Hey Joe
B. Roberts/B. Thibault Lyrics
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Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand? (all right)
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I cought her messin' around with another man, yeah
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' around with another man
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your woman down, you shot her down now
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your old lady down, you shot her down in the ground, yeah
Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I cought her messing around, messing around town
Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I cought my old lady messing around town
And I gather the gun
I shot her
The song "Hey Joe" by B. Roberts and B. Thibault is a classic example of a murder ballad, a genre of music known for its dark and violent themes. The song opens with the singer, Joe, being asked where he is going with a gun in his hand. He responds by saying that he is planning to go down and shoot his old lady because he caught her cheating on him with another man. The lyrics then repeat this intention, with Joe emphasizing that he is not cool with his partner's infidelity.
As the song progresses, Joe is confronted with the repercussions of his actions. He is asked if he actually shot his woman down, and he admits to doing so because of her infidelity. The lyrics don't offer any moral judgment on the act of murder, instead presenting it as a fact of life that happens when love goes wrong.
Overall, "Hey Joe" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the complex emotions of jealousy and betrayal. Its sparse instrumentation and simple tune allow the lyrics to shine through and deliver a potent message about the consequences of infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Asking why Joe is carrying a gun
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand? (all right)
Reiterating the question about why Joe has a gun
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Explaining that Joe is going to shoot his wife
You know I cought her messin' around with another man, yeah
Stating that Joe caught his wife cheating on him
And that ain't too cool
Expressing that infidelity is not acceptable
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your woman down, you shot her down now
Asking if Joe really did shoot his wife
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your old lady down, you shot her down in the ground, yeah
Repeating the question about Joe shooting his wife
Yes, I did, I shot her
Admitting to shooting his wife
You know I cought her messing around, messing around town
Explaining why Joe shot his wife
And I gather the gun
Confirming that Joe had the gun with him when he shot his wife
I shot her
Finalizing that Joe shot his wife
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Billy Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind