Julia: Introduction

“Julia” is a song from “The Beatles,” aka the “White Album.” John Lennon wrote and sang the song in memory of his mother, who died in 1958, aged 44. But there’s also references to Yoko Ono, too.

In Detail

Publisher: Northern Songs Ltd.
Release Date: November 22, 1968
Recorded: October 13, 1968
Genre: Folk
Track Duration: 2:54
Record Label: Apple
Songwriter: Lennon-McCartney
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Ken Scott

Performer And Instrument

John Lennon: double-tracked lead vocals, as well as the acoustic guitar and humming

Where To Find “Julia”

Three albums so far; click on the images:

**If you are after the original version of this song, buy the “White Album.” However, take the lot if you are an avid collector of Beatles records!

Julia: Background

Although written and performed as a solo by John Lennon, the credits go to the songwriting partnership of Lennon-McCartney. In fact, this is the only John Lennon solo in The Beatles catalogue.

He began writing the song in 1968 while the band was at the meditation training camp in Rishikesh, northern India, under the guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

While it is clear that the inspiration for the song is his mother, Julia, there are also references to Yoko Ono. In particular, this line, “Ocean child calls me,” is pretty obvious. This is because Yoko Ono’s name, translated from Japanese, means “child of the sea.”

John Lennon Says:

“Julia was my mother. But it was sort of a combination of Yoko and my mother blended into one. That was written in India. On the White Album. And all the stuff on the White Album was written in India while we were supposedly giving money to Maharishi, which we never did.

We got our mantra; we sat in the mountains eating lousy vegetarian food and writing all those songs. We wrote tons of songs in India.”
All We Are Saying, David Sheff

Fingerpicking Guitar Style

While the band was on the meditation training course in India, they met up with Donovan. Together, the fellow British musicians began exchanging a few ideas. Indeed, this is where Donovan taught John Lennon the song’s finger-picking guitar style, aka “Travis-picking.”

“Some afternoons we would gather at one of our pads and play the acoustic guitars we had all brought with us. Paul Horn, the American flute wizard, was there. John was keen to learn the finger-style guitar I played and he was a good student.

Paul [McCartney] already had a smattering of finger style. George [Harrison] preferred his Chet Atkins style. John wrote Julia and Dear Prudence based on the picking I taught him.”
Donovan
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

Recording Studio

After returning to England from India, they had a bundle of song ideas. Many needed further work, while others were complete and ready to record, or at least rehearse.

This was one of the songs that the band would record in George Harrison’s home, Kinfauns, in Esher, Surrey, during those famous demos in May 1968.

John Lennon began recording “Julia” properly on October 13, 1968, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 7.00 p.m.–6.00 a.m. session. He recorded three takes, with the third one being suitable for the rhythm track. Then he started to double-track his vocals. While Take 3 became the main track, Take 2 is now on The Beatles’ 1996 album, “Anthology 3.”

On The Beatles’ “Love” album from 2006, “Eleanor Rigby” has a corresponding “Julia” transition piece.

Take A Listen To Julia

Finally, listen to the song and let us know how you feel about it.