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Single:
Hey Joe entered the Australian singles chart* on 25 March 1967 and peaked at #34.
Album:
The song is on Are You Experienced which entered the Australian albums chart* on 9 September 1967 and peaked at #2.
Songwriter:
Billy Roberts
Producer:
Chas Chandler
Record label of Australian release:
Polydor Int.
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
BONUS SONG BELOW – Stone Free
Songfacts:
Hey Joe was written by a singer named Billy Roberts, who was part of the Greenwich Village folk scene in the early ’60s. The song is structured as a conversation between two men, with “Joe” explaining to the other that he caught his woman cheating and plans to kill her. They talk again, and Joe explains that he did indeed shoot her, and is headed to Mexico.
The slow version that inspired Hendrix to record this came from a folk singer named Tim Rose. This is the song that started it all for Hendrix.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/jimi-hendrix/hey-joe
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
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
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlists Bang a Gong – the 60s and Bang a Gong – rockin’ the 60s & 70s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
BONUS
The B-side of Hey Joe was Stone Free
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