"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and has been performed in many musical styles by hundreds of different artists.
"Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico after shooting his unfaithful wife. The song was registered for copyright in the United States in 1962 by Billy Roberts. However, diverse credits and claims have led to confusion about the song's authorship.
The earliest known commercial recording of the song is the late-1965 single by the Los Angeles garage band the Leaves; the band then re-recorded the track and released it in 1966 as a follow-up single which became a hit. The best-known version is the Jimi Hendrix Experience's 1966 recording.
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?
Alright.
I'm goin down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man.
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man.
And that ain't too cool.
(Ah-backing vocal on each line)
Uh, hey Joe, I heard you shot your woman down
You shot her down now.
Uh, hey Joe, I heard you shot you old lady down
You shot her down to the ground. Yeah!
Yes, I did, I shot her
You know I caught her messin' 'round
Messin' 'round town.
Uh, 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
(Ah! Hey Joe)
Shoot her one more time again, baby!
Yeah.
(Hey Joe!)
Ah, dig it!
Ah! Ah! (Joe where you gonna go?) Oh, alright. Hey Joe, said now (Hey) uh, where you gonna run to now, where you gonna run to? Yeah. (where you gonna go?) Hey Joe, I said (Hey) where you goin' to run to now, where you, where you gonna go? (Joe!) Well, dig it! I'm goin' way down south, way down south (Hey) way down south to Mexico way! Alright! (Joe) I'm goin' way down south (Hey, Joe) way down where I can be free! (where you gonna...) Ain't no one gonna find me babe! (...go?) Ain't no hangman gonna (Hey, Joe) he ain't gonna put a rope around me! (Joe where you gonna.) You better belive it right now! (...go?) I gotta go now! Hey, hey, hey Joe (Hey Joe) you better run on down! (where you gonna...) Goodbye everybody. Ow! (...go?) Hey, hey Joe, what'd I say (Hey... Joe) run on down. (where you gonna go?
Songwriters: ROBERTS BILLY
Hey Joe lyrics © Ensign Music, Third Palm Music, BMG PLATINUM SONGS OBO THIRD PALM MUSIC
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