5 Facts About The Beatles’ Song “Julia”

It’s about John Lennon’s mother John wrote “Julia” for his mother, who was killed by a drunk driver when he was 17.

It appears on The Beatles’ White Album The song is track 11 on the 1968 double album.

It’s just voice and acoustic guitar The arrangement is only John’s vocals and fingerpicked guitar, learned from Donovan.

The melody is deliberately lonely and delicate That sparse, haunting sound is what makes the song so affecting.

It’s different from his later song “Mother” “Mother” (on his first solo album) is angrier and addresses both parents. “Julia” is the quiet, tender one.