Hey Joe
The Music Machine 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 mama 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 Music Machine's "Hey Joe" is a rock song that tells the story of Joe, who is on his way to shoot his old lady after finding out that she was cheating on him with another man. In the first stanza, Joe tells the person who asked him where he is going that he is going to shoot his old lady because he caught her messing around with someone else, and that's not cool. In the second stanza, the person brings up rumors that Joe shot his mama down and his lady down. Joe admitted to shooting his old lady because he caught her cheating with someone else.
As the song progresses, Joe tells the person he is going to Mexico where he can be free because there’s no hang-man there to put a rope around him. The song ends with the person talking to Joe, warning him to run fast and saying goodbye to everyone. It is an interesting song because it reveals the moral standard of the time and highlights the need for loyalty, respect, and trust in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Addressing Joe, asking where he intends to go with the gun he is holding
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
Asking Joe again about his gun, urging him to respond
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Joe declares that he is headed to murder his partner
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Joe tells of the reason behind his anger, he caught his partner having an affair
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Reiterating Joe's intent to kill his partner
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Repeating the explanation for Joe's actions
Huh! and that ain't cool
Reacting to the situation, expressing disapproval
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Addressing Joe again, asking him about an alleged incident involving his mother
You shot her down now
Asserting that Joe did, in fact, shoot his mother
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Addressing Joe once again, bringing up the murder of his partner
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
Confirming the details of the murder, specifically that she was shot and buried
Yes, I did, I shot her
Admitting to committing the murder
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
Repeating the earlier explanation of why Joe took this drastic action
Huh, yes I did I shot her
Once again admitting to the murder
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
Another repetition of the reason for the crime
And I gave her the gun
Explaining that Joe gave his partner the weapon he used to kill her
And I shot her
Admitting once more to committing the murder
Hey Joe, Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Asking Joe about his plans now that he has committed a crime
Hey Joe, I said Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Urging Joe to answer where he is going after committing this crime
I'm goin' way down south
Announcing Joe's plan to flee to another location
Way down to Mexico way
Specifically naming the location Joe plans to go
I'm goin' way down south
Repeating Joe's plan to run away south of the border
Way down where I can be free
Expressing Joe's desire to escape consequences for his actions
Ain't no one gonna find me
Reasoning that he will be able to elude pursuers
Ain't no hang-man gonna
Expressing Joe's hopes that he will not be executed for his crimes
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
More specifically, hoping to evade hanging as a punishment
You better believe it right now
Asserting the truth of Joe's situation
I gotta go now
Resuming Joe's plan to flee the scene
Hey, Joe
Calling out to Joe one last time
You better run on down
Urging Joe to carry out his plan to run away
Goodbye everybody
Bidding farewell to all those around
Hey hey Joe
One final goodbye and parting words to Joe
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Billy Roberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laurence Hawks
Always loved this entire album. Picked up the album when I was in the 6th grade. That makes me old!
Cameron Duff
Hey WOW man, I'm just now discovering what a class act The Music Machine is, the "Leaves " had the first hit with it, also worth a listen.
Zeitghoul
I picked up on this album about 15 years ago because of a free cd on a mojo magazine...I can see for miles....introduced me to the best of that era...they were on it...along with 13th floor elevators and others....👍
Theron Snell
Freshman in college for me...I'm older. I STILL don't believe in money, fortune, fame or dirty lies. Not much left now...except the music. My flags are flyin' and music is its name.
Lee
Such an influence to later sounds. Very much worth reviving and giving credit to Sean Bonniwell for what he helped create. This + their original songs are so very layered and amazing
Slavic Bb
Esta versión de "Hey Joe" me recuerda en gran parte al trágico terremoto en México del 19 de septiembre de 2017... Casualmente fue el día en el que por primera bez la escuché y quedaba acorde con el momento... Lastima que no es un grato recuerdo... Pero esta versión es de otro mundo... Prácticamente una joya!
Rita Hall
Not sure who wrote this song but this is my favorite and it’s hard to say loving Jimmy’s version the way I do Sean’s voice is so beautiful just love The sound of The Music Machine 2020
Requiredfields2
I like the rewritten lyrics and the impending menace. "I'm going to kill my woman." Not mincing words there. His singing is calm like he's already resigned to his fate and there's nothing he can do about it. It's not a crime of passion. It's just murder.
Requiredfields2
@Butterfly Moon Cool. I just listened. I'd never heard that.
Butterfly Moon
You should hear the original before it was stolen by Billy Roberts from his girlfriend Niela Horn Miller. It's called "Baby don't go to town".