Run Joe
Chuck Brown The Soul Searchers Lyrics
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Selling micas behind closed doors
The cops grab Moe and as Joe runs out
Brother Moe he began to shout
Run Joe!
Hey the man′s at the door
Run Joe!
Run Joe!
Run Joe as fast as you can
Run Joe!
These police holding me hand
Hide the crystal ball by the fence
So they won′t find the evidence
Get somebody to tell a lie
Got to have me an alibi
Hurry home and get in your bed
Call the doctor and tie your head
Get somebody to call my bail
Don't want to stay in that fucking jail
Run Joe!
Hey the man's at the door
Run Joe!
Hey man he won′t let me go
Run Joe!
Run Joe as fast as you can
Run Joe!
These police holding me hand
When they take me before the sarge
I am going to deny that charge
When the judge ask me how I plead
Not guilty judge most decidedly
You can see judge at a glance
I′m just a victim of circumstance
Run Joe!
Hey the man's at the door
Run Joe!
Hey man he won′t let me go
Run Joe!
Run Joe as fast as you can
Run Joe!
These police breaking me hand
Ain't your mother done told ya?
Ain′t your mother done scold ya?
Ain't she warned ya before Joe?
If you get caught ya run Joe
Run Joe!
Police catching up to Joe
Joe run to slow
Moe and Joe run the video store
Selling micas behind closed doors
The cops grab Moe and as Joe runs out
Brother Moe he began to shout
Run Joe!
Hey the man′s at the door
Run Joe!
Hey man he won't let me go
Run Joe!
Run Joe as fast as you can
Run Joe!
These police holding me hand
Hide the crystal ball by the fence
So they won't find the evidence
Get somebody to tell a lie
Got to have me an alibi
Hurry home and get in your bed
Call the doctor and tie your head
Get somebody to call my bail
Don′t want to stay in that fucking jail
Run Joe!
Hey the man′s at the door
Run Joe!
Hey man he won't let me go
Run Joe!
Run Joe as fast as you can
Run Joe!
These police holding me hand
When they take me before the sarge
I am going to deny that charge
When the judge ask me how I plead
Not guilty judge most decidedly
You can see judge at a glance
I′m just a victim of circumstance
Run Joe!
Hey the man's at the door
Run Joe!
Hey man he won′t let me go
Run Joe!
Run Joe as fast as you can
Run Joe!
These police breaking me hand
Ain't your mother done told ya?
Ain′t your mother done scold ya?
Ain't she warned ya before Joe?
If you get caught ya run Joe
Run Joe!
Police catching up to Joe
Joe run to slow
The song "Run Joe" by Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers tells the story of two men, Moe and Joe, who run a video store and are involved in selling illegal drugs. When the police come to arrest them, Moe is caught while Joe manages to escape. Throughout the song, Joe is on the run and desperately trying to avoid getting caught by the police.
The lyrics are filled with imagery of a criminal lifestyle, including the hiding of evidence, needing an alibi, and calling for bail. The repeated refrain of "run Joe" highlights the urgency and danger of the situation. Joe is constantly being chased and is at risk of being caught and arrested, which creates a sense of tension and urgency in the song.
One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that they reflect the experiences of many young black men in low-income communities in the United States, who often must resort to illegal activities to make a living. The song depicts the high stakes and constant danger of living a life of crime and the need to constantly be on the run to avoid getting caught by the police.
Line by Line Meaning
Moe and Joe run the video store
Moe and Joe operate a store that sells videos
Selling micas behind closed doors
They are selling small bags of drugs discreetly
The cops grab Moe and as Joe runs out
The police arrest Moe while Joe flees the scene
Brother Moe he began to shout
Moe shouts out to Joe
Run Joe!
Moe urges Joe to escape
Hey the man′s at the door
The police are at the door
Hey man he won′t let me go
The police won't let Moe go
Run Joe as fast as you can
Joe should run away quickly
These police holding me hand
The police are apprehending Moe
Hide the crystal ball by the fence
Put the drugs in a hiding spot
So they won′t find the evidence
This is to avoid getting caught
Get somebody to tell a lie
Create a fake story
Got to have me an alibi
An alibi is necessary to show innocence
Hurry home and get in your bed
Quickly go to bed as if you've been there all night
Call the doctor and tie your head
Fake an injury to prove innocence
Get somebody to call my bail
Find someone to pay for bail
Don't want to stay in that fucking jail
Avoid being in prison
When they take me before the sarge
When taken to the Sergeant
I am going to deny that charge
Deny any accusations
When the judge ask me how I plead
When the judge asks for a plea
Not guilty judge most decidedly
Plead not guilty
You can see judge at a glance
The judge can easily see the innocence
I′m just a victim of circumstance
I am innocent, just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time
Ain't your mother done told ya?
Haven't you been warned?
Ain′t your mother done scold ya?
Hasn't your mother disciplined you?
If you get caught ya run Joe
If caught, run away like Joe did earlier
Police catching up to Joe
The police are catching up to Joe
Joe run too slow
Joe is running too slowly and may get caught
Writer(s): Jordan Louis, Merrick Walt, Willoughby Joe
Contributed by Mila G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.