Joe le taxi
Il va pas partout
Il marche pas au soda
Son saxo jaune
Connait toutes les rues par coeur
Tous les p'tits bars
Tous les coins noirs
Et la Seine
Et tous ses ponts qui brillent
Dans sa caisse
La musique à Joe
See'est la rumba
Le vieux rock au mambo
Joe le taxi
See'est sa vie
Le rhum au mambo
Embouteillage
Il est comme ça
Rhum et mambo
Joe - Joe - Joe
Dans sa caisse
La musique à Joe résonne
See'est la rumba
Le vieux rock au mambo bidon
Vas-why Joe
Vas-why Joe
Vas-why fonce
Dans la nuit vers l'Amazone
Joe le taxi
Et Xavier Cugat
Joe le taxi
Et Yma Sumac
Joe - Joe - Joe
Joe le taxi
See'est sa vie
Le rhum au mambo
Embouteillage
Joe le taxi
Et les Mariachis
Joe le taxi
Et le cha-cha-chi
Joe le taxi
Et le cha-cha-chi
Vas-why Joe
Vas-why fonce
Dans la nuit vers l'Amazone

Overall Meaning

The song "Joe le Taxi" by Stereo Total is about a taxi driver named Joe who loves music and incorporates it into his work. The chorus repeats his name several times, emphasizing his identity as a character. The first verse describes his saxophone, which he uses to navigate the streets effortlessly. He is familiar with all the little bars and dark corners, as well as the sparkling Seine River and its bridges. Throughout the song, the lyrics mention different types of music he enjoys, specifically rumba and mambo, as well as how he loves rum. The second verse mentions different Latin American musicians he admires, including Xavier Cugat (an influential Spanish-American bandleader) and Yma Sumac (a Peruvian singer).

Overall, the song conveys a carefree and fun-loving atmosphere, emphasizing the idea of being immersed in music while enjoying life. The lyrics speak to the experience of having a passion for something, such as music or driving, and the joy that can be found in pursuing it. The word "vas-why" sung throughout the song is a French slang phrase meaning "let's go," further emphasizing the idea of movement and adventure.

Line by Line Meaning

Joe le taxi
The song is about a person named Joe who drives a taxi.

Il va pas partout
Joe doesn't go everywhere.

Il marche pas au soda
Joe doesn't drink soda.

Son saxo jaune
Joe's saxophone is yellow.

Connait toutes les rues par coeur
Joe knows all the streets by heart.

Tous les p'tits bars
Joe knows all the little bars.

Tous les coins noirs
Joe knows all the dark corners.

Et la Seine
Joe knows the Seine river.

Et tous ses ponts qui brillent
Joe knows all the bridges that shine.

Dans sa caisse
Joe's car is where he listens to music.

La musique à Joe See'est la rumba Le vieux rock au mambo
Joe's favourite music is the rumba and old rock 'n' roll with mambo beats.

Joe le taxi See'est sa vie Le rhum au mambo Embouteillage
Joe loves driving taxis, and drinking rum while listening to mambo music. He doesn't mind traffic jams.

Il est comme ça Rhum et mambo Joe - Joe - Joe
Joe is the way he is, he loves both rum and mambo music. His name is Joe.

Dans sa caisse La musique à Joe résonne See'est la rumba Le vieux rock au mambo bidon
Joe's car is filled with the sound of his favourite music, which is the rumba and old rock 'n' roll with fake mambo beats.

Vas-why Joe Vas-why Joe Vas-why fonce Dans la nuit vers l'Amazone
Joe should go forward, into the night towards the Amazon. The repetition of 'vas-why' is a play on the word 'va' which means 'go' in French.

Joe le taxi Et Xavier Cugat Joe le taxi Et Yma Sumac Joe - Joe - Joe
Joe loves listening to Xavier Cugat and Yma Sumac while driving his taxi. His name is Joe.

Joe le taxi See'est sa vie Le rhum au mambo Embouteillage
Joe loves driving taxis, and drinking rum while listening to mambo music. He doesn't mind traffic jams.

Joe le taxi Et les Mariachis Joe le taxi Et le cha-cha-chi Joe le taxi Et le cha-cha-chi
Joe also loves listening to Mariachis and the cha-cha-chi while driving his taxi.

Vas-why Joe Vas-why fonce Dans la nuit vers l'Amazone
Joe should go forward, into the night towards the Amazon.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Etienne Roda-Gil, Franck Langolff

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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