Deep Purple have had several line-up changes and were broken up for eight years from 1976 to 1984, with drummer Ian Paice being the band's only constant member. The first four line-ups, which constituted the band's original 1968–1976 run, are officially indicated as Mark I (1968–1969), Mark II (1969–1973), Mark III (1973–1975) and Mark IV (1975–1976). Mark I comprised the founding members of Deep Purple, Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Rod Evans (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Paice (drums) and Nick Simper (bass), while Mark II was the most commercially successful line-up, with Ian Gillan and Roger Glover replacing Evans and Simper respectively. Mark III saw David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes replace Gillan and Glover respectively, while Mark IV featured Tommy Bolin replacing Blackmore. The band split in July 1976 and Bolin died from a drug overdose five months later. In 1984, Deep Purple reformed with the Mark II line-up, which remained in place until Joe Lynn Turner replaced Gillan in 1989. Gillan rejoined in 1992, with Blackmore leaving for the second and final time the following year. He was replaced temporarily by Joe Satriani and then permanently by Steve Morse. In 2002 Don Airey replaced Jon Lord, which saw Deep Purple settle into its longest running line-up, unchanged for the next twenty years, until Morse announced his departure from the band in 2022. His place was taken by Simon McBride. Paice, Glover, Gillan, Airey and McBride comprise the current line-up of Deep Purple.
Deep Purple were ranked number 22 on VH1's Greatest Artists of Hard Rock programme] and a poll on radio station Planet Rock ranked them 5th among the "most influential bands ever". The band received the Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards. Deep Purple (specifically Blackmore, Lord, Paice, Gillan, Glover, Coverdale, Evans, and Hughes) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
Hey Joe
Deep Purple Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you going with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe
Now tell me where you going with that gun in your hand
I'm gonna shoot my lady
'cause I caught her messing around with another man
Yes, I'm going down to shoot my lady
'cause I caught her messing around with another man
Hey Joe
I heard you shot your woman down
Hey Joe
I heard you shot your woman down
Right down to the ground
Yes I did I shot her
Yes I did I shot her
I shot my woman 'cause she was messing 'round town
I gave her the gun, I shot her!
Hey Joe
Tell me where you gonna run to now?
Hey Joe
C'mon tell me where you gonna run to?
Don't you worry about me
I'm going way down south
Way down south where I'm gonna be free
I'm going way down south
Way down south maybe outside Mexico way
I'm gonna run, oh yeah
The lyrics to Deep Purple's song Hey Joe describe a man who has caught his woman cheating and has decided to take matters into his own hands by shooting her. The song is sung as a conversation between two men, with one named Joe being questioned about his actions. Joe initially explains that he is going to shoot his lady because he caught her cheating with another man. Throughout the song, Joe is confronted by the other man who questions his actions and tries to persuade him not to follow through with his plan. Joe ultimately shows no remorse for his actions and even boasts about them.
The song, while controversial due to its violent lyrics, explores themes of jealousy, revenge, and consequences. The lyrics illustrate the dark side of human nature and highlight the destructive behaviors that can be fueled by emotions such as anger and jealousy. The song is a commentary on how love and relationships can often bring out the worst in people and shows how our actions have consequences that we may not be able to fully comprehend.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe
Addressing someone called Joe
Where you going with that gun in your hand
Questioning why Joe is carrying a gun
Now tell me where you going with that gun in your hand
Repeating the question for emphasis
I'm gonna shoot my lady
Explaining Joe's intention to kill his girlfriend
'cause I caught her messing around with another man
Giving a reason for Joe's decision to commit murder
Yes, I'm going down to shoot my lady
Confirming Joe's plan to kill his girlfriend
'cause I caught her messing around with another man
Reiterating the reason for Joe's decision
Hey Joe
Addressing Joe again
I heard you shot your woman down
Stating that Joe has already committed the murder
Right down to the ground
Describing the severity of the crime
Yes I did I shot her
Admitting to the murder
I shot my woman 'cause she was messing 'round town
Restating the reason for the murder
I gave her the gun, I shot her!
Claiming responsibility for the murder
Hey Joe
Addressing Joe once again
Tell me where you gonna run to now?
Asking Joe where he plans to go
C'mon tell me where you gonna run to?
Urging Joe to answer
Don't you worry about me
Assuring that Joe is not a threat
I'm going way down south
Explaining Joe's plan to flee south
Way down south where I'm gonna be free
Describing Joe's desire for personal liberation
I'm going way down south
Repeating the plan to flee south
Way down south maybe outside Mexico way
Further specifying the intended destination
I'm gonna run, oh yeah
Expressing Joe's determination to escape
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Billy Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@berrybradley6292
Listening to this, start to finish, is like watching a movie.
@dietergentz2546
Auch nach 54 Jahren noch immer absolut geil...!!!
@combridge1
Hell YES!! In any language!!!
@odb_roc_hound4186
Back in the 80’s one summer night I was in my room at my parents house in upstate NY with the window open, I heard Hey Joe playing, it was a garage band somewhere in the neighborhood. The guitarist started into end solo and was combining Blackmore’s with Jimi’s, he went on for over 30 minutes just wailing away, it was incredible.
@mariskacandice890
🤯
@andymacdonald821
Where are the recording devices when needed….
@patricksantos-io2op
Love the guitar solo Ritchie Blackmore did on this .....so powerful....I'm a punker ,but have always loved Deep Purple and Rainbow.
@PopShoppekid
To me this is the best version of this great song! Jimi 's version is definitely so good also, but Deeo Purple is epic!!
@awaken77
Intro with Spanish melody is killer!
@zlodrim9284
My favorite version of this song, always played it when I was working as a waiter.