Joey

Bob Dylan

About Joey

"Joey" is a song from Bob Dylan's 1976 album Desire. It was written by Dylan and Jacques Levy, who collaborated with Dylan on most of the songs on the album. In a 2009 interview with Bill Flanagan, Dylan claimed that Levy wrote all the words to this song. Like another long song on the album, "Hurricane", "Joey" is biographical. The song is about the life and death of mobster Joey Gallo, who was killed on his birthday at Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy, on April 7, 1972.


Year:
1989
9:14
134 

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Born in Red Hook, Brooklyn, in the year of who knows when
Opened up his eyes to the tune of an accordion
Always on the outside of whatever side there was
When they asked him why it had to be that way
"Well," he answered, "just because"

Larry was the oldest, Joey was next to last
They called Joe "Crazy," the baby they called "Kid Blast"
Some say they lived off gambling and runnin' numbers too
It always seemed they got caught between the mob and the men in blue

Joey, Joey
King of the streets, child of clay
Joey, Joey
What made them want to come and blow you away?

There was talk they killed their rivals, but the truth was far from that
No one ever knew for sure where they were really at
When they tried to strangle Larry, Joey almost hit the roof
He went out that night to seek revenge, thinkin' he was bulletproof

The war broke out at the break of dawn, it emptied out the streets
Joey and his brothers suffered terrible defeats
'Till they ventured out behind the lines and took five prisoners
They stashed them away in a basement, called them amateurs

The hostages were tremblin' when they heard a man exclaim
"Let's blow this place to kingdom come, let Con. Edison take the blame"
But Joey stepped up, he raised his hand, said, "We're not those kind of men
It's peace and quiet that we need to go back to work again"

Joey, Joey
King of the streets, child of clay
Joey, Joey
What made them want to come and blow you away?

The police department hounded him, they called him Mr. Smith
They got him on conspiracy, they were never sure who with
"What time is it?" said the judge to Joey when they met
"Five to ten," said Joey
The judge says, "That's exactly what you get"

He did ten years in Attica, reading Nietzsche and Wilhelm Reich
They threw him in the hole one time for tryin' to stop a strike
His closest friends were black men 'cause they seemed to understand
What it's like to be in society with a shackle on your hand

When they let him out in '71 he'd lost a little weight
But he dressed like Jimmy Cagney and I swear he did look great
He tried to find the way back into the life he left behind
To the boss he said, "I have returned and now I want what's mine"

Joey, Joey
King of the streets, child of clay
Joey, Joey
Why did they have to come and blow you away?

It was true that in his later years he would not carry a gun
"I'm around too many children," he'd say, "they should never know of one"
Yet he walked right into the clubhouse of his lifelong deadly foe
Emptied out the register, said, "Tell 'em it was Crazy Joe"

One day they blew him down in a clam bar in New York
He could see it comin' through the door as he lifted up his fork
He pushed the table over to protect his family
Then he staggered out into the streets of Little Italy

Joey, Joey
King of the streets, child of clay
Joey, Joey
What made them want to come and blow you away?

Sister Jacqueline and Carmela and mother Mary all did weep
I heard his best friend Frankie say, "He ain't dead, he's just asleep"
Then I saw the old man's limousine head back towards the grave
I guess he had to say one last goodbye to the son that he could not save

The sun turned cold over President Street and the town of Brooklyn mourned
They said a mass in the old church near the house where he was born
And someday if God's in heaven overlookin' His preserve
I know the men that shot him down will get what they deserve

Joey, Joey
King of the streets, child of clay
Joey, Joey
What made them want to come and blow you away?

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Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan ( /ˈdɪlən/; born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in … more »

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Written by: DYLAN BOB, LEVY JACQUES

Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Album Release
"Joey" is part of the 1976 album "Desire" by American singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan.
Song Duration
With a length of 11 minutes and 5 seconds, "Joey" is one of Dylan's longest songs.
Content
The song tells the story of mobster Joey Gallo, who was seen as a heroic figure in the eyes of local citizens and the oppressed.
Mixed Reception
While some critics consider "Joey" as an interesting story-song, others criticize it for glorifying a violent mobster.
Collaboration
"Joey" was co-written with Jacques Levy, a theater director and songwriter who worked with Dylan on many songs of the "Desire" album.
Live Performances
Despite the controversy, Dylan performed "Joey" live several times, most notably during the Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
Chart Success
Even though "Joey" itself did not chart, "Desire" topped the Billboard Pop Albums chart for five weeks and sold enormously.
Studio Recording
The song was recorded on July 31, 1975, at A&R Recording in New York City.
Streaming Platforms
"Joey" is available on music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Impact
Gallo's family actually responded positively to the song, believing that it accurately portrayed their relative. Dylan even met and performed the song to Joey's widow and daughter.
Cinematic Inspiration
"Joey" has since inspired the crime drama film "Kill the Irishman" which retold the story of Danny Green's fight against the Italian mob.
Unusual Structure
Unlike many of Dylan's songs, which often rely on metaphors and cryptic language, "Joey" is straightforward and narrative, more similar to a short story than a traditional song.
Instrumentation
Like other songs on "Desire", "Joey" features violinist Scarlet Rivera, whose unique sound contributes significantly to the song's atmosphere.

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