Hey Joe
Hey Joe's Descent: Love, Betrayal, and a Bullet's Echo
Lyrics
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Joe is asked about his destination with a gun in hand.
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
Reiteration of the inquiry about Joe's destination with a gun.
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Joe reveals he's going to shoot his partner for infidelity.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Joe caught his partner cheating with another man.
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Repeated intention to shoot his unfaithful partner.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Reiteration of Joe's discovery of his partner's infidelity.
Huh! and that ain't cool
Expresses disapproval of the situation.
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Hears about Joe shooting his mother.
You shot her down now
Confirmation of Joe shooting his mother.
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Reports Joe shooting his partner.
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
Confirmation of Joe killing his partner.
Yeah!
Expression of affirmation or agreement.
Yes, I did, I shot her
Joe admits to shooting his partner due to infidelity.
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
Reiteration of catching the partner in infidelity.
Huh, yes I did I shot her
Confirmation of Joe shooting his partner.
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
Joe caught his partner's infidelity and gave her the gun.
And I gave her the gun
Joe handed the gun to his partner before shooting her.
And I shot her
Joe shoots his partner.
Alright
Encouragement or approval of the shooting.
Shoot her one more time again baby!
Encouragement to shoot the partner again.
Yeah!
Expression of excitement or approval.
Oh dig it
Encouragement or approval.
Oh alright
Expression of approval or encouragement.
Hey Joe,
Resumption of questioning Joe's plans.
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Asking where Joe plans to escape or hide.
Hey Joe, I said
Reiteration of questioning Joe's escape destination.
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Continued inquiry about Joe's escape plans.
I'm goin' way down south
Joe states he's going far south, possibly Mexico.
Way down to Mexico way
Specifically mentioning going to Mexico.
Alright
Confirmation of going far south, possibly seeking freedom.
I'm goin' way down south
Reiteration of heading far south to be free.
Way down where I can be free
Joe expresses the desire to be free in the south.
Ain't no one gonna find me
Assurance that no one will find Joe in the south.
Ain't no hang-man gonna
Confidence that no hangman will put a rope around Joe.
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
Reiteration of not being captured by a hangman.
You better believe it right now
Expression of certainty or emphasis.
I gotta go now
Indication of the need to leave immediately.
Hey, Joe
Final address to Joe, advising him to run down.
You better run on down
Encouragement for Joe to run away.
Goodbye everybody
Farewell to everyone as Joe departs.
Hey hey Joe
Reiteration of the departure command to Joe.
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