The Story Behind "Hey Bulldog" by The Beatles and How It Was Their Last Group Effort
Apple Corps Limited released Yellow Submarine in the UK on July 17, 1968. The Beatles had enjoyed the success of their first two cinematic releases, A Hard Day’s Night and Help! but Magical Mystery Tour had been the band’s first misstep. Broadcast on BBC1 on December 26, 1967, it was filmed in color but shown in black and white. Although the band was quick to use that as an excuse, the film had other failings, and it was the first Beatles project to be considered a critical failure.
The early press release for Yellow Submarine announced an animated feature with The Beatles providing their own character’s voices. Ultimately, other actors supplied the voices for the Fab Four’s speaking parts, except for a cameo appearance by the band at the end of the movie. The Beatles supplied four new songs for the soundtrack, and the film also used older existing songs. Let’s take a look at the story behind “Hey Bulldog” by The Beatles.
Sheepdog, standing in the rain
Bullfrog doing it again
Some kind of happiness is
Measured out in miles
What makes you think you’re
Something special when you smile
One of Their Final Group Efforts
The Beatles were about to go to India and planned to release a promotional film for “Lady Madonna” during their absence. A film crew captured footage of the band in the studio while they were writing and recording “Hey Bulldog.” Engineer Geoff Emerick said it was one of their final group efforts. When the band returned from India, they tended to work more individually as their relationship became increasingly strained. In 1997, McCartney told author Barry Miles, “I remember ‘Hey Bulldog’ as being one of John’s songs, and I helped him finish it off in the studio, but it’s mainly his vibe. There’s a little rap at the end between John and I; we went into a crazy little thing at the end.”
Source: Jay McDowell/americansongwriter.com
