The group initally formed to compete in the National Campus Band Competition in 1997. Temperley and Quartermain were already in a band at the time, Freud's Pillow, but had met with little success and asked Temperley's childhood friend MacLeod to form a new band, which became Eskimo Joe. The band ended up winning the competition prize: a slot at the 1997 Livid Festival and a session in a studio to record their first EP, Sweater. The title track became so successful on national broadcaster Triple J, it gained much airplay and featured in the Hottest 100 of 1998. A second EP Eskimo Joe followed up in 1999.
Later in 1999, Eskimo Joe was signed on to Modular and in 2001, their debut album Girl, which went gold. After splitting with Modular, they signed a new contract with Mushroom in 2002, releasing sophomore album A Song is a City in 2004. The album went double-platinum and earned the group Best Artist the following year.
Settling down for six weeks over Christmas in 2005, the noticeably darker album Black Fingernails Red Wine, was recorded and released the following June, debuting at number one on the ARIA charts and later going platinum. The band (jokingly) described the album as their "stadium rock" record and headed out on extensive touring around the country, including a stint at Live Earth in Sydney.
The band eventually went on to tour the globe, with trips around the US and Europe, before recording their fourth album, Inshalla, in Byron Bay. The album was released in May 2009 and topped the charts at number one in the ARIA album charts. It explores a very different sound for Eskimo Joe, with lead singer Temperley saying the band were a stage where they wanted to do something different musically and also in their personal lives.
Hey
Eskimo Joe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been trying to meet you
Hey
Must be a devil between us
Or whores in my head
Whores at my door
Whores in my bed
But hey
If you go, i will surely die
We're chained
'Uh' said the man to the lady
'Uh' said the lady to the man she adored
And the whores like a choir
Go 'uh' all night
And mary ain't you tired of this?
Uh
Is
The
Sound
That the mother makes when the baby breaks
We're chained
The lyrics of Eskimo Joe's song Hey reflect a person's tumultuous mindset over their inability to connect with someone they are looking for. The first line, "Been trying to meet you," suggests that it has been an ongoing journey to meet someone, but the singer is struggling with the idea that there may be something sinister preventing them from connecting - "Must be a devil between us." The subsequent lines, "Or whores in my head, whores at my door, whores in my bed," further expand on the idea that perhaps the singer is grappling with their own demons and self-doubt, leading to difficulties in finding love or meaningful connections.
Despite the singer's internal struggles, he longs for this person who he has been trying to meet, "Hey, where have you been? If you go, I will surely die," indicating that this person is incredibly important to him. However, the chorus of the song "We're chained" suggests that perhaps there are factors outside of just the singer's own mind that are preventing him from being with this person.
The bridge of the song introduces a moment of intense emotion, where a man and woman exchange "Uh" sounds, almost like an unspoken language. This exchange of sound is juxtaposed with the "whores like a choir" who continue with their own sounds in the background, which reflects a striking contrast between a genuine connection and superficial relationships. The song ends on a somber note, with the sound of a baby crying in the background, perhaps symbolizing new beginnings or a fresh start.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
Expressing an urgent desire to talk
Been trying to meet you
Making attempts to see and meet the person
Hey
Repeating the desire to talk
Must be a devil between us
Blaming something for keeping the two people apart
Or whores in my head
Speculating that there might be unsavory thoughts affecting judgment
Whores at my door
Suggesting that bad influences might be in proximity
Whores in my bed
Admitting that impulses might have led to impure relationships
But hey
Despite all of that, still expressing a desire to connect
Where have you been?
Asking the person about their whereabouts
If you go, i will surely die
Suggesting that losing that person would be catastrophic
We're chained
Feeling trapped or bound to the circumstances
'Uh' said the man to the lady
Using nonsensical sounds to express affection
'Uh' said the lady to the man she adored
Responding in kind to the nonsensical sounds
And the whores like a choir
Highlighting the background noise made by negative influences
Go 'uh' all night
Imagining unpleasant sounds continuing indefinitely
And mary ain't you tired of this?
Asking Mary if she is exhausted by the situation
Uh
Continuing to use nonsense words to convey emotions
Is
Questioning what the root problem of the situation is
The
Definite article emphasizing the puzzling question
Sound
Imagining hearing a noise
That the mother makes when the baby breaks
Associating the sound with something maternal and infant-related
We're chained
Repeating the feeling of being stuck or confined
Writer(s): Charles Thompson
Contributed by Elijah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
megan873
My favorite song sung by my favorite band. Life is good 🥰
Kelly Merkel
I love the Pixes. A cover very well done i have to say. Eskimo Joes 1st album is the best i think.
Angus Daley
Man, this is awesome. Great cover of one of the PIxies best.
Tamayah rose
*Shivers* ..... Why have I not seen this before??? OMG Kav' is there nothing you can't do? It is blatantly clear to me now why Eskies are on top of my list! You guys never cease to amaze me... Rock On! x
fruitcheese333
Thanks for this. My favourite Like A Version ever. It's actually what got me on to the Pixies.
Control Oz
Well, that’s offensive
fruitcheese333
@Control Oz ?
MusicGirl
This song is awesome! its been stuck in my head all day! ROCK ON ESKIMO JOE!
Control Oz
Listen to the pixies original
bobdesi
the best cover on youtube hands down