Hey Joe
Noel Redding Lyrics


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Hey Joe!
Where'd ya find that pearly girlie
Where'd ya get that jolly dolly
How did ya rate that dish I wish was mine
Hey Joe!

She's got skin that's creamy dreamy
Eyes that look so lovey-dovey
Lips as red as cherry berry wine
Now listen Joe, I ain't no heel
But oh buddy let me tell you how I feel
She's a honey, she's a sugar pie
I'm warnin' you I'm gonna try to steal her from you
Hey Joe!
Though we've been the best of friends
This is where that friendship ends
I gotta have that dolly for my own.

(Hey Joe!)
(Hey Joe!)

Hey Joe!
Come on let's be buddy buddies
Show me you're my palsy-walsy
Introduce that pretty little chick to me
Hey Joe!

Quit that waitin', hesitatin'
Let me at 'er, what's the matter
You're as slow as any Joe can be
Now come on Joe let's make a deal
Let me dance with her to see if she is real
She's the cutest girl I've ever seen
An' I tell ya face to face I mean to steal her from you
Hey Joe!

We'll be friends until the end
But this looks like the end my friend
I gotta have that dolly for my own




I've gotta have that dolly for my own
(Hey Joe, Hey Joe)

Overall Meaning

Noel Redding's song "Hey Joe" is a playful tune about two friends falling for the same girl. The singer, Joe, has found a girl that his friend desires, and the friend tries to convince Joe to let him have a chance with her. The song opens up with the friend, admiring the girl's beauty and asking Joe where he found her. The friend describes her physical features in a lustful manner, expressing his desire to have her for himself. In the second verse, the friend asks Joe to introduce him to the girl, but Joe is hesitating, and the friend urges him to make a move.


As the song progresses, the friend's desire for the girl becomes more intense, and he tries to persuade Joe to let him dance with her to test if she likes him back. Towards the end of the song, the friend warns Joe that their friendship is at stake if he does not give him a chance to be with the girl. The song ends with the friend determined to have the girl for himself.


Overall, the song is a lighthearted take on the age-old story of two men fighting over the same woman. It highlights the tension and the emotional stakes involved in such situations, but in a playful and humorous way.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey Joe!
Greetings, Joe!


Where'd ya find that pearly girlie
Can you tell me where you found that attractive girl?


Where'd ya get that jolly dolly
Can you tell me where you got that delightful girl?


How did ya rate that dish I wish was mine
How did you manage to get such a desirable girl?


She's got skin that's creamy dreamy
She has soft, smooth and desirable skin.


Eyes that look so lovey-dovey
Her eyes are affectionate and tender.


Lips as red as cherry berry wine
Her lips are as attractive and desirable as cherry-colored wine.


Now listen Joe, I ain't no heel
Joe, I'm not a disloyal person.


But oh buddy let me tell you how I feel
But let me tell you what I think about your girl.


She's a honey, she's a sugar pie
She is really sweet, attractive and desirable.


I'm warnin' you I'm gonna try to steal her from you
I'm letting you know in advance that I'm going to attempt to take her away from you.


Though we've been the best of friends
Even though we have been very good friends.


This is where that friendship ends
This is the point where our friendship ends.


I gotta have that dolly for my own.
I am determined to obtain that girl for myself.


(Hey Joe!)
(Hello Joe!)


Come on let's be buddy buddies
Let's be very friendly with each other.


Show me you're my palsy-walsy
Demonstrate to me that we are very close and intimate friends.


Introduce that pretty little chick to me
Please introduce that attractive girl to me.


Quit that waitin', hesitatin'
Stop taking so long and being so indecisive.


Let me at 'er, what's the matter
Let me approach her - what's the issue?


You're as slow as any Joe can be
You are extremely lethargic.


Now come on Joe let's make a deal
Now let's make an agreement, Joe.


Let me dance with her to see if she is real
Permit me to dance with her to determine if she is genuine.


She's the cutest girl I've ever seen
She is the most adorable girl I've seen.


An' I tell ya face to face I mean to steal her from you
I am directly informing you that I plan to take her away from you.


We'll be friends until the end
We will remain friends until the end.


But this looks like the end my friend
But it appears that this is the conclusion, buddy.


I gotta have that dolly for my own
I must possess that girl entirely.


(Hey Joe, Hey Joe)
(Hello Joe, Hello Joe)




Lyrics Β© DistroKid
Written by: Billy Roberts

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Sam Myers

Classy dude … his bass lines always made perfect sense.

Riff Digger

Not much of Noel playing on YouTube and were lucky to have this. Would have been great just to have a few rounds of Hey Joe just with Noel and the drummer to hear his lines. Noel like Mitch Mitchell both passed away in their 50’s, much too early. Thank you for letting us see this performance. Also Noel would never pack a bass fora gig. He’d just say, β€œI’ll just take a Fender Jazz, thank you.” He also preferred 12” bass speakers as he’d blow up 10’s. His sound? β€œLoud and trebly”. (His words).

S K

And thank you for this nice piece of trivia my good friend

Polyalp

I’m not doubting Noel as being a big piece of historical importance just from being there as part of the Experience but I don’t think his musical influence was significant at all. In fact personally, I think his presence is in part a racist ploy from the record execs. This thought doesn’t include Mitch Mitchell, who was in himself a beast.

Dave Davidson

@Polyalp You heard that Jimi called Billy from England and asked him to be in the original Experience? Billy said no because he didn't think it would fly with two black guys and one white dude.

As for Noel there is a guy around in the Northeast that says he played in his band. I spoke with him maybe 20 years ago. The gig here is in Ithaca NY

FramrodLiggins

@Dave Davidson Mitch said that Jimi wanted Billy from the beginning but Chandler/Jeffrey Management vetoed it...not Billy.
Why would Billy Cox be thinking in such obviously Euro-racist terms. Wouldn't he want the opportunity?
That line of thinking doesn't make sense ...to ME.

Dave Davidson

@FramrodLiggins Dunno they were used to racism. I am repeating Cox's story about not taking the gig originally with the Experience. It's on youtube somewhere.

5 More Replies...

PRE CBS FENDER

I was fortunate enough to see Noel play a double bill back in 68, with his band Fat Mattress and the Experience, he was such a Brilliant musician..

mark beale

Heavy sound...at Monterey festival...1967... brilliant band

DMan

One of England's most underrated bassists

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