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12.02am
28 July 2014
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I saw an interview of Paul, he says that John probably said “f*****g hell” because of the technical complexity of the music. I believe it was that.
Note: Thanks @Ahhh Girl for directing me to this thread.
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10.10am
Reviewers
29 August 2013
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Atlas said
You get everything on this site……..Love it.
There is also this discussion to consider:
https://www.beatlesbible.com/f…..-hey-jude/
[EDIT] Erm – or have I just ruined AGs’ awesome post split??
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10.31am
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17 December 2012
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@trcanberra It wasn’t a split. It was a merge that didn’t answer the question, and so was unmerged – and, yes, it was the “f*****g hell” thread.
@LittleRingo The thing to remember is that the ending is ad-libbed. You will not find a single other version that isn’t a variation. Even The Beatles own promo films for the single feature a differently phrased ad-libbed ending. There is no correct answer to what the ad-libs should be as they are ad-libs, and Paul has never done them the same way twice.
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
6.52pm
8 February 2014
Offline Rita Eleanor said
I saw an interview of Paul, he says that John probably said “f*****g hell” because of the technical complexity of the music. I believe it was that.
Note: Thanks @Ahhh Girl for directing me to this thread.
@Rita Eleanor, I just listened to Hey Jude , and found it fairly simple technically. Double 4 time throughout, and 4 chords. Could you elaborate or point us to the interview? Thanks!
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Rita Eleanor7.23pm
20 September 2013
Offline I think Ken Scott says in his book ( I could be wrong, I’ve read so many books recently), John asked for more level to his headphones and got more than he bargained for – hence the “Woah!” (throw’s headphones off), followed by a look that could kill and a “Fuckin’ ‘Ell!!!!!!”
Having been on the receiving end of such an event (and also the sender), I can vouch for the reaction….. then later deliberately left it in the mix.
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Mr. Kite7.29pm
8 August 2014
Offline Oyster Black Pearl said
I think Ken Scott says in his book ( I could be wrong, I’ve read so many books recently), John asked for more level to his headphones and got more than he bargained for – hence the “Woah!” (throw’s headphones off), followed by a look that could kill and a “Fuckin’ ‘Ell!!!!!!”Having been on the receiving end of such an event (and also the sender), I can vouch for the reaction….. then later deliberately left it in the mix.
I read this too, but I forgot where.
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1.21am
8 August 2014
Offline I found this on the Wikipedia article for Hey Jude .
From Wikipedia
At 2:57 of the song, someone can allegedly be heard to say, “F*****g hell!” There is some dispute as to who said this, and whether it was really exclaimed at all. Sound engineers Ken Scott and Geoff Emerick claim the exclamation came from McCartney and that it was Lennon’s idea to leave the mistake in the final mix. “‘Paul hit a clunker on the piano and said a naughty word,’ Lennon gleefully crowed, ‘but I insisted we leave it in, buried just low enough so that it can barely be heard. Most people won’t ever spot it … but we’ll know it’s there.'”[21] However, in the Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew book Recording the Beatles, discussing the recording processes behind the Beatles’ sessions, engineer Malcolm Toft recalls, “Barry Sheffield engineered ‘Hey Jude ‘, but I mixed it … John Lennon says a very rude word about halfway through the song. At 2:59 you will hear a ‘Whoa!’ from him in the background. About two seconds later you will hear, ‘F*****g hell!’ This was because when he was doing a vocal backing, Barry sent him the foldback level [headphone volume] too loud and he threw the cans on the ground and uttered the expletive. But, because it had been bounced down [mixed] with the main vocal, it could not be removed.[22] I just managed to bring the fader down for a split second on the mix to try to lessen the effect.” Others argue that the voice is Ringo Starr ‘s.[23]
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7.09am
20 September 2013
Offline UnidentifiedFiendishThingy said
I found this on the Wikipedia article for Hey Jude .From Wikipedia
However, in the Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew book Recording the Beatles, discussing the recording processes behind the Beatles’ sessions, engineer Malcolm Toft recalls, “Barry Sheffield engineered ‘Hey Jude ‘, but I mixed it … John Lennon says a very rude word about halfway through the song. At 2:59 you will hear a ‘Whoa!’ from him in the background. About two seconds later you will hear, ‘F*****g hell!’ This was because when he was doing a vocal backing, Barry sent him the foldback level [headphone volume] too loud and he threw the cans on the ground and uttered the expletive. But, because it had been bounced down [mixed] with the main vocal, it could not be removed.[22] I just managed to bring the fader down for a split second on the mix to try to lessen the effect.” Others argue that the voice is Ringo Starr ‘s.[23]
That’s the one – and the most plausible.
10.41am
Reviewers
18 February 2013
Offline I make it at 2min 58 seconds on the Past Masters Stereo Remaster. Quiet, but undoubtedly there. Seems to be spread across both speakers (earphones).
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Rita Eleanor12.14am
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4 February 2014
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mithveaen said
It’s there
The chorus goes like this …
Paul and John are with “Hey Jude .. don’t make it bad.. take a sad song.. and make it better.. remember to let it under your skin”.. you can hear “Oh!” and then Paul sings “then you begin” and at the beginning of “begin” in that moment you hear John and his “F… hell”
Actually I hadn’t noticed the f…. hell, but the “Oh!” I’ve always believed it was part of the lyrics so I sing it ……
Thats what I thought too! It fits perfectly. Then the f***ing hell was pointed out, and I can’t unhear it. I’m always waiting for it, makes an amazing song more interesting!
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Beatlebug11.13am
15 June 2014
Offline OmG, heard it too. 
Like you two I always heard “Oh!” and thought that’s part of the backing vocals. It was very queer for me to be able to hear John’s bit amid so much concentration…I could almost feel being inside the studio and seeing John positioned way behind Paul playing his part in the song.
11.44pm
1 November 2012
Offline I can’t make it out. Lord knows I tried (like eleven times, over and over, full volume, surround-sound headphones, the whole works). Sure I can hear someone, apparently John, say “Oh!” then something else after that; but that’s it. I sure as hell can’t make any distinct words out. I can never hear these things other people swear they hear! 
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2.24am
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1 May 2011
Offline I always thought that the “oh” was part of the song so not related to the swear word. Strange to find it is.
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3.39am
13 September 2014
Offline I always heard him (Paul) to say “take it out,” as in, “take us out,” or, “play us out,” which makes sense in the musical context of the song because the last chorus is ending and they are just about to start the Coda. He’s giving direction to his bandmates. At least that’s what makes sense to me and what I’ve always heard. What actual evidence is there that it’s an expletive?
9.19am
15 June 2014
Offline Ramon said
I always heard him (Paul) to say “take it out,” as in, “take us out,” or, “play us out,” which makes sense in the musical context of the song because the last chorus is ending and they are just about to start the Coda. He’s giving direction to his bandmates. At least that’s what makes sense to me and what I’ve always heard. What actual evidence is there that it’s an expletive?
As someone above mentioned, it could be the complexity of the guitar work and hence the “words”. By the way I am no expert on the technical bit. You’ve got to listen closely to be able to hear it. Also, this might be of interest to everyone who hasn’t read it:
By the way, welcome @Ramon to the BB Forum. You may introduce yourself here.
2.26am
28 July 2014
Offline Hi Friends, was rereading the book “Here There And Everywhere my life recording the Beatles” and the version of Geoff is that Paul was wrong on the piano and said “f*****g hell”. This version is plausible …
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7.39pm
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20 August 2013
Offline Just saw a Twitter post from yesterday on this topic
@WhatTheFFacts
Paul McCartney accidentally drops an F-bomb out of frustration in the song “Hey Jude ” and John Lennon insisted they kept it in the recording
Wonder if the people behind that account have been reading the BB forum?
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7.46pm
15 June 2014
Offline Ahhh Girl said
Just saw a Twitter post from yesterday on this topic@WhatTheFFacts
Paul McCartney accidentally drops an F-bomb out of frustration in the song “Hey Jude ” and John Lennon insisted they kept it in the recordingWonder if the people behind that account have been reading the BB forum?
The voice sounds more like John’s, doesn’t it?
9.09pm
8 August 2014
Offline It really does sound more like John. I think it is John. I can’t see Paul continuing the song after cursing. Maybe not.
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10.52pm
11 November 2010
Offline EDIT: Never mind. I “spoke” before I fact-checked.
Forget I posted anything.
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