Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: jazz
Song Meaning of “Hey Joe” by Brad Mehldau
Hey Joe is a classic song of heartache, but in Brad Mehldau’s version, it comes with a new interpretation of longing and regret. The lyrics tell the story of a man pleading with an absent lover to come back home, with the lyrics expressing the desperation and anguish of that lonely feeling. Brad brings his own unique musical style to the song, with a somber piano melody and a wistful vocal style. The way he sings the lines, “How much longer will you be gone” and “Come on Joe, please return” conveys the raw emotion of the protagonist’s plea. His version of the song emphasizes the helplessness the protagonist feels, and the sentiment of the lyrics goes beyond sorrow and into despair. Despite the protagonist’s yearning, in the end they know they cannot control the other person’s decisions, all they can do is wait and hope that one day they’ll be reunited.