that its presence everywhere — in the media, at social events and across entertainment platforms — can sometimes be overwhelming.

"It's a beautiful sentiment, no question about that, and I'm very thankful - but I've also been driven up the wall by it," he confessed. "I love the fact that he wrote a song about me and for Mum, but depending on what side of the bed one woke up on, and where you're hearing it, it can be a good or a slightly frustrating thing."

However, Julian acknowledged that in spite of his ambivalence, there's no bitterness within him towards the tune, "In my heart of hearts, there's not a bad word I could say about it."

DON'T MISS...

Phil Collins' telling seven-word remark about Ringo Starr's drumming capabilities

John Lennon said he was 'never interested' in 'horrifying' Beatles song by Paul McCartney

Michael Jackson's 'dodgy' decision ruined friendship with Paul McCartney

Julian's father had his own unique take on Hey Jude.

John, in his last interview in All We Are Saying before his death in 1980, looked back at Hey Jude fondly - yet believed it was more about him than his son.

Lennon considered that Hey Jude, with McCartney as the writer, may have been subtly addressing the strain on their relationship due to John's budding romance with Yoko Ono. He interpreted lines such as, "You have found her, now go and get her" as McCartney giving his approval for John's new life with Yoko, even though it was affecting their famed partnership.

In Lennon's words, the message felt personal. "I always heard it as a song to me," John revealed.

He added, "Yoko's just come into the picture. He's saying, 'Hey, Jude - hey, John.' I know I'm sounding like one of those fans reading into it, but it's that kind of a song. He said it was written about Julian. He knew it was about me."

John consistently emphasized that the song was purely Paul's, attributing full credit for its creation to him.

"That's his best song," John confessed to journalist David Sheff. "It started off as a song about my son Julian... but I always heard it as a song to me."