Joey was written by Bob Dylan. It tells the story of the Mafia boss Joey Gallo who was murdered in a 1972 gangland shooting while eating at Umberto's Clam House in New York. There is a lot more to the song that Johnny never got into and he pretty much made it his by coming up with some of his own lines.(If you are interested in Dylan's lyrics I can email them to you.) This is a song Johnny played frequently and is available on a number of recordings including Add Water and Stir, Have Faith, Bootlegging the Bootleggers, Live in Japan, and the studio version on Hurt Me.
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Born in Red Hook Brooklyn
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in the year of who knows when
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opened up his eyes
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to accordions
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Joey Joey Joey
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king of the streets
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Joey Joey Joey
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Can't get no relief
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Larry was the oldest
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Joey was next
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They tried to get Larry
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Joey got so upset
(break)
CHORUS
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They tried to tell him
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he was doin wrong
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dealing with some coloreds
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boy your doin so wrong
CHORUS
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FC
Joey Joey Joey
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what did you do
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you got it in Umberto's poor you
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bullets still in the door
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where they got you the night before
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blood in the street
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now there's no relief for Joey
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Joey Joey Joey
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king of the streets
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Joey Joey Joey
Transcribed by Duane Day
Last modified: March 18, 1997
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