This is the place where all

The junkies go

Where time gets fast

But everything gets slow

Can I get some Vaseline?

Step into a modern scene

Take a chance on that

Which seems to be the making of a dream

I don't want to do it

Like my daddy did

I don't want to give it

To my baby's kid

"This is my calling", I said, my darling

Shocking, appalling, all I can do to you

"Hammers are falling", I said, my darling

Shocking, appalling, all I can do to you

This is the place where all, the devils plead

Their case to take from you what they need

Can I isolate your gene? Can I kiss your dopamine?

In a way I wonder if she's living in a magazine

I don't want to say it

If it isn't so

I don't want to weigh it

But I've got to know

"This is my calling", I said, my darling

Shocking, appalling, all I can do to you

"Hammers are falling", I said my darling

Shocking, appalling, all I can do to you

I saw you out there yesterday, what did you want to say?

A perfect piece of DNA caught in a flashing ray

I caught you out there in the fray, what did you want to say?

A master piece of DNA caught in a flashing ray

Can I smell your gasoline?

Can I pet your wolverine?

On the day my best friend died

I could not get my copper clean

I don't want to take it up

With little Joe

I don't want to fake it

But I've gotta know

"This is my calling", I said, my darling

Shocking, appalling, all I can do to you

"Hammers are falling", I said, my darling

Shocking, appalling, all I can do to you

I am a misfit

I'm born with all of it

The fucking ultimate

Of love inside the atom split

I'm in a flash ray, a mash of DNA

Another poppin' Jay, who thinks

He's got something to say


Lyrics submitted by Hump De Bump

Joe Lyrics as written by John Anthony Frusciante Michael Balzary

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Joe song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    reggae b-side from Desecration smile. I loved it.

    Hump De Bumpon February 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this sucks itunes wont let me buy it b/c i don't live in the UK

    supernukeon February 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I am almost sure that this is about Joe Walters, one of AK's best friends when he was a teenager. He talks about him in Scar Tissue.

    wisdom cubeon February 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    thia is about Joe from "the Clash" if anyone watched the CHilis on more4 on "live at abbey road", Flea was talking about how much of an influence he is on the band. "Swing low and now I know It's hard to let a brother go, Joe"

    I think this could be a brief reference to Hillel Slovak, and a grief the band and Joe share.

    iluvpunkrockon February 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Surely, the first line ("Burning up your hometown streets could set a fire for the world to catch") must be a tribute to Bob Marley & the Wailers. Their album "Catch a Fire" was their international breakthrough, after all.

    I don't know about Joe Strummer from the Clash, but given this song's reggae style, I'd say all of it is a tribute to Bob Marley & the Wailers. Strummer passed away in late 2002, though—after the Peppers had already recorded By the Way—so I'm thinking this song could be a tribute both to him and to Bob Marley & The Wailers.

    No matter what, it's an awesome tune! :)

    Reverend Duckon April 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I would say its about Joe Strummer. Reggae heavily influenced The Clash, anyways. It sounds like a tribute to his passing. Even if By The Way came out after Joe's death this could of been written about that time, but Anthony didn't think it was right for the album.

    "Come and see me, I'm your west end perfect stranger, in America"

    It sounds like a reference that Joe is from England while Anthony, America. (England being West of America of course.)

    "The many boots that you have laced could tell a story, comin' night and day (?) No one said that you would need a crowd"

    That entire segment alone reminds me of the whole "Punk" style of life Joe lived.

    Wrong Em Boyoon May 12, 2007   Link

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