Hey Joe
Charlotte Gainsbourg Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe, I said where you going with that gun in your hand

I'm going down to shoot my old lady
I caught her messing 'round with another man

I'm going down to shoot my old lady now
You know I caught her messing 'round with another man
And that ain't too cool

Hey Joe, I heard you shot your woman down
You shot her down now
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
You shot her down to the ground

Yes I did shot her
You know I caught her messing 'round down

Yes I did shot her
You know I caught my her messing 'round down
And I gave her the gun
You shot her

Hey Joe
Where you gonna run
Hey Joe
Where you gonna run

I'm going way down south
Way down to Mexico way

I'm going way down south
Way down where I can be free

Ain't no one gonna mess
He ain't gonna put a rope me





Hey, Joe, you better run on down
Goodbye everybody

Overall Meaning

The song "Hey Joe" talks about a man named Joe who catches his old lady cheating on him with another man. Instead of trying to resolve the issue or leaving her, he decides to grab a gun and go down to shoot her. The lyrics repeat the question "Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand/ I'm going down to shoot my old lady/ I caught her messing 'round with another man." The song progresses to a point where Joe has already shot his lady, and people are warning him that the police are coming so he should run away. He then decides to go to Mexico where he hopes to be free from any punishment for his crime.


The lyrics to this song might appear to be about domestic violence, but according to the song's writer Billy Roberts, it was about someone who is willing to "go down that road" and commit a crime because of a broken heart. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Jimi Hendrix, who made the song famous in 1966, and many other rock bands such as The Leaves, The Byrds, and Deep Purple have also covered it. The song was also used in a Quentin Tarantino movie, "Reservoir Dogs," to bring emphasis to a particularly violent scene.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand
Joe, why are you carrying a gun?


Hey Joe, I said where you going with that gun in your hand
Joe, I am asking you where you are going with that gun


I'm going down to shoot my old lady
I am going to shoot my girlfriend


I caught her messing 'round with another man
I found out she has been cheating on me with another man


I'm going down to shoot my old lady now
I have decided to go and kill her


You know I caught her messing 'round with another man
I caught her cheating on me


And that ain't too cool
I am very angry and hurt about it


Hey Joe, I heard you shot your woman down
I heard that you killed your girlfriend


You shot her down now
You killed her


Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
I heard that you shot your girlfriend


You shot her down to the ground
You killed her


Yes I did shot her
Yes, I did shoot her


You know I caught her messing 'round down
I caught her cheating on me


And I gave her the gun
I gave her the gun before I killed her


Hey Joe
Hey Joe


Where you gonna run
Where are you planning to go?


I'm going way down south
I am running away to Mexico


Way down to Mexico way
Going way down to Mexico


I'm going way down south
I am running away to Mexico


Way down where I can be free
To a place where I can live freely


Ain't no one gonna mess
No one is going to interfere


He ain't gonna put a rope me
I won't be caught by the authorities


Hey, Joe, you better run on down
Joe, you better run away quickly


Goodbye everybody
Goodbye everyone




Contributed by Isabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

liberateyvive Nacho

Impresionante!! Versión que sabe sacar lo mejor del gran clásico!!

808cowbell

This is really good, always thought it was, and it's so cool that they basically expanded this collaboration into a whole album with such success. It's almost strange that no reviews seem to mention this fantastic proof-of-concept at all.

huee™

When you find track after several years and its still good. Damn French scene!;)

Manuel

elegantissima cover!

Kokin San

i love this song man i dont know why is just so peacefull and good

Comiload 2.0

ROMAN REIGNS khe pedo que haces acá hermano xd

Tinisha Searle

Holy moly this is amazing !

Lowri Spooner

love this a lot xx

Marc Marcel

Sehr geiles Cover!!!

Generic White Bitch

Covering Hendrix is like blasphemy but this is decent; got a too cool kinda urban swagger to it so all is kinda forgiven.

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