The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Joe threw another tantrum
He could not to be understood
He cries like baby Samson
His English is not good
Joe's boss of the kitchen
But on the outside he knows
Low man on the totem's
Wearing giveaway clothes
Joe he fights the good fight
He wears a white uniform
The waiters are all artists
Out chasing unicorns
Joe works fourteen hours
After ten he starts to booze
He gets very sentimental
Oh he sings the buddah blues
He sings the buddah blues
My name Joe my name Joe
There is a king in Thailand
And he plays the jazz drum
He has a fine and healthy son
Oh no I'm not the one
My name Joe
On the wall by the time clock
Joe's beaming from a photograph
Someone drew across his face
The waiters began to laugh
Joe picked up a hatchet
And he tenderized the wall
And when he got through
Time clock wasn't punching anymore
The waiters ran for cover
The maitre d' began to lisp
The drunkard in the corner
Said his lettuce was not crisp
Owner called immigration
Said there's someone you should know
He's an illegal alien
And I think his name is Joe
Oh I know his name is Joe
My name Joe my name Joe
There is a king in Thailand
And he plays the jazz drum
He has a fine and healthy son
Oh no I'm not the one
My name Joe
Came the man from immigration
Said I've got a job to do
Easy questions easy answers
Just point me to the kitchen crew
He asked Leroy from Harlem
He asked Cisco from Mexico
He asked the white trash from Tennessee
That all said my name Joe
My name Joe my name Joe
The maitre d' he sputtered
The kitchen crew they roared
And while they were arguing
Joe slipped out the back door
On the beach Joe tries to listen
To the heartbeat of a whale
How it echoes his own heartbeat
And the distance he has sailed
Oh the distance he has sailed
My name Joe my name Joe
There is a king in Thailand
And he plays the jazz drum
He has a fine and healthy son
Oh no I'm not the one
My name Joe
He could not to be understood
He cries like baby Samson
His English is not good
Joe's boss of the kitchen
But on the outside he knows
Low man on the totem's
Wearing giveaway clothes
Joe he fights the good fight
He wears a white uniform
The waiters are all artists
Out chasing unicorns
Joe works fourteen hours
After ten he starts to booze
He gets very sentimental
Oh he sings the buddah blues
He sings the buddah blues
My name Joe my name Joe
There is a king in Thailand
And he plays the jazz drum
He has a fine and healthy son
Oh no I'm not the one
My name Joe
On the wall by the time clock
Joe's beaming from a photograph
Someone drew across his face
The waiters began to laugh
Joe picked up a hatchet
And he tenderized the wall
And when he got through
Time clock wasn't punching anymore
The waiters ran for cover
The maitre d' began to lisp
The drunkard in the corner
Said his lettuce was not crisp
Owner called immigration
Said there's someone you should know
He's an illegal alien
And I think his name is Joe
Oh I know his name is Joe
My name Joe my name Joe
There is a king in Thailand
And he plays the jazz drum
He has a fine and healthy son
Oh no I'm not the one
My name Joe
Came the man from immigration
Said I've got a job to do
Easy questions easy answers
Just point me to the kitchen crew
He asked Leroy from Harlem
He asked Cisco from Mexico
He asked the white trash from Tennessee
That all said my name Joe
My name Joe my name Joe
The maitre d' he sputtered
The kitchen crew they roared
And while they were arguing
Joe slipped out the back door
On the beach Joe tries to listen
To the heartbeat of a whale
How it echoes his own heartbeat
And the distance he has sailed
Oh the distance he has sailed
My name Joe my name Joe
There is a king in Thailand
And he plays the jazz drum
He has a fine and healthy son
Oh no I'm not the one
My name Joe
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
My Name Joe Lyrics as written by David Waugh Massengill
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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