Lyrics
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand
I'm goin' down to shoot my ol' lady
I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my ol' lady now
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
And that ain't too cool
Hey Joe, hey, Joe, I heard you shot your woman down
Hey Joe, hey, Joe, I heard you shot your woman down, baby
He said, "Yeah, I did it, yes I did, I shot her
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man"
Yes I did, I shot her
You know I caught my her messin' 'round with another man
Yeah, and I gave her the gun
Hey Joe, hey Joe
Where you gonna run to, now where you gonna run to now
Hey Joe, hey Joe
Lord, where you gonna run to, now where you gonna run to, baby
I'm goin' way down south, way down south
Way down to Mexico way, yeah
I'm goin' way down south, way down south, baby
Way down where I can be free
Ain't no one gonna mess with me there, baby
Ain't no hang-man gonna
He ain't gonna put a rope, a rope around me, yeah
You better believe it, baby
Hey, Joe, you better run on down, you better
Goodbye everybody
Hey Joe
The Jimi Hendrix Experience 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 mamma 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 Jimi Hendrix Experience's Hey Joe is a song about a man who's going to shoot his woman because he caught her cheating. In the first verse, he announces his intention to shoot his partner, whom he caught messing around with another man. Though the victim in the song is referred to as "old lady," the term functioned as slang for wife or girlfriend. The chorus then accuses the song's protagonist of shooting his mother down, a claim that he admits to in the second verse with identical lyrics. Jimi Hendrix's signature fuzzy guitar riff adds to the song's sinisterness, while the songwriter's haunting voice and lyrics of a man pursuing his own violent sense of justice grants the song an extra layer of chilling atmosphere.
The song is an exploration of domestic violence, which had not been covered in the pop music of the time. By trying to use his weapon to control the woman in his life, the character in the song represents a destructive male figure who has lost his grip on both himself and his partner. As a consequence, "Hey Joe" is an interrogation of masculinity and violence, as well as a condemnation of men who use violence as a form of control. Moreover, the fact that the singer announces his intent to flee to Mexico after slaughtering his lover indicates his knowledge that he is a fugitive, implying that he is indeed guilty of murder.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Joe, where are you heading with that weapon in your hand?
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
Joe, I already asked you, where are you going with that gun in your hand?
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
I am going to shoot my partner.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
I discovered my partner cheating on me with someone else.
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Yes, I am going to shoot my partner.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
I discovered my partner cheating on me with someone else.
Huh! and that ain't cool
That is not okay and is unacceptable.
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mamma down
Hey Joe, I heard you killed your mother.
You shot her down now
You ended her life.
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Hey Joe, I heard you killed your partner.
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
You ended her life and buried her.
Yes, I did, I shot her
Yes, I did kill her.
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
You know I discovered her cheating on me around town.
Huh, yes I did I shot her
Yes, I indeed killed her.
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
You know I caught my partner cheating around town.
And I gave her the gun
And I handed her the weapon.
And I shot her
And I took her life.
Alright
Okay.
Shoot her one more time again baby!
Shoot her once again, baby!
Yeah!
Yes!
Oh dig it
Oh, I get it.
Oh alright
Oh, okay.
Hey Joe, Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Joe, where are you planning to escape to now?
Hey Joe, I said Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Joe, I want to know where you are going to run off to.
I'm goin' way down south
I am heading down south.
Way down to mexico way
To Mexico's southern region.
Alright
Okay.
I'm goin' way down South
I am heading down to the southern region.
Way down where I can be free
To a place where I can be unrestricted.
Ain't no one gonna find me
No one is going to locate me.
Ain't no hang-man gonna
No executioner will
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
Put a noose around my neck.
You better believe it right now
You must acknowledge it right now.
I gotta go now
I have to leave now.
Hey, Joe
Hey, Joe.
You better run on down
It's best if you start running away.
Goodbye everybody
Farewell, everyone.
Hey, hey Joe...
Hey, hey Joe...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AtomicLobotomy
"Jimi Hendrix blazed through our lives like a fireball-supernova that
most likely originated in a black hole in the middle of some uncharted
universe. This was not just some Elvis or Beatle—everything about
Hendrix was otherworldly. He had an understanding of sonics and how they
related to music, which no human had ever conceived before. He was able
to express these non-verbal expressions as blasts of feedback and
warfare emulations; personal, unique grace notes that were apropos for
the times in which he performed. Before his genius reached maturity (he
died at age 27), all that was left were some blinking sparks in the tail
of a once-in-a-lifetime comet. A true alien in his lifetime—now as an
immortal—too much wasted effort is spent by others in trying to
compartmentalize him." From Al Kooper
@vorokovvalery7750
If he is not your favorite guitarist, then he is your favorite guitarist's favorite guitarist, a fact.
@johnes4882
him or Robert Fripp Lol
@BoxingFanaticNumero1
what about Santana ?
@vorokovvalery7750
@@BoxingFanaticNumero1 Santana is great, but sorry, bro, he's around somewhere...
@vorokovvalery7750
@@johnes4882 Without belittling the merits of King Crimson and Robert, Jimmy, I'm sorry, is the first...
@paulchristie3306
@voro. Listen to Roy Buchanan's version of this.
@useth3forceforgood
This is the first song my big brother learned on the guitar. He was a hell of a good player, and a good man. He died a few weeks ago; all I have left of him are memories and music. Thank God for Hendrix, because he’s keeping the past alive for me.
@brittneyking4361
@Jennifer Bittle I’m sorry for your lost.
@useth3forceforgood
Brittney King thank you, I really appreciate that.
@cualquieradeporahi9445
Your Bro was/ is a badass