Hey Jude' was almost called 'Hey Jules.

Yes. That was the working title. Paul McCartney originally wrote the song for Julian Lennon during his parents’ divorce, and “Hey Jules” was the placeholder. He changed it to “Jude” because it sounded better and was easier to sing.

The story goes he was driving to visit Julian and Cynthia, and the melody came to him. “Hey Jules, don’t make it bad” — but “Jules” didn’t roll off the tongue as well, and “Jude” (from the musical Oklahoma!) felt more natural.

You’ll sometimes hear people say “The Beatles Almost Called It ‘Hey Jules’.” Not quite an “almost” — it was the draft title. No big mystery here.