Eddie Murphy actually has had an extensive singing career, it's just not his biggest claim to fame. His biggest hit was "Party All The Time," which reached #2 in the US in 1985. He had another Billboard Hot 100 hit single in 1989 with the cringe-inducing title "Put Your Mouth On Me," which reached #27. Besides two solo music albums, he's also done some of the songs in films he's appeared in, such as the Shrek franchise and 1988's Coming to America. He's also provided vocals in odd places like Saturday Night Live sketches ("Wookin' Pa Nub," anyone?), backing for The BusBoys, and hey, even appeared in Michael Jackson's video "Remember The Time."
Murphy began his comedy career at the age of 16, as part of a comedy duo with fellow comedian Mitchell Kyser at the Roosevelt Youth Center in Roosevelt, Long Island, where he grew up. At 19 he became a performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live television show, not long after graduating from Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School. His characters include a parody of Buckwheat from the Little Rascals and an inner-city black version of Fred Rogers known as "Mr. Robinson". Former SNL writer Margaret Humphert has said Murphy and Bill Murray are the two most talented people in the history of the show. Murphy left the show midway through the 1983-1984 season, appearing in filmed sketches for the remainder of that season.
Murphy later starred in many comedies including the Beverly Hills Cop series. He was recognized by receiving a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a comedy or musical for his performances in Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, The Nutty Professor, and most recently Dreamgirls. [1]
He is a well-known voice actor and voiced Thurgood Stubbs in The PJs, Donkey in the Shrek series and the dragon Mushu, in Disney's Mulan. Murphy also has the distinction of having starred in more sequels than any other actor in Hollywood. Those films include:Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Another 48 Hrs. (1990), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), Shrek 2 (2004), and Shrek the Third (2007).
In some of his films, he plays multiple roles in addition to his main character, including Coming to America, where he played four radically different characters, the Nutty Professor films, where he played much of the Klumps clan, and 2007's Norbit. Another trademark of Eddie Murphy's is his deep, infectious, and considerably goofy laugh.
In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted amongst the top 50 comedy acts ever by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. Eddie Murphy's older brother, Charlie Murphy, is also an actor, best known recently for his appearances on Chappelle's Show.
Years active 1977 - present
Hey Joe
Eddie Murphy 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 Eddie Murphy's song "Hey Joe" tell a story of a man who is going to shoot his old lady because he caught her messing around with another man. The man, identified as Joe, justifies his actions by saying that it's not cool for his lady to cheat on him. The song then takes an unexpected twist when Joe reveals that he also shot his mother down, and he did it because he caught her "messin' round town" as well. From here, Murphy turns to a rock and roll-style that is accompanied by guitar, drums, and a bass.
The final verse of the song reveals Joe's escape plan, which is to escape to Mexico where he can be free from prosecution for the crime he has committed. The lyrics imply that Joe is running away from his problems and the consequences of his actions. The song's lyrics can be interpreted as a reflection of modern society's tendency to seek an immediate escape from problems instead of facing them head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Joe, what are you planning to do with that gun you're holding?
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady, you know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
I'm heading down to shoot my wife because I caught her cheating on me with another man
Huh! and that ain't cool
That's not acceptable or righteous.
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down, you shot her down in the ground yeah!
Joe, I heard that you killed your wife by shooting her in the ground
Yes, I did, I shot her, you know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
Yes, I killed her because she was fooling around with other guys in town
And I gave her the gun, and I shot her
I gave her the gun and then I killed her
Hey Joe, where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Joe, where are you planning to escape to now?
I'm goin' way down south, way down to Mexico way
I'm heading down south, all the way to Mexico
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
No one will be able to track me down, and even if they do, they won't be able to execute me for my crime. Believe it.
Hey, Joe, you better run on down, goodbye everybody, hey hey Joe
Joe, you should make a run for it now. Goodbye to everyone, Joe.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Billy Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind