Democratic Congressman Tries Rocking Out in Anti-Trump ‘Jam Session’ with Updated ‘Hey Joe’ Cover: ‘I Hate To Hurt Your Ears and Everything’
Screenshot via Hank Johnson Twitter
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) rocked out in a solo anti-Trump “jam session” with an updated political cover of the song “Hey Joe,” most famously sung by Jimi Hendrix, and it’s all on camera for voters to enjoy.
In a video posted to X on Wednesday, Johnson said he is learning guitar and he proceeded to offer the Hendrix cover, taking aim at President Donald Trump. Johnson replaced “Joe” with “Trump” and accused the president of trying to “shoot” democracy while strumming away.
“Hello, ladies and gentlemen, Congressman Hank Johnson here with my Fender Stratocaster. I just recently picked it up and thought I would try it out,” the congressman said. “I hate to hurt your ears and everything, but I’m just learning to play guitar and it happens to be Black Music Month of 2025 so I’m compelled with a new guitar and with some thoughts about that old song ‘Hey Joe,’ you know, to give some commentary on where we are now. And if y’all don’t mind, I’m gonna just strum a little but. Please, don’t hold it against me.”
Johnson stumbled at one point over his new lyrics, which accused Trump of wanting to be “king.” Johnson’s video follows anti-Trump “No Kings” protests recently popping up in numerous cities across the country.
Johnson’s lyrics are as follows:
Hey Trump, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
Hey Trump, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
I’m goin’ down the street to shoot democracy
You know I want to be a king someday
I’m goin’ down to shoot democracy down
You know I want to be the king someday
Hey Donald Trump, we won’t let you take our democracy down, take it down to the ground
Hey Trump, we won’t let you take our democracy down, burn it down to the ground
Johnson faced some mockery for the “jam session,” especially from conservative critics who quickly pounced.
Johnson’s lyrics are a major deviation from the original lyrics, which focus on a man on the run after killing his unfaithful lover.
Sample of original lyrics:
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun of your hand?
Hey Joe, I said, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand? Oh
I’m goin’ down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin’ ’round with another man, yeah
I’m goin’ down to shoot my old lady
You know I caught her messin’ ’round with another man
The ’60s tune has been covered by many artists over the years, but was most popularly performed by Hendrix in 1966. The song has a long, storied history and its writing has been credited to Billy Roberts and Dino Valenti over the decades.
