Hey Joe
The Offspring [Other] Lyrics
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Say where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Hey Joe,
Say where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Said I'm going to shoot my old lady down
Caught her messing around with another man,
Said I'm going to down to shoot my old lady
Hey Joe,
I heard that you shot your old lady down
Hey Joe,
I heard that caught your old lady fucking some other guy,
And you shot her down
Well uh you know I guess that's true and all
I guess you can say I shot her yeah
Well Yes I did, I said I did
I shot her down
Say yes I did
I said I did I shot her down to down to the ground
So Hey Joe,
Where you gonna run to now?
Say where you gonna go to?
Where you gonna run?
Where you gonna hide?
Well I said I'm going way down south,
Way down the Mexico way
No one's gonna put a noose around me
I said I'm goin' way down south,
Way down the Mexico way
Way down where I can be free
The Offspring's song Hey Joe is a cover of the classic rock song by Jimi Hendrix. The lyrics describe a man named Joe who is violent and vengeful towards his significant other after finding out she's cheated on him. The opening lines ask Joe where he's going with a gun in his hand, to which Joe replies that he is going to shoot his old lady because he caught her with another man. He explains that he is going to shoot her down to the ground. The chorus repeats this question, but this time asking where Joe is going to run to now that he has committed this heinous act.
The song speaks to larger societal issues of violence, jealousy and the consequences of infidelity. It is a commentary on the lengths people may go to when they feel betrayed and the negative effects of infidelity on relationships. The lyrics are dark and disturbing, illustrating the serious and dangerous consequences of these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Joe,
Addressing Joe by his name, asking him a question
Say where you goin' with that gun in your hand?
Asking Joe the purpose of carrying the weapon
Said I'm going to shoot my old lady down
Joe reveals the plan to murder his partner
Caught her messing around with another man,
Joe discovered his partner being unfaithful
Said I'm going to down to shoot my old lady
Joe reiterates his intention of shooting his partner without any remorse
Caught her messing around on me,
Affirming the reason behind contemplating murder
Hey Joe,
Calling out the name of the person being addressed
I heard that you shot your old lady down
Acknowledging the rumor of the crime carried out
Hey Joe,
Addressing Joe again to ask another important question
I heard that caught your old lady fucking some other guy,
The source of the gossip heard by the artist
And you shot her down
Confirming the occurrence of the murder
Well uh you know I guess that's true and all
Joe accepts the rumors as authentic
I guess you can say I shot her yeah
Admitting guilt
Well Yes I did, I said I did
Joe admits without any shame or remorse
I shot her down
Repeating the fact of the murder
Say yes I did
Repeating and confirming the responsibility
I said I did I shot her down to down to the ground
Explaining how Joe killed and buried his victim
So Hey Joe,
Addressing Joe again
Where you gonna run to now?
Questioning the perpetrator's escape route
Say where you gonna go to?
Asking Joe's destination
Where you gonna run?
Repeating the question for emphasis
Where you gonna hide?
Asking Joe how he will conceal himself from the law
Well I said I'm going way down south,
Joe revealing his chosen hiding spot
Way down the Mexico way
Joe will escape to Mexico
No one's gonna put a noose around me
Joe is confident that he won't be caught or punished for his crime
I said I'm goin' way down south,
Reiterating the previous statement
Way down the Mexico way
Repeating the destination in question
Way down where I can be free
Joe believes he can be free from the consequences of his actions in Mexico
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yarg888
I think if you listen to the way Jimi did covers and re-made them in his own style, you could guess that Jimi would approve of The Offspring's cover. Also, if you listen to the way Jimi talked about music and about himself in interviews you would know that he would likely not approve of people hating on each other over differences in musical opinion. Despite his flamboyant antics on stage, he was generally pretty soft-spoken, humble, and deep when interviewed.
James Fowler
@Dux Didn't say it was Jimi's. Didn't say Jimi would have to approve either. I said Jimi did covers his own way and would likely approve. There are lots of people who don't approve of covers (or approve of them) when it's not "their" song. YouTube comments are full of them.
Dux
This is not hendrix`s song so he wouldn´t have to approve anything anyway.
Thompter S. Hunson
Hunted by the ghost of Joe may be throughout their miserable lives those who dislike this AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL cover.
Jessica Brophy
I love covers where you can tell the band is having a good time with the song.
Surovitis
Why does it have to sound like the original?It's great this way. I LOVE THEM <3
ragen cagen
i love they're old school punk sound they had back in the day
Drew Kane
They got "it" right with this cover. The song translates into their style of 80s cali punk perfectly.
Craigs List
love it. they totally "offspringafied" the song
Javier Zuniga
Jimi Hendrix did for the electric guitar what Bach did for the keyboard. RIP you geniuses. BTW, this isn't half bad, not as good as Jimi obviously