Hey Joe
Hey Joe's Descent: Love, Betrayal, and the Pursuit of Freedom
Lyrics
Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun of your hand
Hey Joe, where are you going with that gun in your hand?
Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand, oh
Repetition, emphasizing the question about Joe's destination with the gun.
I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Joe intends to shoot his partner because he caught her with another man.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Confirmation of Joe's suspicion about his partner's infidelity.
Yeah, I'm goin' down to shoot my old lady
Reiteration of Joe's intention to shoot his partner.
You know I caught her messin' 'round with another man
Confirmation of catching his partner in an affair.
Huh! and that ain't cool
Expressing disapproval of the situation, indicating it's not acceptable.
Huh hey hoe, I heard you shot your mama down
Reference to a rumor that Joe shot his mother.
You shot her down now
Confirmation of Joe shooting his mother.
Hey Joe, I heard you shot your lady down
Reference to another rumor that Joe shot his lady.
You shot her down in the ground yeah!
Confirmation of Joe shooting his lady.
Yeah!
Expression of agreement or approval with the act of shooting.
Yes, I did, I shot her
Admission by Joe that he shot his lady due to her unfaithfulness.
You know I caught her messin' round messin' round town
Confirmation of catching his partner involved with others in town.
Huh, yes I did I shot her
Reiteration of Joe shooting his partner.
You know I caught my old lady messin' 'round town
Confirmation of Joe's partner's unfaithfulness in town.
And I gave her the gun
Joe gave the gun to his partner before shooting her.
And I shot her
Confirmation of Joe shooting his partner.
Alright
Expression of approval or encouragement to continue shooting.
Shoot her one more time again baby!
Encouragement to shoot his partner again.
Yeah!
Expression of excitement or satisfaction.
Oh dig it
Encouragement or approval, possibly related to the act of shooting.
Oh alright
Expression of approval or satisfaction.
Hey Joe,
Repetition of the initial question about Joe's destination.
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Asking where Joe will run to or hide now.
Hey Joe, I said
Repetition of the question about Joe's destination.
Where you gonna run to now where you gonna go
Reiteration of the question about Joe's escape or destination.
I'm goin' way down south
Joe's intended destination is way down south, possibly to Mexico.
Way down to Mexico way
Reiteration of Joe going way down south, emphasizing Mexico.
Alright
Reiteration of Joe going way down south.
I'm goin' way down south
Reiteration of Joe's desire to be free way down south.
Way down where I can be free
Joe believes he can be free from consequences in the south.
Ain't no one gonna find me
Expressing the belief that no one will find Joe down south.
Ain't no hang-man gonna
Joe believes there won't be a hangman to put a rope around him down south.
He ain't gonna put a rope around me
Reiteration that no hangman will put a rope around Joe.
You better believe it right now
Expression of confidence or conviction in Joe's beliefs.
I gotta go now
Joe declares that he has to go now.
Hey, Joe
Repetition of the initial address to Joe.
You better run on down
Encouragement for Joe to run away.
Goodbye everybody
Joe bids farewell to everybody.
Hey hey Joe
Repetition of the farewell addressed to Joe.
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