“Hey Bulldog” is a John Lennon-driven Beatles rock track first released on the 1969 soundtrack album Yellow Submarine Album. It is one of the band’s rare songs built around a pounding piano riff rather than a guitar hook.
The song later resurfaced for modern listeners on the remixed Yellow Submarine Songtrack Album, which re-presented the film songs with fresh mixes and improved clarity.
Key Facts
- Album Release: 13 January 1969 (US) / 17 January 1969 (UK)
- Recorded: 11 February 1968
- Studio: EMI Studios, London (Studio Three)
- Genre: Hard rock, psychedelic rock
- Track Duration: 3:14
- Record Label: Apple
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: double-tracked vocals, piano, guitar
- Paul McCartney: harmony vocal, bass, tambourine
- George Harrison: lead guitar
- Ringo Starr: drums
Where To Find “Hey Bulldog”
You can find “Hey Bulldog” on the following releases:
- Yellow Submarine Album – the original 1969 soundtrack release
- Yellow Submarine Songtrack Album – 1999 remix
Hey Bulldog: Background
“Hey Bulldog” started as a Lennon idea with a working title along the lines of “Hey Bullfrog”, then evolved fast in the studio with McCartney helping shape the structure and the ending. The result is tight, loud, and playful, with the band leaning into the groove and laughing their way through the fade-out.
“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.”
Paul McCartney
The barking is not an afterthought. It became part of the song’s identity, pushing the title towards “Hey Bulldog” and turning the outro into a chaotic, in-joke-style performance rather than a neat, polite finish.
A Song Hidden In Plain Sight
One reason “Hey Bulldog” took years to get its due is that it was tied to Yellow Submarine. The animated “Hey Bulldog” sequence appeared only in some European prints and was cut from the American version, before returning for the film’s 1999 re-release.
The band were filmed in the studio while recording the song, and that footage was first used for the “Lady Madonna” promo. The clip later reappeared as a dedicated “Hey Bulldog” edit to promote the 1999 reissue of Yellow Submarine.
Recording Session
The Beatles recorded “Hey Bulldog” on 11 February 1968 in Studio Three at EMI Studios, London. They taped 10 takes, and the final take formed the basis of the master. Overdubs and mixing followed, which helps explain why the track still feels immediate and live.
Harrison’s lead guitar is a major part of the punch. Using a fuzz box and a loud amp, he cuts through Lennon’s piano with a sharp, snarling tone that makes the record sound heavier than most of the Yellow Submarine material.
On the soundtrack album, the song is the fourth track on side one, between “All Together Now” and “It’s All Too Much” while on the songtrack album, it sits in second place in between “Yellow Submarine” and “Eleanor Rigby.”
Why It Matters
“Hey Bulldog” shows a side of The Beatles people sometimes forget: the band as a hard-driving rock unit, locking into a riff and riding it for all it is worth. It is also a snapshot of Lennon and McCartney still sparring creatively in 1968, building a song in the room and enjoying the mess at the end.
Take A Listen
Finally, what do you think about this song? Let us know your thoughts in the Beatles Fan Club Forum.
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Sources And References
- The Beatles – Official song facts and recording context
- The Beatles – Yellow Submarine album release and track placement
- The Beatles – Yellow Submarine Songtrack release
- The Beatles – 1968 filming footage and 1999 Hey Bulldog promo edit
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