RUN JOE
(Louis Jordan / Walt Merrick / Joe Willoughby)

Louis Jordan & his Tympany Five
recorded 1948


Louis Louis Louis Louis Louis,
(Louis Louis Louis Louis Louis.)
Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey,
(Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey.)
Eh come in foolboy,
Eh eh, the police mon is on the premises!
What is he doing in here?

Mo and Joe had a candy store,
Tellin' fortune behind a door.
Cop grab Mo and as Joe ran out,
Brother Mo then began to shout!

(Run Joe!) Eh, de man at de door,
(Run Joe!) Eh, man won't let me go!
(Run Joe!) Run as fast as you can!
(Run Joe!) Police holdin' me han'!

(Louis Louis Louis Louis Louis,
Louis Louis Louis Louis Louis.)

Ask Juanita to stand me bail,
Don't wanna sleep in this rotten jail!
Hide de crystal ball by de fence,
So dey won't find no evidence!
When you reach home, get in de bed,
Call a doctor and tie your head.
Let Juanita invent a lie,
Got to have a good alibi!

(Run Joe!) Eh, de man at de door,
(Run Joe!) Eh, man won't let me go!
(Run Joe!) Run as fast as you can!
(Run Joe!) De police holdin' me han'!

(Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey.)

Get a mouthpiece to talk for me,
They'll sure give me de third degree!
When dey take me before de sarge,
I am going to deny de charge!
When de judge ask me how I plead,
"Not guilty, sir, most decidedly!
You can see, Judge, at a glance
I'm a victim of circumstance!"

(Run Joe!) Eh, man at de door,
(Run Joe!) De man won't let me go!
(Run Joe!) Run as fast as you can!
(Run Joe!) De police holdin' me han'!

(Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey,
Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey.)

I'll be home by de break of day,
If de judge believe what I say!
If he don't I'll be lookin' cute,
Behind de bars with me strip-ed suit!

(Run Joe!) Eh, de man at de door,
(Run Joe!) De man he won't let me go!
(Run Joe!) Run as fast as you can!
(Run Joe!) De police holdin' me han'!

(Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey,
Joey Joey Joey Joey Joey.)

Me momma told me not long ago
To keep 'way from that worthless Joe!
If I heard what me momma say,
I wouldn't be in this mess today!

(Run Joe!) Eh, de man at de door,
(Run Joe!) De man won't let me go!
(Run Joe!) Run as fast as you can!
(Run Joe!) De police holdin' me han'!

Don't you hear what I told you? (Run Joe!)
I don't want you in school! (Run Joe!)
Don't let de policeman hold you! (Run Joe!)
Di'n't your momma done told you? (Run Joe!)

Hey, de policeman catching up with Joe! (Run Joe! Run Joe!)
Joe run too slow! (run Joe!) Joe! (Run Joe!)




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - October 2020)