Honest Joe is track nineteen on the 1994 James album Wah Wah.
It was possibly intended to be released as a single as there was a video made interspersing parts of James’ live set at Woodstock 2 with scenes from the Highlander : The Final Dimension movie that the song features in.
A live version recorded at Reading Festival in 1997 appeared as a b-side to the Destiny Calling single in 1998 and one recorded at Brixton Academy in 1993 on the live disc of The Gathering Sound box set.
There is also an otherwise unreleased Folk Testosterone Abort Mix, remixed by David Baynton-Power of the band, that appeared on a Future Tracks cassette with Select Magazine in 1994.
An early version entitled Jam Q can be found on the Super Deluxe version of the Laid / Wah Wah boxset. The Folk Testosterone Abort Mix makes use of sections of that jam.
Two sections (Sabresonic Tremelo Dub and Spaghetti Steamhammer Mix) of the Jam J – Sabres Of Paradise 33 minute track released in March 1994 are actually from Honest Joe, as are two unreleased sections (Sabres 135 Mix and Sabres Strip-Down).
It was one of the first Wah Wah tracks to be unveiled, being performed on the European Neil Young support slots in summer 1993, the US WOMAD tour and the UK Winter tour in 1993. Jo Whiley previewed the studio version track on BBC Radio 1 in March 1994.
The hypnotic strobe effects and Tim and Saul’s improvised lyrics followed by Tim’s spiral dance and Mark’s keyboard finish made this a live favourite and it has continued to make appearances in the set since the band reformed.
Details
LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Honest Joe
Screws the lamb
Indian call
Indian plan
Weight of gold
You're a gay
Catch your life
Catch your life
Messerschmidt
You're a ghoul
Hurricane, hurricane
Novatol, Novocaine
Dexedrine, Dexedrine, opium
It's the way you break down all your food
It's the way you comb your hair
It's the way you wear the tie so crooked
The way you have that smile that smells of despair
It's the way you like to satisfy
The way you set the smile
The way you crawled into my life and stayed there for a while
It's the way you like to lick your paws
The way you screw the bolts
The way you groom your friends and neighbours
The way you get a cause
Novocaine, makes us smile
Novocaine, no one can
I know where
It's a gun
It's a dream of a christian martyrdom
Move your way
Do your spin
Get a dish, get a dish and spin
Totem-pole, it's my goal
I don't care where you're gonna take it from
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Screws the lamb
Indian call
Indian plan
Weight of gold
You're a gay
Catch your life
Catch your life
Messerschmidt
You're a ghoul
Hurricane, hurricane
Novatol, Novocaine
Dexedrine, Dexedrine, opium
It's the way you break down all your food
It's the way you comb your hair
It's the way you wear the tie so crooked
The way you have that smile that smells of despair
It's the way you like to satisfy
The way you set the smile
The way you crawled into my life and stayed there for a while
It's the way you like to lick your paws
The way you screw the bolts
The way you groom your friends and neighbours
The way you get a cause
Novocaine, makes us smile
Novocaine, no one can
I know where
It's a gun
It's a dream of a christian martyrdom
Move your way
Do your spin
Get a dish, get a dish and spin
Totem-pole, it's my goal
I don't care where you're gonna take it from
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
| Song: | Honest Joe |
| Released: | 12th September 1994 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Wah Wah |
| First Heard Live: | London Finsbury Park – 11th July 1993 |
- Selections From Wah Wah (US promo) :Promo, Album, 1994
- Wah Wah promo tape :Promo, Album, 1994
- Select Future Tracks October 1994 :Compilation (non James), Album, 1994
- Wah Wah :Studio, Album, 1994
- Honest Joe :Video, Single, 1994
- In Concert : New Rock (Westwood One) 8 Track Version :Promo, Album, 1994
- Destiny Calling :Studio, Single, 1998
- The Gathering Sound (full promo) :Promo, Box Set, 2012
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Liverpool Pier Head – 2nd July 2023
- Lisbon Campo Pequeno – 22nd April 2022
- Porto Sala M.Ou.Co – 19th April 2022
- London The SSE Arena Wembley – 4th December 2021
- Manchester AO Arena – 3rd December 2021
- Dublin 3arena – 1st December 2021
- Glasgow The SSE Hydro – 30th November 2021
- Cardiff Motorpoint Arena – 28th November 2021
- Birmingham Utilita Arena – 26th November 2021
- Glasgow Playground Festival – 24th September 2021
- Margate Dreamland – 23rd September 2021
- Newcastle Exhibition Park – 16th September 2021
- Beatherder Festival – 15th July 2016
- Birmingham Barclaycard Arena – 20th May 2016
- Leeds First Direct Arena – 14th May 2016
- Manchester Arena – 13th May 2016
- Llandudno Venue Cymru – 12th May 2016
- Bournemouth Academy – 10th May 2016
- Norwich UEA – 9th May 2016
- London Brixton Academy – 7th May 2016
- London Kentish Town Forum – 6th May 2016
- London Kentish Town Forum – 4th May 2016
- Southend Cliffs Pavilion – 3rd May 2016
- Bray Groove Festival – 5th July 2014
- Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile – 28th April 2012
- Coachella Festival – 13th April 2012
- Los Angeles El Rey Theatre – 12th April 2012
- Seattle Neumos – 8th April 2012
- Viseu Festo do Sao Mateos – 20th August 2011
- Cascais Festas do Mar – 19th August 2011
- Boston Paradise Rock Club – 25th September 2010
- Fort Lauderdale Culture Room – 20th September 2010
- London Brixton Academy – 15th December 2008
- Mexico City Auditorio National – 7th October 2008
- Milwaukee Turner Hall Ballroom – 26th September 2008
- London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 17th April 2008
- Lincoln Engine Shed – 11th April 2008
- Oxegen Festival, Punchestown, Ireland – 8th July 2007
- London Brixton Academy – 27th April 2007
- Birmingham Academy – 24th April 2007
- Glasgow Academy – 21st April 2007
- Glasgow Academy – 20th April 2007
- Carlisle Sands Centre – 18th April 2007
- Dublin Olympia – 17th April 2007
- Reading Festival – 22nd August 1997
- Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre (Lollapalooza) – 16th August 1997
- Concord Pavilion (Lollapalooza) – 15th August 1997
- George Gorge Amphitheatre – 12th August 1997
- Devore Blockbuster Pavilion, San Bernardino – 8th August 1997
- San Jose Lollapalooza – 7th August 1997
- Antioch Starwood Amphitheatre – 31st July 1997
- East Troy Alpine Valley Music Theatre – 27th July 1997
- Tinley Park New World Music Theatre, Chicago – 25th July 1997
- Burgettstown Star Lake Amphitheatre – 19th July 1997
- Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre (Lollapalooza) – 15th July 1997
- Hartford Meadows Music Theatre – 13th July 1997
- Camden Blockbuster Sony Center – 12th July 1997
- Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 25th March 1997
- Leicester De Montfort Hall – 23rd March 1997
- London Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 21st March 1997
- Middlesbrough Town Hall – 13th March 1997
- Atlanta Roxy – 1st March 1997
- Washington 9.30 Club – 27th February 1997
- London Camden Dingwalls – 27th January 1997
- Bristol Fleece And Firkin – 26th January 1997
- Sheffield Leadmill – 25th January 1997
- Woodstock 2, New York – 14th August 1994
- Seattle Endfest – 6th August 1994
- Glastonbury Festival – 25th June 1994
- Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre – 10th June 1994
- Minneapolis First Avenue – 24th May 1994
- Chicago Riviera – 22nd May 1994
- Cleveland Agora Theatre – 21st May 1994
- Toronto Ontario Place Forum – 20th May 1994
- New Haven Toad’s Place – 9th May 1994
- Las Vegas Huntridge Theatre – 25th March 1994
- San Diego SU Montezuma Hall – 24th March 1994
- Los Angeles Hollywood Palace – 22nd March 1994
- Los Angeles Hollywood Palace – 21st March 1994
- San Francisco Marriott Hotel – 19th March 1994
- San Francisco Warfield Theatre – 17th March 1994
- Sacramento Crest Theatre – 16th March 1994
- Boston Orpheum – 9th March 1994
- Dallas Deep Ellum Live – 4th March 1994
- Chicago Vic Theatre – 20th February 1994
- Milwaukee Marquette University Varsity Theatre – 19th February 1994
- Cleveland Peabody’s Down Under – 17th February 1994
- New York Irving Plaza – 15th February 1994
- Washington WUST Music Hall – 14th February 1994
- Philadelphia Trocadero – 12th February 1994
- Boston Avalon – 10th February 1994
- Toronto Opera House – 6th February 1994
- Portsmouth Guild Hall – 11th December 1993
- London Brixton Academy – 9th December 1993
- Manchester G-Mex – 4th December 1993
- Glasgow Barrowlands – 1st December 1993
- Lisbon Pavilhao dos Belenenses – 27th November 1993
- Paris, Casino de Paris – 23rd November 1993
- Frankfurt Music Hall – 13th November 1993
- Cologne Live Music Hall – 12th November 1993
- Los Angeles Roxy – 28th October 1993
- Los Angeles WOMAD – 18th September 1993
- Milwaukee Marcus Amphitheatre WOMAD – 12th September 1993
- Buckeye Lake Centre, Thornville, OH – 10th September 1993
- Bad Mergentheim Schlosshof – 18th July 1993
- Milan Assago Forum – 13th July 1993
- London Finsbury Park – 11th July 1993
CHORDS
*capo on 4th fret
Am, C, F, C, all throughout
*capo on 4th fret
Am, C, F, C, all throughout
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