The Leaves were an American garage band formed in California in 1963. They … Read Full Bio ↴The Leaves were an American garage band formed in California in 1963. They are best known for their version of the song "Hey Joe", which was a hit in 1966. Theirs is the earliest release of this song, which became a rock standard.

Guitarist Bobby Arlin was subsequently in The Hook, while bassist/vocalist Jim Pons also played with Frank Zappa and The Turtles.

Hey Joe Where You Gonna Go?
The Leaves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
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 mama down

You shot her down now
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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Leaves' song Hey Joe Where You Gonna Go? tell a story of a man named Joe who is going to shoot his old lady. The song starts with Joe being asked where he is going with a gun in his hand. He responds by saying that he is going to shoot his old lady because he caught her messing around with another man. He repeats this again, saying it isn't cool. The chorus continues with the singer addressing Joe and saying that he heard he shot his mama down and his lady down in the ground. Joe confirms that he did shoot his old lady and explains that he caught her messing around town.

The song ends with Joe saying that he is going way down south to Mexico where he can be free and no one can find him. He believes that the hang-man won't put a rope around him. The song has a dark and gloomy tone throughout, which leaves the listeners wondering what led the singer to take such a drastic step.

Overall, the lyrics of Hey Joe Where You Gonna Go? tell a narrative of a man who has been betrayed and decides to take the law into his own hands. The song highlights the struggles of human relationships and how they can sometimes cause people to react in irrational and harmful ways.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Asking Joe where he is going with the gun he is holding.

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
Joe is going to shoot his girlfriend since he caught her cheating on him.

Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down You shot her down in the ground yeah! Yeah!
People are aware that Joe has shot his girlfriend, and he did it without hesitation, shooting her dead.

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
Joe admits to shooting his girlfriend because he caught her cheating. He gave her the gun and shot her, showing no remorse.

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
Others are questioning where Joe will go now that he has committed a crime like this. Joe plans to flee to Mexico to avoid punishment.

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
Joe wants to escape to a place where no one knows him and he can live without being judged for his actions. He is confident he will not be caught and punished by the authorities in Mexico.

Hey, Joe You better run on down Goodbye everybody Hey hey Joe
Others are advising Joe to run away far and fast to avoid arrest, and saying their goodbyes as Joe leaves town.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BILLY ROBERTS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@kilts4u2

7y↑33

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

40w↑2

I agree!

@howardmarks8647

14w

Spot on!

@ronfisher5259

11w

This was actually the first version of Hey Joe I heard- and YES I love the fast tempo

@laurenholladay

1y↑17

This is my favorite version. I was 10 years old and had the 45 on vinyl.

@danahellerud9259

7y↑55

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

4y↑9

MW the bass line makes this!!!

@nuwavedave

5y↑6

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

6y↑42

Jim Pons' bass playing is killer....

@BORNdischarged

1y↑12

60’s garage rock really shook the music world up, and I’m glad it did.

@TANTRUMGASM

47w↑1

shook the world up? the leaves ? lolo lolol klol llol nah

@martyacosta2335

2y↑7

I played this song in our garage band back in 1965. I was 10 years old. We played it at the battle of the bands on Cermak Ave in Chicago. I couldn't get the bass lick right so I improvised. I played the first notes right and then I'd run my fingers all over. After we played two older guys approached me praising me on how I played it. I thought they were making fun of me so I went home and learned how to play it correctly. This was imperative since we got offered to play at Lincoln Park Zoo a few weeks later.
I never heard the Jimi version until 1969. My brother Joe was on lead guitar and he was 13. I don't think any of us was older than 13. I never knew who made this verion until today. Had you asked me before who made this song I probably would have guessed, The Shadows of Knight.

@richardlavallee9106

1y↑4

Noel Redding used basically the same bass line with Jimi Hendrix. I heard this original when I was in Germany in 1966 over Pirate Station Radio London & never heard it when I got back to the States. So glad to re-connect here. Thanks everyone.

@annwellington5841

8y↑147

Garage Psychedelic bands like this changed my life at 16. It made all the difference in the world!

@gordonfitterer4660

7y↑4

me too

@chinto50

5y↑3

at 13 our garage band played its first gig... the local park . LOL.. we played for 6months using a garbage can for a tom tom.. thanks to our parents who put up with our playing every saturday " all day" in our garage..

@CosmoLupertazzi

Yeah, I was in a few, and we ALWAYS did this song. I remember a different, shall we dare say better version of it by the Leaves. Tim Rose had the best, earliest version IMHO. Give it a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Fe1kR-xvw

@docsavage8640

Neither garage nor psychedelic here.

@1950Grendel

47w↑3

The song had been around since the 1950's. The first recording was by Billy Roberts in 1962 (available on YT) and it's the version that Hendrix virtually copied, except with an electric guitar and his own solo. This is the first rock version, the one that almost every garage band plays.

@mikestang679

4y↑51

Every garage cover band played this one, along with The Seeds "Pushin' too hard" ......those were the good olde days!!!

@photonotavailable7936

4y↑7

mike stang Plus Gloria, The Last Time, etc.

@ThePowerpointMaster

3y↑1

Bo Diddley

@ludannelasyvyus1824

3y↑1

Yes, I was playing bass in a few "garage" bands back in the day, at 14 y.o.
I even had a violin shaped EKO Bass.
I think the Leaves bassist has a Höfner

@rasjjmitchell7977

2y↑5

Man, they sure were the days, man. Every band HAD to play Hey Joe, Gloria, and Dirty Water, they were our "Standards"!

@mikestang679

2y↑2

@@rasjjmitchell7977 Right on, bro, those "standards" were mandatory, the crowds demanded them, I remember "Talk, talk" being requested an olde Box Tops tune...😄😁😄😄

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@bconigliaro

5y↑3

My friend Mitch McCombs worked as a short-order cook in a bar with a guy named Joe. From his first day on the job, McCombs was just waiting for his chance to say, "Hey, Joe, where you goin' with that bun in your hand?"

@gotrottin

6y↑14

When I was a kid The Leaves would rehearse across the street at Ken Handler's house, who was their manager at the time and the Husband of Barbara Handler who's parents owned Mattel. Ken's wife Barbara was Barbie of the Barbie Doll.As I recall, Ken Handler was not the Ken, it was Barbara's brother Ken.

@rolo1955

9y↑73

This the version I remember coming from my 9 volt transistor radio and from my dads 1962 Impala!

@lightninbob1

9y↑1

+Isaac Tanis 63, but you were close.

@WytZox1

8y↑5

+John Afella ~>; When Mom and Dad were watching Tonight Show on TV us kids were tuned into Top 40 AM Radio! ☺

@videomaniac108

7y↑10

FA Barragan Me too on my little 9v pocket transistor radio in 1965, listening to top 40 AM rock on WLS in Chicago.

@rtsi2000

5y↑3

@John Afella I snuck my Arvin 9 volt transistor radio with an ear plug to bed many a night

@MrDonsullivan

John Afella LOL, sounds like we were brought up in the same house.

@Margaret1448

4y↑5

They played my high school (Canoga Park H.S. in the San Fernando Valley) and all my dumb Yearbook says about it was, "They left..."
I thought they were GREAT!!! :D

@benhallums2951

3y↑4

THIS AIRED IN B&W ON THE NEW AMERICAN BANDSTAND 1966 ON ABC-TV USA SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

@m10bob22

4y↑4

Every block in suburbia had a garage band in 1965-67....and this song was a standard of all of them.

@normanwitt4692

35w↑2

Often imitated never duplicated. Best version of Hey Joe.

@AsAngelsSing

10y↑211

60's garage punk doesn't get much better than this!

@93KHJBOSSRADIO

6y↑1

I So Agree!

@strengthandbulkfitness5586

6y↑4

Yup, sounds like punk but not on purpose.

@jorchdatorch842

5y↑1

I wish it would though. If this is the best then this is my last time looking it up. Sad.

@rullmourn1142

5y↑13

@@jorchdatorch842 try 13th floor elevators.

@dimitriostsougkranis3232

4y↑1

Ignorance

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@coolmamac

16y↑20

Right on man. This was the one I loved. Every rock band of the period played the this version.

@michaelromine7195

3y↑3

71 an still love 60's an70's music great time in America wish the world was like that nowadays

@ctranger

12y↑26

I have been looking for this original version of this song for the past 45 years. Thank you.

@alex-mo2wh

4y↑4

This isn’t the original tho

@brianw338

4y↑1

Joe Mama :
What is ? Or, who did original ?

@jreedmx40

@@brianw338 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmrGOXJMQj0

@brianw338

@@jreedmx40 : Oh cool. Thank you for providing the link. I love the history.

@insanelook

@@jreedmx40 no, this is still a cover, this is the original first version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEK2EDqxpcY

4 More Replies...

@Iambigdaa

1y↑2

Yes, yes I remember this version after like 50 YEARS!!!!!!!!😆

@hamilton59840

13y↑9

This song was also covered by THe ByRDs at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, with David Crosby on lead vocal. After The Leaves folded by the end of 1966, bassist Jim Pons joined The Turtles in mid-1967(following the departure of Chip Douglas), and later joined Mark "Flo" Volman and Howard "Eddie" Kaylan in Frank Zappa's band, The Mothers Of Invention after The Turtles disbanded in 1970.

@lonnieanderson4233

3y↑3

Got this 45 back 1966 from a record pack that had 10 45 rpm records for a dollar. Most other records in the pack were junky but a couple like this song was great

@idrivea9119

10y↑2

Glad to find this. I never would have gotten the link between this song and Zappa by only listening to the Jimi version.

@trextrextrex

2y↑6

Simply the best version

@jayuihlein1664

2y↑8

Awesome band, awesome drummer, great song. Long live the 60's! Rock on!

@chriscampbell9191

46w↑6

Killer version. The energetic singing, the trebly, biting lead guitar (a la Townshend), punchy bass lines -- compared to Hendrix's version it's like Hey Joe on speed, in a good way. And this one didn't get much airplay. It was that lost gem that only got rediscovered by garage and psych music fans when it was put out on Nuggets.

@brucegibbins3792

47w↑4

I like how the bass track has been mixed good and loud, almost as the bottom end has become the lead instrument - very cool.

@satanicondevil

2y↑3

My name's Joe, so I occasionally had a kid or two in high school sing this to me or at me!

@geofbrit59

15y↑3

This is right up there with 'Louie Louie'. Every garageband in the 1960's did this song.

@zvjzik

4y↑2

I was privileged to see The Leaves live at the Santa Monica High School Auditorium way back in 1960-something. It was cool watching them Live when Hey Joe first hit the charts. I haven't thought about that for years. Amazing to see this video, brought back great memories.

@mykllee3

1y↑2

Simply the best. So raw, so good.

@wjmartinmusicman

11y↑2

Can not believe that I found this original version of this old 60's song that Jimi Hendrix made famous. So glad that you posted this.

@alskii7

13y↑29

This was the first version of Hey Joe that I heard. It and Hendricks version are my favorite 2 of who knows how many covers have been done. Comparing this version to Jimi's is like comparing an apple to an orange. They're both different interpretations and outstanding in their own right. Thanks for posting this video, Verdiez!

@jameskinkland3215

14w

You might want to check out the HAZZARDS version from Richmond VA.

@davidotness6199

3y↑9

I remember this like yesterday. That bass line break is killer. Good singing too.

@retrorex

16y↑5

Hey, I didn't know there were 2 lead singers on this! They both sound so much alike, I thought it was just one guy. I bought this single when it first came out in '66 and still have it, but have never "seen" The Leaves until tonight. THANKS for posting this!

@braddeniston643

2y↑1

Camera man didn’t know either 😂

@robertgraham4517

15w↑1

We loved this song back in the day .. I played bass part in a few bands .. Iconic part was the bass work

@photonotavailable7936

4y↑3

Heard this many times on the Big 11-10, KRLA Pasadena, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

@ronmorgan8214

3y↑1

true, before FM became a thing

@Davilow

10y↑54

Billy Roberts made a few changes to a 1955 song called 'Baby, Please Don't Go to Town' that was written by his ex-girlfriend Niela Miller. Roberts then changed the title to 'Hey Joe' and had it registered for copyright in 1962.

@lamper2

6y↑10

good smart valuable historical contribution!

@kitcat4650

5y↑9

Billy's original 1962 copyrighted version had a first verse:
1) Hey Joe, where you going with that money in your hand,
I'm chasing my woman, caught her messin with another man,
Goin down town, gona get me a .44.
Anyway this was done from memory, as I was in some local bands at the time, & some one in the group bothered to look this up. So a few locals thru this verse in the front of the song.

@MrDonsullivan

4y↑2

Davilo Olivad This is Niela claim. I’ve heard her song. There’s a similarity but in my opinion two different songs. She should take her claim to court, I’m sure the royalties are considerable for this song.

@johnmullins2113

Correct.

@lauranceemory4448

we played in the basement, but yeah, ya got that right

@williedunaway

4y↑3

This is the greatest garage rock song ever.

@ThePoppy4u

14y↑52

still the BEST version...and i saw everybody do it live.

@ophiolatreia93

4y↑1

Really?

@ophiolatreia93

4y↑2

@Justice Boofer erm no.... The majority of the world is below 70 don't you know...

What an arrogant statement

@ophiolatreia93

4y↑1

@Joanna d'Arc it's not the original version. The circle of 5ths chord progression may have been lifted from that but the lyrics and style of song is totally different.

It was written by Billy Roberts originally. Then Tim Rose gave it a bit more of a cool sound that hendrix used..

@ophiolatreia93

@Justice Boofer you mean not seeing hendrix? Agreed

@insanelook

@Joanna d'Arc exact.

@tambyrlane

9y↑216

My favorite version of this song. It almost goes off the rails. The bass is is killer.

@daveshultz7765

9y↑6

+tambyrlane I agree! It was one of my favorite songs of the 60's. Cool to see it was remade later. Just too bad it was Hendrix who did it.

@ludannelasyvyus1824

6y↑1

It looks like a HOFNER "Beatle" bass. That and a similar looking violin shaped made by EKO were seen in MANY such groups in those years. Also it has been said that RAIN was one of the 1st songs to have the bass prominent in the mix. Though, the Hofner bass in this Hey Joe track is definitely prominent & dominant in the mix. Hofner & Rickenbacker with Dinio, Desi & Billy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgeKiTGs1dU

@93KHJBOSSRADIO

6y↑2

I couldn't agree more! My Fave also!

@tulsydevi

tambyrlane Me too

@thomasneville9456

6y↑6

The best version. They put a spin on this song no one else could hit. Even Hendrix.

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@ronluckenbach9492

9y↑17

First version I heard as a kid ...we had a garage band...I bought the 45 ...we learned the song and started to open our sets with it even though we were primarily an originals band.
The frenetic vocals of The Leaves bass player were mimicked very well by my bro...
Our audience always just loved that song.

@mistertomasP

15y↑3

I remember this version from when I was in 7th grade. It was the coolest song on A.M. radio. There was no F.M. back then. Thanks for posting!!

@lawrencerasmus

14y↑1

I had the original 45 demo. I got it from a girl I met at the Pike in Long Beach California. Wish I still had it. Our band and every other Garage band did this song. Those where the days

@titostacos

15y↑9

This is the version I used to hear on KHJ Boss radio back in the sixties.

@alzenno4333

Tina Delgado is alive!!!

@monkeeman1966

14y↑3

From the spring of 1966! It's Boss!

@loungerenownrecords

12y↑6

Great song!!This has always been my favorite version of the song.Euphoric and electrifying!! I have this album in my vinyl record collection.

@dlagrua

3y↑11

This was the only version of Hey Joe that ever hit the billboard top 30. It was the most energetic performance of this song in the mid 60's. The singer/bass player Jim Pons later went on to become a sportscaster.

@jimiscnc3750

27w↑2

i think pons taped ny jets football practice at hofstra university for a few years?

@Joeage

18w↑1

Jim Pons left the Leaves and joined the Turtles when the Turtles bass player, Chip Douglas, quit to go produce the Monkees. Pons was with the Turtles from 1967 to 1970 when the Turtles broke up over various legal issues. Mark Volman and Howard Kayland joined Frank Zappa and became the core of Zappa's comedy music period. During the filming of Zappa's movie, 200 Motels, the bass player, Jeff Simmons, quit and Jim Pons joined Zappa's band and was re-united with Volman and Kaylan. In December of 1971, Zappa's band was playing at a casino in Switzerland which caught fire and burned down becoming the basis for Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water. The fire destroyed all their instruments. Uncharacteristically, Zappa had the band vote on whether to rent instruments and continue their tour or end the tour early. The band voted to play on. Only about one week later at the Rainbow Theatre in London, some delusional "fan" got on stage and pushed Zappa into the orchestra pit inflicting very serious injuries and jeopardizing his career if not his life. The band disbanded since Zappa was going to be out of commission for a while. After working with various bands for a couple of years, Jim Pons left the music industry and took a job with the New York Jets. He held various jobs with the Jets including assistant equipment manager, film and video director. He retired in 2000 and now lives in Florida.

@michaelcummingsherrera1232

3y↑1

Brings back memories of dancing to this song beaucoup times back in the Summer of 1966. There was a park in TO with a rec center where the dances were held. Casey Kasem used to host them.

@HHHBASSMAN

16y↑4

This came out in the spring of 1966, it topped out at #11 in Chicago in July, every garage band in the city immediately learned it. Hendrix's version was a shock to me but I eventually got to like it too.

@auletjohnast03638

5y↑6

THE GUY DOING THE SECOND PART OF THE LEAD VOCALS AND PLAYING THE TAMBOURING IS GENE CLARK OF THE BYRDS.

@jim9637

5y↑3

He does resemble Gene but that is not him, sorry.

@kenw6161

Good information!

@noway2day1

13y↑5

I am only expressing what I know. The " Leaves " whoever they were , recorded it first. Hendix did it his rendition, and it blew me away. I love both versions .

@glennabaker3922

34w↑1

Wow!!! Love It! Sounds like the real beginning of Punk Rock!!

@garymorell6924

43w↑1

This always got a lot of play time on the high school cafeteria juke box back in the day .

@93KHJBOSSRADIO

8y↑53

Of all the Hey Joe's this version by the Leaves, was the first original record that made it to # 1 in Los Angeles, & # 31 on Billboard.....selling the most singles making it the highest chart buster & making it the most successful & popular version of the song!

@chinkadero

6y↑2

Thanks for that killer info! I played drums with Bobby many years later in San Diego doing really cool hip bar / club gigs. He was relentlessly cool and fun.

@nsc217

5y↑1

biff van arsdale I think Jimi’s version IS more successful

@MrDonsullivan

4y↑3

nsc217 Jimi’s is probably the version most people know. But it was his first released song and didn’t chart well at all.

@roryhalfyard8876

4y↑3

You goons, its not about the charts, Jimi didnt give a fuck about the charts, he just wanted to do what he loved and play music, who the fuck cares about charts and shit, you like whatever you like, Just because something doesnt hit the charts doesnt mean that its garbage, just means the general public likes to follow like sheep

@photonotavailable7936

biff van arsdale #1 on The Big 11-10, KRLA Pasadena.

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@pizmopier

15y↑1

I saw them play at the Rose Garden in Pismo Beach in 1965 - awesome!

@Lighthawk1000

5y↑37

Never knew Jimmi did this as a cover. But, his soulful rendition is unforgettable.

@BritIronRebel

5y↑4

Billy Roberts wrote this song & wasn't given credit for it for some time (after lawyers got involved). Dino Valenti (of Quicksilver Messenger Service) attempted to steal the composer's rights to it after hearing Billy Roberts play it while Dino was in prison for pot. Billy Roberts original version sounds much more like Hendrix's version.

@SteveT__001

@@BritIronRebel which is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PziiNzFWZog&ab_channel=Ikerbustovillate

and the simpler original demo is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmrGOXJMQj0&ab_channel=StephenDorianKutos

@davekeller6597

1y↑1

That's funny because I just heard the Billy Roberts original version and it sounded just like Hendrix' version. But this one, which I heard a clip of as a child in a commercial for some record collection of college fraternity hits from the 60's, sounds totally different. And that was before I had even heard of Hendrix' more famous version.

@davidhamm5626

1y↑1

I am pretty sure that Arthur Lee and Love , did it before Jimi....slightly quicker than his version.......

@user-rv6ru9oz5e

49w↑1

Absolutely awful version, playing upbeat quintessential mod rock, while just hollering away at the mic. Thank goodness Billy Roberts got copyright credit and Jimi Hendrix made it famous.

@gregdavidson5898

3y↑6

Jim Pons on killer bass and vocals later to be in the Turtles and then Zappa and the Mothers.

@kiltedwolf2

2y↑1

His was a fun ride to say the least. He couldn't read music when he joined Frank Zappa's band. The piano player would write the bass lines and Jim would improvise. As much as a musical taskmaster as Frank was, it's amazing that he was able to fanagle his way by. When he left the Mothers, somehow he found his way to NYC and by accident, became the videographer for the NY Jets. That lasted for over a decade. He met a Dr and moved with her to Jacksonville, Fla where he lives today.

@93KHJBOSSRADIO

12y

Great Blog! I think Hey Joe by the Leaves made the top 5 in L.A. in mid-May 66! The Leaves did my favourite version of Hey Joe!

@Yaos_fit

11y↑2

why can't music be as good as this anymore ..

@Johns805

9y↑3

heh. I've dug (LOL!) that tune ever since it came tinning out.of my transistor radio...50 years ago? ouch! :)! I notice the audience just sits there and claps....even if I was the only embarrassed dancing fool, I'd be demolishing the dance floor with that one.....what a rockin' gem!

@normanbaratelli4651

4y↑20

DEFINITELY one of the best interpretations of this classic.

@jimwalker1683

2y↑2

Sorry. No way. Just a bunch of noise and singing in the wrong key. And smiling on tragic lyrics, terrible

@eudymaverickmentor

Probably the best interpretation.

@richarddelgado2723

19w

@@jimwalker1683I agree and then I disagree… You’re right in that it was pretty rambunctious 😖… 😀☝️ But at the same time it had some potential… It seemed that they needed to learn how to play with some control … If they did that then version might have turned out better…
It does employ the familiar ascending bass line that Hendrix would use in his famous version So it can’t be all that bad…..

@jamro217

3y↑3

That is the most unusual bass tone ever. A cranked Hofner. Well done, Jim!

@jackempson3044

6y↑3

It was nuts! Sometimes it's fun just to hear raw music like that.

@MicrophonicFool

8y↑15

That is fucking fantastic.

@DerGlaetze

12y↑1

It was played in all the garage bands here in the San Gabriel Valley too. I'm talking about the "Battle of the Bands" action that was going on, back then. Remember them? There was always one going on in Covina, in a big open warehouse, on Azusa Avenue. Those were fun times.

@93KHJBOSSRADIO

13y↑1

Ok We All Agree 1,000's Of People Recorded HEY JOE.........But To Me THE LEAVES Had The VERSION That Stood Out Most---In My Mind.........Amen............Punk 4-Ever

@bigbasil1908

1y↑1

No wonder Hendrix liked this song. The Leaves did a great job with this song. I can see why he was inspired by them

@hamilton59840

9y↑10

The gentleman on the left in the band is Jim Pons
before he left and added his services with The Turtles
(following Chip Douglas's departure).

@seeuonline

8y↑2

+Billy Angus- Jim also was in Frank Zappa's band after the Turtles and in 1972 he went to work forthe New York Jets setting up their first videotaping system of their games and practices. He moved to Jacksonville, Fl. in the 90's where he worked with the Jaguar football team doing similar camera work. He has since retired and currently plays in a blue grass group. .

@kilts4u2

7y↑1

Good to see that Jim is still alive and kickin'. You too.

@flinkinyc

Any idea what happened to John Beck, the singer of The Leaves?

@briannewell6064

8y↑60

Apparently the cameraman didn't make rehearsal.

@ricocruz4196

7y↑3

I know! He pretty much misses the singing (lip synced), guitar "solo" (not), and the bass runs. But it was the 60's so i guess it's pretty cool we even have film of it.
Also, Electric Prunes. Really? That's the best they could come up with : )

@brianw338

@Brian Newell:
Yeah no shit. Frustrating as hell.

@kathleen3177

5y↑6

Love this and Jimi's versions-- I have the 45 of this one

@Bloomfield246

9y↑5

The number of groups who have recorded this song is almost endless. I still think this is the best version. The two other slightly different versions by the Leaves are also great.

@ellentravers7889

I first heard the Leaves do this number when I was 15. Every garage band across America added it to their repertoire and it was one of my favorite tunes from the era. It was powerful, hard rocking and just driven, with that distinctive bass line and rhythm guitar. I realize today it sounds rough, but that's part of the charm. I wish all of you could have heard this version, as I did, with virgin ears. It was like nothing that had come before. I loved the later Hendricks version, as well as the Byrds' version, but this is still my favorite.

@Patriot-oi7mj

1y↑2

The band Love also recorded a version of this song in 66.

@DerGlaetze

4y↑6

This song just cranks! Badass all the way. Primordial Punk!

@benhallums2654

8y↑3

THE LEAVES' Hey Joe Hits THE Billboard HOT 40 Chart on 6/18/1966 for 4 Weeks at No. 31 on MIRA RECORDS.

@markdavid294

8y↑12

These guys were 60s bad asses.

@alanmartin5119

2y↑2

This one has ENERGY 🎉

@martindowney8737

1y↑1

This speaks of love.

@lendlkaiser3622

5y↑2

This is the first band I heard this song ,back in the 60s it was haunting then and still is!

@romankalyniuk2596

2y↑2

First time I ever heard this song was in 1965 by the Leaves. Never heard a better bass line in any other version.

@SagebrushBands

Cool! I've been looking for this version since the 70s. Now I'm in my 70s!

@tonyrossDCPL

10y↑7

Point of clarification in response to many commenters who seem to be asserting this is the "original" version of "Hey Joe" -- The Leaves were the first to record the song, but they didn't write it -- it had been around around 3-5 years and played live by numerous bands before their recording. Just exactly who "wrote" it and what elements were used from earlier country, traditional, and R&B songs is a matter of great debate.

@ronmorgan8214

copywrited in 1962--billy roberts

@DerGlaetze

12y↑2

One of the very first punk anthems and pure gold.

@oakchar

15y

I love Jimi Hendrix. I really do. And this may sound like heresy but "Hey Joe" by the Leaves is the best. This version rocks! I'm happy that this is on YouTube and I'm happy that two hundred people commented on this. Keep listening to '60s music. It's the best!

@karmices

13y↑1

The Leaves were the hottest thing in LA in 1965-1966, even bigger than the Byrds. The Rolling Stones opened for The Leaves! The Leaves version is my second favorite behind the Standells version, another great LA band.

@schuberttim

32w↑1

As much as Jimi Hendrix's version is liked, this version blows it away. It's simply kickass rock. THIS is where punk rock started.

@vettefan87

13y↑1

THIS is the version is was looking for. I new someone had done a faster version of this song than Hendrix or Deep Purple.

@nachodaddy

10y↑3

the best version, period. & Jim Pons is/was quite a talent. last I heard, he was playin' upright bass with a bluegrass band in Florida.

@petermarquard5107

He does video work for the New York Jets football team these days. Made a career change somewhere along the line.

@AmericanIsraeliJew

6y↑1

I like this version of Hey Joe the best!

@Aldebaron9

14y↑2

This is History !! The Sensational...LEAVES !!!

@libraryquiet

15y↑2

This is great. I like the way they sing it. In that hurry up broken way. Very original.

@robertbenfield5355

2y↑1

love this - thanks fo
r posting

@Raptorizor

WOW....never knew of this version....only cud always tell Hendrix was not the writer ! ...He WAS awesome...but did he ever write any of his own stuff ?? ...This is ABSOLUTELY the earliest TRUE PROTO-PUNK I ever heard....spectacular !

@gerrygreene6354

9y↑15

Saw the Leaves at the Whiskey. Hey Joe was terrific. They shared the bill with Beau Brumble's another day in LA.

@Beatle849

That must have been one hell of a show.

@Stratmanable

6y↑1

It's the Beau BRUMMELS, idiot.

@petercrowl9467

6y↑2

Upvote except for the unnecessary "Idiot"

@lowe-quay-shush

1y↑1

Why aren't they more well know? Tower of sound! Love how the younguns' are of all races just grooving to 'Hey Joe'!

@michaelellingson9282

5y↑1

LOVE the Leaves ! ... the best version

@muffs55mercury61

1y↑3

Ahead of it's time for mid-1966. One of early ones to depict violence. Still a fairly moderate hit reaching #31. The guitar and bass are terrific here.

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