Hey Joe
The Leave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said hey Joe where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
I'm going out to find my woman now, she's been runnin' around with some other man
I said I'm going out and find my woman now she's been runnin' around with some other man
Well hey Joe now what are you gonna do?
Well hey Joe tell me what are you gonna do?
Well I guess I'll shoot my woman now, that's what I'll do
Hey Joe tell me where are you gonna go?
Well hey Joe I said where are you gonna go?
Well I guess I'll go down to my place in Mexico
Said I guess I'll go down to where a man can be free
And there ain't gonna be no hangman's ropes put around me
The Leaves' song "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man named Joe who is seeking revenge after discovering that his woman has been unfaithful. The song starts with Joe holding a gun and being asked by the singer where he is going. Joe responds that he is going to find his woman who has been running around with another man. The singer questions Joe's intentions, and asks him what he is going to do once he finds his woman. Joe replies that he is going to shoot her, and possibly also the man she has been seeing.
The song captures the intensity and violence of the situation, but also offers a glimpse into Joe's mindset. He feels betrayed and hurt by his woman's actions, and his response is to seek revenge, even though it will have severe consequences. The line "I guess I'll shoot them both before I'm through" is particularly chilling, as it shows how far Joe is willing to go to assert his dominance and control over the situation.
Overall, "Hey Joe" is a dark and haunting song that portrays the destructive power of jealousy and revenge.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Asking Joe where he is headed while holding a gun.
I said hey Joe where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Repeat of previous line.
I'm going out to find my woman now, she's been runnin' around with some other man
Joe is going to look for his woman who has been unfaithful.
I said I'm going out and find my woman now she's been runnin' around with some other man
Repeat of the previous line.
Well hey Joe now what are you gonna do?
Asking Joe what he plans to do when he finds his woman.
Well hey Joe tell me what are you gonna do?
Repeat of previous line.
Well I guess I'll shoot my woman now, that's what I'll do
Joe plans to shoot his woman for being unfaithful.
I said I guess I'll shoot them both before I'm through
Joe may also shoot the man his woman was with.
Hey Joe tell me where are you gonna go?
Asking Joe where he plans to go after committing the crime.
Well hey Joe I said where are you gonna go?
Repeat of previous line.
Well I guess I'll go down to my place in Mexico
Joe plans to go to Mexico to escape the consequences of his actions.
Said I guess I'll go down to where a man can be free
Joe wants to go to a place where he won't be arrested or punished.
And there ain't gonna be no hangman's ropes put around me
Joe doesn't want to be executed by hanging for his crime.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kilts4u2
For my money, this is still THE best version of this iconic song. Just watching Jim Pons play that Hofner bass is priceless. Ah, those were the days.
@22lyric
I agree!
@howardmarks8647
Spot on!
@ronfisher5259
This was actually the first version of Hey Joe I heard- and YES I love the fast tempo
@laurenholladay
This is my favorite version. I was 10 years old and had the 45 on vinyl.
@danahellerud9259
I don't know if any of the members are alive.....but if they are....Thank you for such great and innovative music. I love and respect the 60's music. The greatest music ever made.
LONG LIVE THE 60'S
@nottavictim5
MW the bass line makes this!!!
@nuwavedave
A guitar hook as groovy as "Satisfaction" and "Day Tripper" - The perfect high-energy Flower Power dance number. If you had a band in 1966-68 and didn't play "Hey Joe" - you just didn't get the gig. That's Jim Pons on lead vocal. Not very long after this show, The Turtles from Inglewood, CA snapped-up Pons for their lineup - and he continued to make Rock 'N' Roll history.
@CosmicXRay
Jim Pons' bass playing is killer....
@BORNdischarged
60’s garage rock really shook the music world up, and I’m glad it did.