When Alain Bashung was one year old he was sent to the Strasbourg area, in Wingersheim, to stay with his grandparents. He spent his childhood in the country in a conservative environment. When he was five years old he discovered Music most notably Kurt Weill, as he played harmonica. He was also a Choirboy in the church at Wingersheim and played basket-ball. At School he was regarded serious child.
He returned to Paris in 1959, where he discovered the great names of Chanson Française, the radio, American Rock with Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whilst studying to become an accountant, he started a short lived Band with friends “les Dunces” whose style swong between Folk and Rockabilly. He quickly dropped his studies.
Bashung started a band with musicians met in Royan, a new band playing in Restaurants, Hotels and most of all the American bases. his career started with some difficulties with the release of his first single at 19 years of age “Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ?” in 1966. He released a dozen singles, one using the pseudonym David Bergen, and two others. In 1971/1972 under the pseudonym "Hendrick Darmen" compositor and singer of the band “Monkey Bizness”. He wrote a number of songs for stars of the time like Noël Deschamps, but doesn't appear to have reached success.
In 1973, he played Robespierre in the Musical “La Révolution française” written by Claude-Michel Schönberg. He met Dick Rivers the singer of Les Chats Sauvages, for whom he composed and produced music.
He met musician Andy Scott and the songwriter Boris Bergman, and in 1977 wrote his first innovative LP “Romans photos”, though it was a Commercial failure in the context of Punk storming music.
In 1979, he released “Roulette russe”, a very dark and more Rock orientated album.
He confirmed his talent with critical acclaim and public success in 1981, with the rock influenced album “pizza”, mainly with one single from the album “Gaby, oh Gaby” that finally got Bashung success in the charts in 1981 followed by the single “Vertige de l'amour”, and started touring the bigger venues Notably “l'Olympia” in Paris.
In 1982, Bashung collaborated with Serge Gainsbourg on the complex album “Play blessures”, that did not achieve commercial success.
In 1983, he confused his fan base with an album deviating from the previous rock style, “Figure imposée”. In 1985, he came back with a number of titles written for “SOS Racisme” (anti-racism organisation).
In 1986, he released “Passé le Rio Grande”, which won him a “Victoire de la Musique”. Two singles achieved some success over the airwaves: “Malédiction” and “L'arrivée du tour”. However the album itself did not sell much.
In 1992, he started a long partnership with writer Jean Fauque, for “Osez Joséphine”, an album which also contains some cover of classic Rock such as “Night in White Satin”. His fan base grew and the album sold 350 000 copies. In 1994, he followed up with “Chatterton,” collaborating with Sonny Landreth, Ally McErlaine, Link Wray, Marc Ribot and Stéphane Belmondo. The key single extracted from this album is “Ma petite entreprise.” He started a two-year tour that results in the 1995 live album, “Confessions publiques.”
After recording a duet with Brigitte Fontaine "City" for her album "Les Palaces", Bashung returned to the musical world following a stint acting and in 1998 with “Fantaisie militaire”. While making this album in collaboration with Rodolphe Burger, Les Valentins and Jean-Marc Lederman. He will receive three Victoires de la Musique for the Album in 1999.
In 2002, he released the “L'imprudence” album to further critical acclaim. During the same year, he recorded with his wife, actress and comedian Chloé Mons “le Cantique des cantiques”. They created this title for their wedding in 2001, on a music written by Rodolphe Burger and on the basis a a new translation of the “Cantique des cantiques” from the Bible by the Author Olivier Cadiot.
In 2004, he released live double album “La tournée des grands espaces."
In 2005, for the twentieth Victoires de la Musique, he received an award for the best album of the last 20 years for “Fantaisie militaire.”
In the beginning of 2007, he participates in the tour “Les Aventuriers d'un autre Monde” with Jean-Louis Aubert (Téléphone), Cali, Daniel Darc, Richard Kolinka (Téléphone) and Raphaeël.
In March 2009, he recieved three Victoires de la Musique for his last album "Bleu Pétrol".
He passed away on March 14th, 2009 of complications of metastatic lung cancer.
Hey Joe
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Huh! and that ain't cool
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
Yeah!
Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
Huh, yes I did I shot her
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
And I gave her the gun
And I shot her
Alright
Shoot her one more time again baby!
Yeah!
Oh dig it
Oh alright
Hey Joe,
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Hey Joe, I said
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
I'm goin' way down south
Way down to Mexico way
Alright
I'm goin' way down south
Way down where I can be free
Ain't no one gonna find me
Ain't no hang-man gonna
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
You better believe it right now
I gotta go now
Hey, Joe
You better run on down
Goodbye everybody
Hey hey Joe
The lyrics of Alain Bashung's song "Hey Joe" tell a story of a man, Joe, who is going down to shoot his old lady because he caught her messing around with another man. The lyrics then reveal that Joe also shot his mother down when asked about it by an unknown protagonist. The final part of the song is Joe revealing his plan to run down to Mexico to escape the consequences of his actions. The lyrics, although dark and violent, convey a sense of desperation and a feeling of being cornered.
The song is actually a cover of an American rock song written by Billy Roberts in 1962. The most famous version of the song is by Jimi Hendrix, who popularized it with his 1967 release. It is said that Bashung discovered the song while living in London in the early 80s and was immediately drawn to its powerful and rebellious spirit. In Bashung's version, the lyrics are translated into French but still retain the same powerful and captivating nature of the original.
Interesting facts about "Hey Joe" include that it was the first-ever psychedelic rock song to hit the charts, and it was Jimi Hendrix's breakthrough hit in America. The song has been covered by over 400 artists, including the likes of Cher, The Byrds, and Bob Dylan. Billy Roberts, the original writer of the song, was a Vietnam War veteran who wrote the song as a bit of a dark fantasy after witnessing a violent altercation between a man and his woman in East Los Angeles. The song's infamous line, "Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand?" has become a cultural touchstone in the US and beyond.
Unfortunately, I could not find the chords for Alain Bashung's version of "Hey Joe."
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Where are you going with the gun you are holding in your hand, Joe?
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
Hey Joe, I asked you where you are taking that gun.
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
I am going downstairs to shoot my wife.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
I witnessed my wife cheating on me with another man.
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Yes, I am planning to shoot my wife in revenge for her infidelity.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
I observed that she was having an affair with another man, which feels like betrayal.
Huh! and that ain't cool
This is unacceptable, and it cannot be ignored.
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Hey, Joe, I heard that you killed your mother.
You shot her down now
You pulled the trigger and shot her to death.
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Hey, Joe, I heard that you have shot your wife and she is dead.
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
You fired the gun, and her body is now in the ground.
Yes, I did, I shot her
Yes, I am responsible for what happened, and I did pull the trigger.
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
I saw her betraying me with another man, and that is why I did what I did.
Huh, yes I did I shot her
Yes, I am not denying it, and I admit that I shot her.
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
I apprehended my wife cheating on me with someone else around town.
And I gave her the gun
I provided her with the weapon that caused her death.
And I shot her
And I discharged the firearm that killed her.
Hey Joe, Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Where are you planning to escape to, Joe? Where do you intend to go?
Hey Joe, I said Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Hey Joe, I am asking you directly where you're going to run and what your plans are.
I'm goin' way down south
I am headed to a location far south.
Way down to Mexico way
To be specific, I am going to Mexico, a country located to the south of where I currently am.
I'm goin' way down south
I am going far away down south.
Way down where I can be free
I am running to a location where I can enjoy freedom without any fear of being apprehended or punished.
Ain't no one gonna find me
No one will be able to locate or track me down.
Ain't no hang-man gonna
Even an executioner will not be able to capture me and hang me.
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
He will not be able to put a noose around my neck and execute me.
You better believe it right now
You should fully understand and trust my statements at this moment.
I gotta go now
I must leave immediately.
Hey, Joe You better run on down Goodbye everybody Hey hey Joe
Joe, you better hurry and leave. Farewell, everyone. Goodbye, Joe.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Billy Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tara Russeil
Grand Monsieur ... Je Vous ai vu en concert. .. J'en garde un souvenir inoubliable ... Tout comme Vous l'êtes pour moi ... Ainsi que pour tellement de personnes ... Continuez à enchanter ceux tout la haut ... A jamais dans mon coeur. .. ❤ ...
FELIX ELIPE
👍👍👍👍!!
Tara Russeil
... Merci ... Bien belle soirée ... 🌞 ...
Souldier of Love
Majestueux Alain ! Mes Respects absolus ! La nuit je mens j prends vos tubes à travers ma platine ...
trebor74
Excellent !😂
MezB BOU
Rien à ajouter juste à écouter pour frissonner !!
Jean François MONDEJAR
Hey Alain, Rip. MERCI à toi pour cette version qui est la plus rauque et éraillée de toutes. ✌
Bonnot Véronique
Magnifique interprétation !!!moi qui suis fan de johnny ,je reconnais qu’Alain bashung a sû s’approprier a merveille cette reprise ❤️❤️un grand monsieur qui est parti lui aussi bien trop vite ...je suis sûre qu’à eux deux ,ça doit donner là haut ..😍
Marie pierre Gomis
Une énorme découverte ! Qu'il repose en paix !
Dona Dona
C'est bien vrai il nous manque beaucoup, encore un artiste parti trop vite mais ils faut continuer à les faire vivre à travers leurs chansons, reposez en paix Mr Alain Bashung 🕊️🙏💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐😢😢