'Hey Jude' was the first single released on The Beatles’ own Apple Records label. Paul McCartney wrote the song to comfort John Lennon’s son, Julian, during his parents' divorce (the original working title was 'Hey Jules'). At seven minutes and eleven seconds, it was the longest single ever to top the British charts at the time. Record executives were worried that radio stations wouldn't play a song that long, but John Lennon famously replied, 'They will if it’s us.' The song is famous for its massive four-minute 'Na-na-na' coda, which featured a 36-piece orchestra that were also asked to clap and sing along. It spent nine weeks at number one in the US, the longest reign for any Beatles single. The song’s universal message of hope and its sing-along finale have made it a permanent fixture in global pop culture.