Liz Green is a Manchester-based singer-songwriter. She was linked to Humble… Read Full Bio ↴Liz Green is a Manchester-based singer-songwriter. She was linked to Humble Soul records. Green won Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition for in 2007.

She includes Shane MacGowan, Blues, Canadian Hip Hop, Anti-folk, Musicals, George Thomas, and Late nights that last until dawn among her influences

It took a while but her first album, "O, Devotion!", finally found its place in the shelves in November 2011 in the UK and January 2012 for the rest of Europe. Now signed to PIAS recordings, she released her second album, "Haul Away!", in April 2014.

Hey Joe
Liz Green Lyrics

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Hey Joe
they say you got it,
say you got it
tougher than the rest.
Hey Joe
they say you got it,
say you got it
tougher than the rest.

But she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out again.
You've heard what they say and you know
she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out again.
Hey Joe they say you stood it,
say you stood it
well beyond its time.
Hey Joe they say you stood it,
say you stood it
well beyond its time.
But she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out again.
You've heard what they say and you know
she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out again.
Hey Joe they say she'll make it
say she'll make it
up to you one day.
Hey Joe they say she'll make it
say she'll make it
up to you one day.
But no! no! and no!
But she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out again.
You've heard what they say and you know
she'll clean you out
she'll clean you out again.
Said she felt just like a fool did
when she she loosed it
when she died
Said she felt just like a fool did
when she she loosed it
did yeah, when she died

yeah when she died
oh yeah when she died

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Liz Green's song "Hey Joe" talk about a man who is tougher than the rest, but he keeps falling for a woman who keeps taking everything he's got. The song repeats the line "she'll clean you out" throughout, emphasizing how the woman in question is a big risk to the man. The lyrics also mention how others have praised the man for standing it and being tougher than the rest in dealing with this woman, but the warnings still stand. In the final stanza, the lyrics shift to the woman's perspective and describe how she feels like a fool for losing it and dying.

The song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about toxic relationships where one person takes advantage of the other. The repeated line "she'll clean you out" underscores the idea that this woman is not to be trusted and poses a danger to the man. Although others may think he can handle her, the risk remains high. Additionally, the final stanza adds another layer to the song by giving insight into the woman's perspective. It's unclear whether the woman in question died literally or figuratively, but it suggests that she too may have suffered from this relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey Joe
Addressing someone named Joe

they say you got it, say you got it tougher than the rest.
Others think you're strong

But she'll clean you out she'll clean you out she'll clean you out again.
Warning that a woman will take everything

You've heard what they say and you know she'll clean you out she'll clean you out again.
Reiterating the warning

Hey Joe they say you stood it, say you stood it well beyond its time.
Others think you're enduring

Hey Joe they say she'll make it say she'll make it up to you one day.
Others say she'll make it up to you

But no! no! and no!
Strongly denying the previous statement

Said she felt just like a fool did when she she loosed it did yeah, when she died yeah when she died oh yeah when she died
Describing the woman's past regret and death

Writer(s): Boudleaux Bryant

Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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