"Hey Bulldog" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack album in 1969.

Written by John Lennon (but credited to Lennon-McCartney), the song was recorded during sessions for the single "Lady Madonna", and one of the few Beatles song to revolve around a piano riff. During the recording, Beatles bass player Paul McCartney started to bark without warning. The next lines (initially intended as "Hey Bullfrog") were changed mid-song to "Hey Bulldog". This served, of course, as the song's title. During these sessions, a film crew photographed the four Beatles recording the song and intended the footage to be edited as a promotional film for "Bulldog" (it was later altered and constructed as a promo for "Lady Madonna").

The Beatles' engineer, Geoff Emerick would go on to claim this was the last song the band recorded that featured a team dynamic with enthusiasm from every member, the reciprocal of the White Album sessions that followed.

The song itself was recorded for the Yellow Submarine film, but initially appeared only in European theatrical prints. It was restored for a 1999 re-release. To promote the reissue, Apple restored the original "Bulldog" promo film, re-edited as it was originally intended.

"Hey Bulldog" has been covered by Gomez, Rolf Harris, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and grunge band Skin Yard.

Notes

A loud snare drum is overdubbed into the mix (it is audible in both channels but is louder in the right) in the choruses and outro (first heard at 0:52)

References

• Lewisohn, Mark. The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Hamlyn, 1988. ISBN 0681031891.

The Beatles songs